3 Senate Democrats to Miss DNC

Washington — Three vulnerable Senate Democrats, Jon Tester of Montana, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, have decided to forgo next week's Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Instead of attending the event, where Vice President Kamala Harris will be celebrated as the party's nominee, the senators will focus on engaging with voters in their home states. This decision comes as all three face challenging re-election campaigns that could significantly impact the balance of power in the Senate. Tester, notably, has not yet officially endorsed Harris' presidential bid, making him the only one among the trio to withhold support. Reports indicate that he was the sole Democratic delegate from Montana who did not vote for Harris during the recent virtual roll call. Both Tester and Brown represent states that leaned heavily towards Donald Trump in the last two presidential elections, while Rosen's Nevada is considered a battleground state, having narrowly gone to Biden in 2020. The absence of these senators from the convention highlights the precarious position they find themselves in as they navigate their re-election efforts. While Rosen has opted out of the convention, she recently campaigned alongside Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, in Las Vegas, indicating her commitment to the party despite her absence from the national stage. The decisions of these senators reflect the strategic choices they must make in the lead-up to the elections.