Incumbent Nevada Democrat Senator Jacky Rosen has been touting her bipartisanship and willingness to go against her party in her re-election campaign. However, Republicans have pointed out that her voting record tells a different story. Despite claiming to not walk the party line, Rosen voted with President Biden 98.6% of the time last year. In addition, her alignment with Biden has only increased over time, with a previous analysis showing she sided with him 92.5% of the time in the 117th Congress. Rosen has also voted with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer 95% of the time in the current 118th Congress.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee has criticized Rosen for trying to cover up her record of being a rubber-stamp for Biden and Schumer by portraying herself as bipartisan. Republican Senate candidates Sam Brown, Jeff Gunter, and Tony Grady have all condemned Rosen’s voting record, with Gunter calling her a “far-left’s rubber stamp in the Senate.” However, Rosen’s spokesperson has defended her, stating that she has been ranked one of the most bipartisan and effective Senators in the nation due to her proven record of political independence and working across party lines.
Rosen’s bipartisan image has been further supported by rankings from various analyses of the 117th Congress, including those from Georgetown University, the Lugar Center, University of Virginia, and Vanderbilt University Center for Effective Lawmaking. These rankings have recognized Rosen as one of the most bipartisan and effective Senate Democrats, based on her ability to advance her agenda items through the legislative process and into law. Additionally, a CQ Roll Call analysis of votes in 2023 showed Rosen as the Senate Democrat who voted against her party third-most often, further bolstering her claim of political independence.
Despite Rosen’s efforts to present herself as bipartisan, the Cook Political Report recently shifted its rating for the Nevada Senate race from “Lean Democrat” to “Toss Up.” This change reflects the competitiveness of the race and the uncertainty surrounding the outcome. With the battleground state matchup now rated as a toss-up, Nevada joins only three other states – Arizona, Montana, and Ohio – with a similarly uncertain political landscape. Rosen’s ability to navigate her voting record and position herself as a bipartisan candidate will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the upcoming election in Nevada.
