The Impact of Biden’s Debate Performance on Down-Ballot Races
As the dust settled after the first presidential debate, concerns began to arise among Democrats about the down-ballot effect of President Biden’s performance. Politico’s Ally Mutnick reported that there was chatter among Democrats that Biden’s performance could potentially spook major funders of campaigns and outside groups, which may lead to pain down-ballot. Pundits and Republican candidates in swing-state congressional races wasted no time expressing their thoughts on the debate, while some Democratic candidates distanced themselves from the sitting president.
In Pennsylvania, Trump 2016 campaign adviser David Urban warned that Biden’s debate could be the catalyst for down-ballot losses for Democrats. Republican House candidate Ryan Mackenzie, challenging a Democratic incumbent in the 7th Congressional District, emphasized the consequences of Biden’s policies on voters’ daily lives. Mackenzie stated that voters were experiencing the effects of bad policies at the grocery store, at work, at the pump, and in their neighborhoods, and urged them to vote for change on November 5th.
In Arizona, Republican candidate Dr. Zuhdi Jasser criticized Biden’s incoherence and questioned his ability to lead the nation. Blake Masters, a Republican candidate in the 8th Congressional District, tweeted that the format of the debate was devastating for Biden, as he struggled to stay awake. GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake expressed her concern over the next four and a half months, stating that Biden was not equipped to run the country.
In Virginia, Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal skipped a veterans’ event ahead of Trump’s rally. She sent out an email after the debate claiming to be leading over freshman incumbent Republican Jen Kiggans. However, Kiggans had flipped this seat from Democratic to Republican in 2022. In Wisconsin, incumbent Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden called Biden a train wreck during the debate. Ben Voelkel, spokesman for GOP challenger Eric Hovde in Wisconsin’s hot US Senate race, criticized Biden’s inability to explain the consequences of inflationary and open borders policies.
In Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer defended Biden after his debate performance. She criticized former President Trump for his response to COVID-19 and his involvement in the 2016 election. Michigan, a crucial battleground state, has hotly contested House races in its 7th and 8th Congressional districts. The state also has a competitive Senate race between Elissa Slotkin (Democrat) and Mike Rogers (Republican).
It is clear that Biden’s performance in the debate has generated concerns among Democrats running in down-ballot races. Chris Devine, a University of Dayton political science professor, highlighted the potential struggle for Democrats to mobilize their supporters in Ohio with Biden at the top of the ballot. The impact of Biden’s debate performance on down-ballot races is yet to be fully understood, but it is evident that it has raised questions and caused some Democratic candidates to distance themselves from the president.
