Political butterflies are not surprising since this political phenomenon is common, aiming to align with dominant parties. This especially aligns with the parties of the country’s incumbent president. But a barefaced party hopping, also known as turncoatism, in the midterm election in the Philippines is not needed if the election does not involve with presidential position, so long as political machineries are at work.
Part of the political machinery of the politicians, which I think helped them garner winning votes, is the relationship between local and national politicians. Of course, this relationship is spiced by the patronage relation where a patron will distribute resources, and this primarily connects both levels. The relationship of both levels is equally important since the senatorial candidates are much reliant on the local politicians because local politicians have a higher capacity to mobilize voters. They have more connection and engagement with the electorate. Fewer than the soon-to-be Senators of the country will favor those municipalities that mobilized their votes.
To briefly analyze the senatorial race, the lead aspiring senators, the “magic twelve,” who came from different political parties, were able to compete. Firstly, the people, especially the young voters, manage to overwhelm the electorate with their position. This narrative is apparent coming from the candidates Bong Go and Bam Aquino. They championed the Malasakit and Free Education branding, which was continuously advertised by the people through social media. Many people appreciate and benefit from these programs and laws. The two respectively lead the senatorial race. Secondly, the important element of the relationship to the local politics allows them to secure a position. This second narrative posed a crucial subject for analysis since “politics of endorsement” becomes a primary means for electoral mobility.
As many would have caught or become accustomed to the practice of some local elections, flyers or lists of candidates were distributed to the people. Along with this is the endorsement from the local leaders for a straight vote. A candidate who has a good connection to local political families and clans will be endorsed. As in the field of political science, every connection in politics between national and local powers can be deduced to the elements of patronage.
The endorsement happened either as a strategic decision by the local leaders because the candidates are dominant in the surveys, which they might think they can benefit from, since they have the highest probability of winning. Or that the candidates have the means, like financial capacity, to distribute resources in exchange for votes.
With the strong control and power of political families and clans, which can always influence the voters with their capacity to mobilize votes, endorsement can often be seen as one special element for securing votes for national candidates. Regardless of the political parties they are in, so long as they are well acquainted with the contours of power in the local politics, and they can serve as the patron, or will return favors, winning a seat is most likely feasible.
Political parties, as many scholars would argue, lack the ideology that makes them indistinguishable from each other. This may be another means for electoral mobility, but the current senatorial election, where leading candidates are coming from different political parties, and where local politics practiced the “politics of endorsement,” the 2025 Philippine midterm election transcended political parties.