President Biden’s choice to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race and Vice President Harris’s rise as the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination have left vulnerable Senate Democrats scrambling to address fresh GOP criticisms of her record.
While Biden’s main vulnerability was his age and questions about his fitness for office, polls indicated that these issues largely affected him as a candidate and did not importantly impact Senate Democrats down-ballot.
Harris’s past endorsements and policy positions have also caused discomfort among some Democratic donors
Now, however, incumbents like Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) face scrutiny over Harris’s past controversial statements from the 2020 Democratic primary.
Previously, Democrats were concerned that low enthusiasm for Biden could dampen voter turnout in critical Senate battlegrounds. With Harris as the presumed nominee, it’s uncertain whether she will drive higher turnout among minority and young voters compared to Biden.
Nonetheless, there is optimism that her candidacy will energize the party, as evidenced by her raising $81 million in just the first 24 hours following Biden’s exit.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has issued a memo targeting Harris’s controversial positions, such as her stance on immigration, Medicare for All, and opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline and fracking. Jason Thielman, NRSC’s executive director, argued that Harris represents a remarkable challenge for Senate Democrats, potentially even more so than Biden.
Among the Democratic senators in competitive races, Brown, Casey, Rosen, and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) have endorsed Harris for president. Tester, who has not endorsed Harris, recently called for an open nomination process and urged Biden not to seek reelection.
Senate Republicans have noted that Tester once supported Harris’s Senate bid and are now focusing on her record as a “border czar,” including her opposition to the Title 42 health order and her proposal to rebuild Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from scratch.
The GOP is also highlighting Harris’s opposition to fracking in Pennsylvania, where Casey leads his Republican challenger, David McCormick, and her support for the Green New Deal, cuts in police funding, and the reimagining of police roles. Tom Garcia from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) argued that the changes at the top of the Democratic ticket will not affect Senate races, as Republicans are still contending with flawed candidates.
Democrats believe Harris can run on her achievements as vice president, which include lowering crime rates, decreasing border crossings, and contributing to a strong economy. Despite the GOP’s attempts to target Harris’s previous positions, some Democrats view these attacks as outdated and emphasize her current more moderate record.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has yet to fully endorse Harris but plans to meet with her soon to discuss party unity. Schumer’s reluctance to back Harris fully reflects concerns among some Democrats about the impact of Biden’s departure on Senate races.
Recent polling shows Democratic incumbents generally ahead of their Republican opponents, except for Tester, who is in a tight race with Republican Tim Sheehy. Republican strategists are using Harris’s 2019 and 2020 positions to their advantage, including her support for decriminalizing illegal border crossings and her proposals for immigration reform and Medicare expansion.
Harris’s past endorsements and policy positions have also caused discomfort among some Democratic donors. However, donor John Morgan has declared he will not support Harris’s campaign and expressed a preference for other potential Democratic candidates like Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear or Sen. Joe Manchin, who recently left the Democratic Party.
