Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer predicted Democrats will win big in November, as several of the most vulnerable Democratic senators — including Jon Tester of Montana — skipped the the Democratic National Convention altogether.
Schumer, a New York Democrat, took an optimistic tone about Democrats’ chances of victory during an interview with CNN‘s Kaitlan Collins on the convention floor Tuesday evening, offering praise for Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of speeches from Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and the Obamas.
“What we’re going to hear is the amazing contrast between what a Harris-Walz administration would do for working families, and the contrast for Republicans and Trump. The contrast is glaring. The more Americans see that contrast, the more we’re going to win by. And I bet we’re going to win by more than just a little,” he said.
However, his remarks come as several Democratic senators running for reelection in key races are notably absent from the floor of the convention, instead opting to campaign for their re-elections back home.
Tester, who is locked in a toss-up race in Montana against Republican Tim Sheehy, was planning to attend a Pearl Jam concert in lieu of the DNC, according to local media reports.
The Montana Free Press reported last week that Tester will be attending a fundraiser featuring the band on Wednesday, as well as the band’s concert on Thursday, which is not a campaign event.
Tester’s press secretary Harry Child told the publication that Tester “plans to spend his August farming and meeting face to face with Montanans.”
Polls show Montana’s race as a toss-up. Despite the state being reliably Republican, Tester has proven to be a candidate who can outrun the top of the ticket in previous elections. Republicans, however, are hoping presidential turnout will make it more difficult for him to win over enough Republicans to secure another six years in the Senate.
At least two other vulnerable Democratic senators are skipping the convention.
Senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, are not expected to be in attendance this week.
Ohio, once a battleground, is now more reliably red, with former President Donald Trump winning the state in both 2016 and 2020. Brown has similarly put up strong performances in the past, and polls show him leading Republican Bernie Moreno, even as Trump is again expected to carry Ohio.
Meanwhile, Rosen is set to be campaigning in Nevada, a crucial swing state for both the Senate race and presidential election. She has led Republican Sam Brown in most polls, at times by double digits. Rosen campaigned with Harris in Las Vegas earlier this month.
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Chair Gary Peters told Fox News that “every candidate is going to make their own decision as to where they need to be, and certainly some candidates would much rather just be in their state talking to voters in their state.”
“Everybody has to make a decision about how they run their campaign, and they will do that. They’re all very experienced candidates and incumbents. They know what’s best, and they’re doing what they think is best for them in their state,” he said.
Axios reporter Stephen Neukam noted on X (formerly Twitter) that the absences may show “how some candidates are still trying to keep their distance from the top of the ticket.”
