Facing competitive Senate elections, Democratic incumbents in Montana, Ohio, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania have remained largely silent on the guilty verdict handed to former President Trump in a New York trial involving falsified business records. Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Bob Casey (D-Penn.) have not publicly commented on the verdict, while their colleagues on both sides of the aisle have weighed in.
Trump was found guilty by a New York jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels following an alleged affair with her. While Republican lawmakers have largely criticized the conviction, Democratic reactions have varied.
Notably, the five Democratic incumbents who are most vulnerable in the upcoming elections have refrained from commenting on the verdict. These senators represent battleground states that have voted for Trump in the past. For instance, Tester hails from Montana, where Trump beat President Biden by over 16% in 2020.
The silence from these Democratic incumbents highlights the potential impact of the verdict on the Senate majority. The verdict could energize Republican voters and make it more difficult for Democrats to maintain control of the Senate. However, it is also possible that the verdict could motivate Democratic voters and help them retain the majority. The outcome of the November elections will ultimately depend on a number of factors, including the broader political environment and the specific candidates running in each race.
