As the 2024 elections approach, several vulnerable Democratic senators are making a concerted effort to highlight their differences with President Biden in an attempt to boost their chances of re-election.
In the lead-up to the pivotal 2024 midterm elections, some of the most vulnerable Democratic senators up for re-election are distancing themselves from President Biden's policies and rhetoric in an attempt to appeal to more moderate and conservative voters. This tactic is not new in Congress, but it is taking on added significance as Biden's approval ratings remain historically low.
Among those who have been the most vocal in their opposition to Biden's agenda are Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and Bob Casey (D-Pa.). These senators are embroiled in some of the most competitive races in the 2024 cycle, and they face an uphill battle due to the Democrats' challenging re-election map.
One of the most notable examples of this distancing strategy came when Tester, a conservative Democrat who represents the deeply red state of Montana, came out in favor of a largely Republican-supported illegal immigration measure named after slain Georgia college student Laken Riley. This move was seen as a clear attempt by Tester to appeal to his Republican-leaning constituents, many of whom oppose illegal immigration.
Another example is Rosen, who represents the critical swing state of Nevada and has diverged with Biden on multiple occasions, including the controversial nomination of Adeel Mangi as the first Muslim federal appellate judge. Rosen cited Mangi's ties with an allegedly anti-law enforcement organization as her reason for opposing his confirmation.
Republican strategists acknowledge that these senators' efforts to distance themselves from Biden may be effective in helping them win re-election, but they question whether they can convince voters of their sincerity given their consistent support for Biden's policies in the Senate.
In fact, despite their recent criticisms of Biden, Tester, Brown, Rosen, Baldwin, and Casey have all voted in line with him a significant majority of the time. This fact could make it difficult for them to persuade voters that they are truly independent of the president.
However, the senators' supporters argue that they have a long history of standing up to presidents of both parties and that they are simply putting their constituents' interests ahead of party loyalty.
The Republican National Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has criticized these senators' tactics, calling them "bizarre" and accusing them of running against everything they voted for after Biden's poll numbers took a hit.
Republicans believe that the senators' attempts to distance themselves from Biden will continue as the elections approach, especially given his historically low approval ratings.
Political scientists point out that "distancing" from a party brand has been a time-honored tradition in Congress, but they are uncertain whether it will continue to work as politics in the U.S. become more nationalized. They believe that voters may be less likely to separate the individual from the party in today's political climate.
Democratic strategists, on the other hand, are confident that Biden's accomplishments, such as the creation of 15 million jobs and the capping of insulin prices at $35, will resonate with voters, and that Democrats will run on his "record of historic results for the American people."
As the 2024 elections draw nearer, it remains to be seen whether the vulnerable Democratic senators' strategy of distancing themselves from Biden will be successful. It is a high-stakes gamble that could determine the balance of power in the Senate for years to come.
