McCain, John
1936–2018

McCain's final years were defined by his institutionalist Republican opposition to the Trump-era GOP — the thumbs-down ACA-repeal vote, the 'regular order' floor speech, his farewell letter to America warning against tribalism, his record of immigration reform leadership (the Gang of Eight), his pro-Ukraine and pro-NATO posture, and his treating colleagues across the aisle with respect. Paxton embodies the populist Trump-era mode that McCain spent his final years warning the GOP against; Paxton has spent years trying to dismantle the ACA McCain voted to save. Talarico's institutionalist temperament, immigration-reform framework, alliance-restoration posture, Ukraine support, 'regular order' anti-corruption package, and respect-across-the-aisle style fit McCain's documented values closely. McCain would disagree with Talarico on economic policy and on tax positions but would respect the temperament and the institutional framework. The provoking element of this grade is how cleanly it splits — the Republican senator who scored highest in late-career Republican respect rates Paxton at 2.