It’s Senate night at the DNC.
Democratic nominees from nearly every major Senate matchup got a convention speaking slot on Thursday evening: Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona— even Texas. But there were three notable exceptions.
Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, two red-state Democrats, stayed home. They’re the incumbents with the tallest task this cycle: winning states that former President Donald Trump carried in 2020. Brown has endorsed Harris; Tester has not. Both are doing all they can to keep their distance from the top of the ticket, and this week is no different.
Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada also did not trek to Chicago for the convention. She had scheduling conflicts back home in Nevada but she did rally with Harris when she was in Las Vegas.
A red-leaning electorate did not deter Democratic Rep. Colin Allred of Texas — a state that Trump won by more than 5 points in 2020 — from speaking. He is, however, a challenger and not an incumbent.
For many Senate Democrats, the fundraising boost associated with a primetime TV hit and the donor access that conventions offer make up for any downsides. Many of the incumbents are also far more comfortable with the top of the ticket now that President Joe Biden has passed the torch. Harris, a former senator herself, has personal relationships in the chamber, and her stronger polling than Biden’s allays Senate candidates’ fears of being dragged down by the presidential race.
Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, who is running for a blue open seat in Maryland, spoke on Tuesday about her personal history with Harris.
