Iowa Rep. Zach Nunn is telling voters he is “one of the most bipartisan members of Congress,” part of a nationwide Republican shift toward unity messaging in the final weeks of the 2026 midterm campaign.
A new POLITICO analysis of AdImpact data published Thursday found that GOP candidates and outside groups have run nearly 200 ads this cycle mentioning bipartisanship, working across the aisle or “both sides,” an increase of more than 60% compared with 2024. Nunn's spot is one of the most prominent examples of the trend.
Why Republicans Are Talking Unity This Year
The messaging change is backed by the numbers. The POLITICO poll shows that 66% of Republican voters want a Democratic-controlled House, should Democrats flip the chamber in November, to find common ground with President Donald Trump and pass legislation next year.
The shift is a sharp break from 2024, when GOP candidates and allied groups ran more than 90 ads promising to “stop Biden” or “stop Democrats.” That rhetoric has all but vanished from Republican advertising this cycle, according to the POLITICO analysis.
Nunn's ad stands out because of the political landscape he faces. Like other battleground Republicans, he is running in a year when Democrats are hoping for strong midterm gains. Fox News reported last week that vulnerable Republicans including New York Rep. Mike Lawler and Virginia Rep. Jen Kiggans are also touting bipartisan credentials and, in some cases, openly highlighting disagreements with Trump.
Other examples in the POLITICO review include Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers, whose ad says he will “bring both parties together” to lower prices, and Arkansas Rep. French Hill, who is promoting a housing law he backed that “passed with bipartisan support.”
Demand for common ground may not be mutual
Republican voters appear ready for cooperation. Democratic voters, not so much. Almost the same percentage of Democratic voters told POLITICO they want their party to block Trump and GOP proposals they disagree with, even if that means fewer bills become law.
The divide inside the Democratic coalition runs deeper. Seventy-one percent of progressive voters said they would prefer obstruction of Trump over finding common ground, compared with 57% of moderates. Progressives were also more likely to say that blocking the Republican agenda should be Democrats' top priority if they retake the House.
There is one exception: affordability. Fifty-seven percent of Democratic midterm voters said they would prefer their party do whatever it takes to pass legislation lowering the cost of living, even if it hands the GOP a win. That includes 56% of progressives and 58% of moderates.
That leaves an open question about whether Republicans elected in November will actually have willing negotiating partners across the aisle, since the factions of a potential Democratic majority may differ in how much they want to deal.
Bipartisanship sells, but only to one side's voters
The polling suggests Republican voters are responding to results rather than resistance. GOP candidates betting on the unity message are calculating that voters want problems solved, particularly on prices, and are less interested in endless Washington standoffs.
For Nunn, the bipartisan pitch doubles as a governing record. It also fits a broader Republican argument heading into November: that the party that controls the White House is also the one willing to work across party lines to deliver.
Whether that argument holds up depends in part on the willingness of the other side to come to the table. According to the POLITICO data, most Democratic voters, and an even larger share of the party's progressive base, would rather see their representatives fight than deal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Republican ads mention bipartisanship in 2026?
Nearly 200 ads across House and Senate races, up more than 60% from 2024, according to POLITICO's analysis of AdImpact data.
What did Zach Nunn say in his campaign ad?
Nunn told voters in the ad that he is “one of the most bipartisan members of Congress.”
Do Democratic voters want bipartisanship too?
Mostly no, per the POLITICO poll. Nearly as many Democratic voters as Republican ones want their party to block Trump and GOP proposals, though 57% support passing cost-of-living legislation even if it gives Republicans a win.