Tester will not attend DNC in Chicago as he focuses on keeping his Senate seat in Montana.
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., is forgoing the Democratic National Convention this month to focus on his crucial Senate race in Montana. This decision means missing out on the opportunity to support Vice President Kamala Harris, who recently secured the Democratic presidential nomination. Tester’s absence underscores the intense competition he faces in his re-election bid.
Despite Harris becoming the official nominee, Tester has not thrown his endorsement behind her. He has chosen to concentrate on his Senate campaign, confidently stating, “We’re going to win. And we’ll deal with the presidential race when we have time to do that.”
Interestingly, Tester played a pivotal role in encouraging Harris to run for Senate back in 2016. As the then-chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), Tester actively recruited Harris to run for Senate in California. This backstory adds layers to Tester’s current stance regarding the party’s nominee.
Tester’s decision to forgo the DNC mirrors that of Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who faces a similarly tight race and recently announced his absence from the convention. Both Tester and Brown’s Senate races are rated as “Toss Ups” by the Cook Political Report, indicating the high stakes involved.
In a surprising move, both Tester and Brown called on President Biden to suspend his campaign last month, adding to the mounting pressure that led to Biden’s decision to withdraw. This highlights the unpredictable nature of politics and the alliances that can shift under differing circumstances.
It is notable that Tester’s and Brown’s disinterest in attending the DNC stands in stark contrast to the Republican candidates in their respective races. Republican contenders, such as former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy in Montana, retired Army Captain Sam Brown in Nevada, veteran Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania, former Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan, and businessman Eric Hovde in Wisconsin, all participated in the Republican National Convention last month and delivered speeches, demonstrating their support for the party’s platform.
The upcoming elections in Montana, Ohio, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin remain highly contested and closely watched. The decisions made by candidates like Tester and Brown, as well as their rivals, will play a significant role in shaping the political landscape in the coming months.
