As the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago approaches, three of the Senate's most vulnerable Democrats have decided to forgo the event in favor of campaigning in their home states.
Senators Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Jon Tester (Mont.), and Jacky Rosen (Nev.) have all chosen to skip the convention next week, a move that underscores their efforts to distance their campaigns from the national party's top ticket.
According to a report by Axios, the decision by these senators reflects their need to project a moderate image in states that lean Republican or are swing states.
With Vice President Kamala Harris and running-mate Tim Walz representing the party's more liberal wing, Brown, Tester, and Rosen are keen to localize their campaigns, particularly in states where former President Donald Trump won by significant margins in the past two elections.
The decision by Brown and Tester to focus on their home states is particularly notable given that both Ohio and Montana were won by Trump in 2016 and 2020.
To secure re-election, they will need to significantly outperform Harris and the national Democratic ticket. In Nevada, Rosen faces a similar challenge, as President Joe Biden won the state in 2020 by less than 3 percentage points, making it a critical battleground for both parties.
Senators Brown and Tester have been cautious in their approach to the Biden administration, often maintaining a strategic distance from the president.
While Harris' relatively strong poll numbers have made some Democrats more willing to appear alongside her, the risks associated with attending the DNC appear to outweigh the potential benefits for these senators. This calculated decision reflects the delicate balancing act they must perform as they campaign for re-election in competitive states.
While Brown, Tester, and Rosen will be absent from the DNC, other Democrats in competitive races have chosen to attend.
This includes Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.), as well as Michigan's Elissa Slotkin and Maryland's Angela Alsobrooks. Their decision to participate highlights the varying strategies within the party as candidates navigate their paths to re-election.
The absence of these key senators from the convention may raise questions about party unity, but it also emphasizes the localized strategies that some Democrats believe are necessary to secure victory in challenging races.
With the 2024 election on the horizon, these decisions reflect the high stakes involved for Democrats as they seek to maintain control of the Senate.
Senators Sherrod Brown, Jon Tester, and Jacky Rosen have decided to skip the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to focus on their re-election campaigns in their respective states. Their absence underscores the strategic importance of localizing their campaigns in battleground states, where they must outperform the national ticket to secure victory. The decision reflects the complex dynamics at play as vulnerable Democrats prepare for the 2024 election.
