Some Democrats snub Kamala and the DNC in the Windy City.

Some Senate Democrats facing competitive reelection bids do not view Chicago as their ideal location.

In Chicago, prominent Democrats from battleground states such as Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., snubbed the city of big shoulders, as their party held the Democratic convention.

According to Sen Gary Peters, D-Mich, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), every candidate will make their own decision about where they should be, and some candidates may prefer to remain in their state and communicate with voters there.

Democrats are facing a tough battle to maintain their slim Senate majority this fall, with several key seats up for grabs. In red and swing states, Democrats are struggling to hold onto their seats, including those of Sens. Rick Scott and Ted Cruz. Additionally, Sen. Joe Manchin is retiring, leaving his seat almost certain to turn red. The race between Democratic nominee Rep. Elissa Slotkin and GOP standard-bearer Mike Rogers in Michigan is also tight.

Democrats are avoiding Vice President Harris and keeping a distance from progressive speakers at the convention, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

It is better to avoid the Windy City when campaigning and facing tough questions from the national press. Alternatively, moderate candidates can pose with someone who is too far left or controversial when it comes to the war in the Middle East. Additionally, candidates can be asked about their opinions on President Biden dropping out, Vice President Harris's comments, or the military service of Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D).

Jon Tester scratched Chicago for Pearl Jam.

In the midst of the convention, Jeff Ament, the bassist of the band and a native of Montana, hosts a fundraiser for Tester in Missoula, Mont.

If Tester wins, he will secure a fourth term in the Senate.

Democratic leaders applauded their colleagues who stayed away from Chicago.

"According to Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill, "I believe it will aid Jon." "Jon is a Montana Democrat, not a national Democrat," he added."

Rosen is staying away from Chicago as she seeks reelection in the swing state of Nevada. Cortez Masto, D-Nev., barely won reelection in 2022 by less than 8,000 votes. Biden bested Trump in the Silver State in 2020 by fewer than 35,000 votes. Despite staying clear of Chicago and Harris, Rosen's allies believe a win by the vice president in Nevada could boost her. The Senate contest now tilts slightly in favor of Rosen, with the Cook Political Report shifting it from a "toss-up" to "lean Democrat."

Some Democrats from swing states who are on the November ballot are not avoiding Chicago.

Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., is running for the Senate against GOP nominee Kari Lake, while Sen. Kyrsten Sinem, I-Ariz., who is a Democrat, is retiring.

In Chicago, two Democratic senators from competitive states were spotted: Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., and Sen. Bob Casey, D-Penn.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., did not attend the convention, stating that he had other commitments. Despite this, Fetterman has been at odds with the left regarding his views on immigration, the border, and the Middle East.

This group of Democrats isn't the only ones who have missed their party conventions.

In 2012, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., faced a competitive re-election bid, as did Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V. Despite facing tough re-election bids, all three senators opted to skip their party conventions. Despite this, all three senators ultimately won their races. It's difficult to dispute the effectiveness of this strategy.

Numerous Republicans were not fond of former President Trump, hence they avoided the GOP's 2016 convention in Cleveland and the pandemic-restricted convention in 2020.

In 2016, Sens. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Pat Toomey, R-Penn., were absent.

In the 2020 election, Senators Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Mitt Romney, R-Utah, did not participate.

Some prominent political figures have spoken at conventions of the opposite party.

In the Republican convention in New York, Late Sen. Zell Miller, D-Ga., nominated President George W. Bush for a second term while criticizing the Democratic nominee, former Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

In 2020, John Kasich, the former Republican governor and congressman from Ohio, delivered a speech at the Democrats' virtual convention, despite having run for president as a Republican in 2016.

In 1989, Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., began his career in the Senate as a full-fledged Democrat. However, after losing his 2006 primary but winning re-election, Lieberman declared himself an "independent Democrat." Despite this, he caucused with the party at the end of his career. Lieberman was Al Gore's running mate in 2000. In 2008, he spoke on behalf of the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., at the GOP convention in St. Paul. This move almost led to Democrats expelling Lieberman from the Senate Democratic Caucus. This occurred after the nation elected President Obama, who was then Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

The political affiliation of former Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., has undergone several changes. Crist was initially elected as a Republican in 2006 and later lost the GOP Senate nomination to Sen. Marco Rubio in 2010. He then ran for Senate as an independent, but Rubio won. Crist spoke at the Democratic convention in Charlotte in 2012 and later joined the Democratic Party. He ran for governor as a Democrat in 2014 and lost. He then ran for the House as a Democrat in 2016 and won. In 2022, Crist ran for governor as the Democratic nominee, but lost to Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Michael Bloomberg, a lifelong Democrat, ran as a Republican for Mayor of New York in 2001. As mayor, he scored the 2004 GOP convention for New York following 9/11. However, he spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia and ran as a Democrat for president in 2020, losing to President Biden.

In the past, Democrats attending the convention may have sent postcards to their supporters back home, wishing they were there. However, if Democrats truly want to maintain control of the Senate, they should keep Brown, Tester, and Rosen as far away from Chicago as possible. The best chance Democrats have of retaining the Senate lies in keeping these lawmakers out of the city.