As US midterm elections approach, congressional and Senate candidates are abandoning traditional neckties in favor of personal style, utilizing workwear, rugged outdoor gear, and patriotic clothing to signal authenticity and connect with voters across social media and television campaigns.
Workwear and Outdoor Gear in Washington and Alaska
Political candidates are increasingly dressing to project both capability and a direct connection to the electorates they aim to represent. According to celebrity fashion stylist Joe Zee, politicians face the dual challenge of looking capable of holding office while remaining closely tied to ordinary citizens.
In Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, Democratic Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez leans into a low-fuss, outdoorsy aesthetic that reflects the Pacific Northwest. The former car repair shop owner favors practical footwear, jeans, flannel shirts, and low-key work jackets.
Robert Ordway, a conservative public policy adviser and former owner of Capitol Hill Clothiers, notes that Gluesenkamp Perez hits the mark on authenticity. Her wardrobe choices deliberately shepherd a message that champions the working class, according to Tashira Halyard, a Washington D.C.–based attorney and public policy expert.
A similar strategy is deployed in Alaska by Democratic lawmaker Mary Peltola, who is running for a Senate seat in the battleground state. Peltola famously wore traditional boots of the Yup’ik people during her 2022 swearing-in ceremony. Her current campaign trail wardrobe features puffer jackets, flannels, and indigenous-inspired details.
Conservative author and journalist Bonnie Kristian explains that these garments pay direct homage to Peltola’s background working on a fishing boat along Alaska’s Kuskokwim River, reinforcing her fish, family, and freedom campaign slogan.
Patriotic Americana and Campaign Style in Iowa and Texas
In Iowa, Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson pairs a polished, conservative image with nostalgic touches like bandanas and denim for casual appearances. During a June primary election party, Hinson wore pumps featuring a bedazzled American flag.
Ashley’s American flag high heels, denim dress and bright red blouse worn with a bandana around her neck are classic Americana. It’s this idea that… I’m literally going to wear my patriotism on my sleeve.
Tashira Halyard, attorney and public policy expert
Kristian notes that Hinson’s visual identity provides a strategic advantage by signaling clearly to rural voters that she is a Republican.
Meanwhile, in Texas, the traditional necktie has vanished entirely from competitive political circles. The race between top prosecutor Ken Paxton, 63, and Democratic state lawmaker James Talarico, 37, features both contenders sporting relaxed blazers and cowboy boots on the campaign trail.
The necktie is dead on the campaign trail in both parties. The younger man dresses up to look serious, and the older man dresses down to look like one of the guys.
Robert Ordway, conservative public policy adviser
However, wardrobe choices can occasionally backfire.
Zee points out that a five-star resort-branded polo carries luxury associations just as effectively as a traditional suit, demonstrating how accessories can complicate a candidate’s intended message.
Visual Messaging and the 2028 Outlook
Fashion critic Friedman emphasizes that a natural-looking personal uniform serves as an exceptionally effective branding instrument on television and social media. As political battles increasingly play out across digital screens where split-second impressions dictate engagement, fashion historian Friedman anticipates that visual messaging will only grow in importance ahead of the 2028 general election cycle.
