The White House’s Midterm-Travel Sweepstakes
The White House has implemented an internal competition to encourage Cabinet members to visit competitive congressional districts ahead of midterm elections. Officials track travel to swing states to promote the administration's agenda, though the White House denies that the competition impacts official policy.
Why it matters
This highlights the intersection of administrative governance and political campaigning, illustrating how executive branch resources are utilized for electoral strategy.
Cabinet members were rewarded points and praise for appearing in congressional districts and states with competitive midterm elections.
Illustration by The Atlantic September 13, 2026, 6 AM ET Share Save N early every day, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles meets with Meghan Bauer, a presidential assistant who coordinates with Cabinet members, to review who’s recently traveled where, who’s heading out into the country, and—perhaps most important—who’s in a swing district at that very moment. The debrief is part of the administration’s unofficial Cabinet Travel Competition, overseen by Bauer, in which the White House encourages Cabinet secretaries to traverse the country to promote President Trump’s agenda and tracks their visits to politically competitive congressional districts or states ahead of the midterm elections.
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