Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown (D) has opted to forgo the Democratic National Convention this year.
Breitbart News reported that Senator Brown will neither attend the DNC nor campaign with Vice President Kamala Harris, choosing instead to prioritize his own reelection campaign in Ohio.
The decision comes as Brown engages in a fierce battle to retain his Senate seat against Republican Bernie Moreno. In a state increasingly leaning toward former President Donald Trump, Brown has expressed the need to focus on local issues specific to Ohio rather than engaging in national party politics.
Senator Brown has made it clear that his priority is to address the concerns of Ohio voters. By skipping the DNC, he underscores his commitment to center his campaign on state-specific matters, distancing himself from broader Democratic presidential politics. "It’s not left or right. It’s not who you vote for, for president,” Brown told CNN. “It’s who stands up for people in the state.”
Brown's strategy involves concentrating on issues like abortion rights, the minimum wage, and the dignity of work, which he believes are crucial to Ohioans. He plans to draw stark contrasts between himself and his opponent, Bernie Moreno, particularly regarding their differing views and past business practices.
In a notable departure from his peers in other contested states, Brown will not defend President Joe Biden’s management of contentious issues, such as the situation at the Southern Border with Mexico. This approach differentiates him from other Senate Democrats who are facing the challenge of dissociating themselves from the national party’s less favorable perceptions.
Historical precedents show that splitting the ticket is a daunting task. From 2016 to 2020, only one Senate candidate succeeded in winning a state that voted for a presidential candidate from the opposing party. Brown hopes to defy these odds by convincing voters to support Trump for president while choosing him for the Senate.
"I’ve got my own schedule. She’s got her own schedule. I will focus on my race," Brown remarked, further emphasizing his plan to stay aligned with Ohio-specific issues. "My strategy is perhaps different from hers… talking about the differences on abortion rights and on the minimum wage between Bernie Moreno and me and how I fight every day for the dignity of work.”
Brown frequently skips political conventions, reinforcing his image as an independent-minded representative focused on his constituents. "I often skip conventions," Brown said, reiterating that his objective is to advocate for Ohio workers. He added, "My job is to fight for Ohio workers. You can talk about the presidential race. That’s your job. … I know that what will matter is people vote for me because I stand up for workers and will continue to fight for workers.”
On the other side of the aisle, Bernie Moreno sees Brown’s decision as advantageous. "Oh, it helps me tremendously,” Moreno noted, implying that Kamala Harris’s presence at the top of the Democratic ticket could potentially benefit his campaign. "So maybe Scranton Joe had a little bit of credibility here in Ohio. San Francisco Kamala absolutely does not,” Moreno added.
With the control of the Senate at stake, Brown’s reelection is being closely scrutinized. Alongside Ohio, other states like West Virginia and Montana are also seen as potential Republican gains, which could shift the balance in the Senate.
By emphasizing local issues rather than national politics, Brown is betting that Ohio voters will prioritize state concerns over party loyalty. This approach aims to resonate with constituents who may be swayed by Trump’s popularity in the state but are also concerned about issues closer to home.
Senator Sherrod Brown’s decision to skip the DNC and not campaign with Kamala Harris highlights his focus on his reelection in Ohio. He aims to address state-specific concerns rather than engaging in national party debates. Brown’s strategy involves concentrating on key issues such as abortion rights, the minimum wage, and workers' dignity. Despite the historical difficulty of splitting the ticket, Brown hopes to win support from Trump voters by zeroing in on differences between him and Bernie Moreno. Meanwhile, Moreno believes Harris's position on the Democratic ticket could enhance his chances.
