John Fetterman, Sherrod Brown And Martin Heinrich Among Democrats Skipping DNC: Here’s Why

Several prominent Democrats, including Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman and New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich, opted not to attend the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week. Despite the general enthusiasm surrounding the party’s presidential election, their absence suggested a desire to keep their distance from it.

Fetterman made a notable absence for someone not running for re-election this year. His decision not to attend the event was made public in an interview published Sunday by The Free Press. Fetterman stressed that the convention was “not about me” and claimed he had decided not to attend “well in advance” of President Biden’s lackluster debate against former President Trump in June. Prioritizing family time, he explained, “I have three young children and they don’t have school. That’s four days I can spend with my kids.” Fetterman also dismissed suggestions that his absence was due to his strong support for Israel, which could have caused friction within the party. He stated, “I don’t agree with a lot of his views, but any kind of policy decisions or any kind of political costs that he’s incurred throughout all of that, I don’t care about.”

Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, who is in a fierce reelection campaign in a state that is increasingly leaning Republican, also made the decision not to go. This month, Brown told CNN that he “often skips conventions” but occasionally attends “maybe one day.” But according to news reports, social media posts and convention programs, Brown attended every convention while a member of Congress. His campaign spokeswoman, Eliza Green, stated that Brown intended to remain in Ohio for several months, focusing on interacting with people in major cities across the state. Brown endorsed the Harris-Walz candidacy despite her absence, signaling his continued support for the party leadership.

Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico also decided not to attend the convention, even though his state has become more Republican-friendly as Biden’s popularity has waned. Despite citing “other commitments” during convention week, a Heinrich official reiterated his support for the Harris-Walz ticket. Heinrich had backed Harris from the start, applauding her choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate and giving her his endorsement shortly after she entered the campaign.

Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada decided not to attend the convention because she was in a tight reelection race against Republican Sam Brown. Rosen told the New York Times that staying home was “the best place I could be.” Rosen had never attended a Democratic convention, but she did her best to support the Harris-Walz ticket, joining them at an event in Las Vegas in the days leading up to the convention. During this critical period, her team emphasized that she was focused on her reelection campaign and building relationships with Nevada voters.

Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, who is up for reelection in a Republican-leaning state, also made the decision not to attend the convention. During convention week, Tester, one of the few House Democrats who has not endorsed Harris, had arranged for a Pearl Jam rock star to perform at a fundraising event. Tester’s team had suggested he planned to forgo national party events in favor of agriculture and face-to-face meetings with Montanans in August.

Several House Democrats also decided not to attend the convention, citing a variety of excuses related to their local obligations and reelection campaigns. In her first term representing a Colorado seat that is targeted for Republicans, Rep. Yadira Caraveo made the decision to stay in her state and stay out of the national spotlight. Because of the growing flames in her region, Rep. Val Hoyle of Oregon put the safety of her people before attending the conference. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, who is seeking reelection in a Republican-leaning district, has eschewed involvement with the national party in favor of interacting with people at summer hot spots. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington turned her attention to her reelection campaign, opting not to attend the convention to interact with her constituents, while Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola of Alaska focused on her primary, which took place simultaneously with the convention.