Midterms 2026Answers · Campaigns
What is opposition research?
Opposition research, often called oppo, is the work campaigns do to dig into an opponent's public record: votes, statements, finances, past jobs and anything else that might matter to voters. Campaigns also research their own candidate, so they know what the other side will find.
What researchers look at
Most of it is public and unglamorous:
- Voting records. What the opponent voted for or against in office
- Public statements. Speeches, interviews, op-eds and social media posts
- Financial disclosures. Required filings and campaign finance reports
- Court and property records. Lawsuits, business filings and other public documents
- News archives. Old stories that voters may have forgotten
The goal is usually a file that is organized, sourced and ready to use in an ad, a debate or a response to the press.
How it gets used
Good oppo is specific and checkable. A campaign takes a fact, such as a vote on a particular bill, and turns it into an attack ad or a debate question. It might give the material to reporters, hoping they'll write about it so the campaign doesn't have to.
It matters as defense too. A campaign that has researched itself knows its weak spots and can prepare a response before an attack lands. I think this self-check is the most useful part, and the one first-time candidates skip.
Where it goes wrong
- Weak sourcing. An attack built on something false or exaggerated can backfire badly
- Over-reach. Digging into private matters unrelated to the job tends to draw sympathy for the target
- Leaks and timing. A damaging detail released too early can be forgotten, and one released too late can't be answered
This is also the root of the October surprise, a late-breaking story that changes the race. See what an October surprise is.
What I'd do
I'd research my own candidate first and honestly, then the opponent, and I'd stick to facts I could prove.
The fictional rivals in Midterms 2026 work a bit like a campaign with good oppo. In that free iPhone game, the Democrats and Republicans run attack ads in states where you get close, and they push harder as you grow. The characters and events are made up, but the lesson holds: once you're a threat, someone will start looking for your weak spot.