These Democratic legislators are partaking in some of the most challenging electoral battles in 2024. They will not be present at the Democratic National Committee.
Senators Sherrod Brown from Ohio, Jon Tester from Montana, and Jacky Rosen from Nevada won't be attending the four-day gathering, according to their offices. In contrast, Democratic contenders in crucial state races, including Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, and Senator Tammy Baldwin from neighboring Wisconsin, are scheduled to appear at the gathering.
Brown and Tester represent states that Donald Trump won significantly in 2016 and 2020, while Rosen represents Nevada, a highly contested battleground state for Democrats. The absence of Brown, Tester, and Rosen is significant as Democrats strive to safeguard their slim Senate majority, with a potential Republican win in any of these races potentially shifting control of the chamber in November. Despite Rosen's advantage in Democratic circles, private polling suggests the race is narrower than public polling indicates.
The reasons for skipping the Democratic conference vary. Brown's campaign stated that he and his team have been planning to be in Ohio for months, with a list of cities he will visit instead. However, Brown endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency after President Joe Biden stepped down.
In Montana, Tester plans to attend a fundraiser in Missoula and a Pearl Jam concert at the University of Montana this week. He has yet to endorse Harris as a presidential candidate and chose to spend August meeting with Montanans and farming.
Regarding Nevada, Rosen's campaign spokesperson emphasized on Thursday that she supports the Harris-Walz ticket and joined them during a rally in Las Vegas the previous weekend. However, her focus remains on her reelection campaign, engaging with Nevada voters during the convention week.
There's no one-size-fits-all rule for attending party conventions, and every political race is unique. Strategists argue that a candidate's time is their most valuable asset, and spending it at the DNC means less time with undecided voters.
Mark Longabaugh, a Democratic strategist, stressed that for candidates in close races, the advantages of attending the DNC are minimal. “For some of these candidates in extremely competitive races, what’s the point of going to Chicago for a few days? You’re not going to get much media coverage. All these candidates are already doing well with fundraising; it’s not like they need to meet Steven Spielberg to raise money,” he said.
Dave Chase, a campaign manager for former Rep. Tim Ryan's Senate bid, explained that skipping the convention is not a matter of opposing the vice president. “I don’t think it’s really about being with the vice president or not. Regardless of who the nominee is, you tend to see folks in tight races skipping these events to focus on their campaigns,” he said.
Brown and Tester have cultivated distinct images that have helped them in tough races in the past. This election cycle, Tester has emphasized his willingness to oppose his party and take a more conservative approach. Brown has maintained support in Ohio with an image as a populist Democrat who can rally voters despite a growing conservatism. In both cases, these senators have showcased their independence from their state's political leanings during past campaigns.
A former Senate Democratic chief of staff suggested that Democrats attending are mostly those with speaking opportunities "that they feel will benefit their base voters and offer additional national funding exposure."
"I assume those staying home think speaking at the DNC won't benefit them in their races and would rather spend those days campaigning in their state," the former chief of staff said. "Even those attending, I'd bet are only going for one day."
Baldwin plans to tour most of this week, with a stop at the convention on Thursday before returning to Wisconsin for the rest of the tour, according to campaign spokesman Andrew Mamo. The Harris-Walz ticket is holding a rally in Milwaukee on Tuesday. Mamo stated that Baldwin, who endorsed Harris and Walz, didn't plan to attend because she had "pre-arranged engagements in northern Wisconsin."
The absence of Senators Brown, Tester, and Rosen from the Democratic conference could impact their parties' efforts to maintain their Senate majority, as these states are crucial in November's elections. Despite Brown endorsing Vice President Harris for the presidency and Tester planning to attend a fundraiser and concert, they have chosen to prioritize their home states over the gathering.
