Some vulnerable Democratic Senate incumbents up for re-election in November are distancing themselves from President Biden in an effort to appeal to voters ahead of critical matchups. Senators like Jon Tester, Sherrod Brown, Tammy Baldwin, Jacky Rosen, and Bob Casey are facing tough re-election races in 2024. They are emphasizing their differences with the president and in some cases have publicly disagreed with his policies. Tester, for example, recently came out in support of a Republican-backed illegal immigration measure, while Rosen blocked a controversial Biden nominee.
Republican strategist Scott Jennings noted that some Democrats may start sounding like MAGA Republicans in their TV ads as they seek to distance themselves from Biden. Despite voting in line with the president most of the time, these incumbents are trying to highlight moments of disagreement to appeal to voters who might be dissatisfied with Biden’s administration. For example, Tester voted with Biden 94.6% of the time in 2023, while Brown, Rosen, Baldwin, and Casey voted with Biden even more frequently.
Spokespeople for the Democratic senators have emphasized their independence and willingness to stand up to presidents from both parties on issues important to their constituents. They argue that their senators have consistently fought for their states regardless of who is in the White House. However, National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Communications Director Mike Berg criticized these Democrats for running against policies they previously supported now that Biden’s poll numbers have declined.
Despite their efforts to distance themselves from Biden, some analysts question whether voters in these states will be able to separate the individual senators from the larger Democratic Party. As politics become increasingly nationalized, voters may view these Democratic incumbents as tied to the broader party platform, regardless of their attempts to demonstrate independence. Republican strategist Zack Roday believes that these Senate Democrats are ultimately safe votes for Biden and will continue to align with him on key issues.
President Biden’s historically low approval ratings have prompted these vulnerable Democrats to focus on showcasing their differences with him to appeal to voters. Biden has emphasized his accomplishments, such as creating jobs, capping the price of insulin, and making healthcare more affordable. However, the Democratic senators are trying to distance themselves in light of the president’s low approval ratings, with some Republicans viewing their efforts as disingenuous.
Overall, the strategy of vulnerable Democratic Senate incumbents to distance themselves from President Biden ahead of the 2024 elections is seen as an attempt to appeal to voters dissatisfied with the current administration. While they have traditionally supported Democratic policies, these senators are highlighting moments of disagreement as they face tough re-election races. It remains to be seen whether this strategy will resonate with voters in states where politics are increasingly nationalized.
