Democrats are targeting Republican candidates as ‘carpetbaggers’ in an attempt to sway voters and retain their Senate majority. Despite historically ineffective campaigns using this strategy, Democrats hope to capitalize on voters’ aversion to non-locals seeking office. Five Democratic incumbents, including Jon Tester and Bob Casey, are facing competitive reelection battles in swing states where Republicans have been accused of being ‘carpetbaggers.’ Montana’s Tim Sheehy and Pennsylvania’s Dave McCormick are among those facing such accusations. Democrats argue that these candidates lack understanding of the states they are running in, while Republicans dismiss the attacks as baseless attempts to avoid discussing policy differences. Experts note that the strategy may resonate in certain regions due to their unique political dynamics involving insiders versus outsiders.
