Most Democratic challengers staying away from Denver

Democratic candidates for the House and Senate are all over the map when it comes to attending the Democratic National Convention later this month.

While almost all of the party’s top Senate candidates will be in attendance in Denver, the party’s most vulnerable House incumbents are split about showing up, and few of its House hopefuls will be making the trip.

{mosads}Of the more than 30 Democratic challengers and open-seat candidates surveyed by The Hill, only seven said they would definitely be attending the convention, which begins Monday, Aug. 25. One of them is a candidate in a nearby Colorado district and five will be fulfilling their obligations as delegates.

And while some in the Democratic freshman class have expressed apprehension about being a part of the convention — Florida Rep. Tim Mahoney, in particular — about half of those who responded to the survey said they would be there.

Those declining include members from some of the most conservative districts Democrats are defending, including Reps. Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.), Don Cazayoux (D-La.), Jim Marshall (D-Ga.) and Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.).

In an anti-Washington and an anti-incumbent environment, showing up at your political party’s national convention is a dicey proposition for candidates in either party.

Though it can be argued the GOP brand is particularly toxic at this point, Democrats are trying to win House seats in some very conservative districts where associations with the national party could potentially harm the Democratic candidates.

Mahoney, who is a superdelegate, said in March that he would avoid the convention if possible, saying he has “better things to do in my district.”

Spokeswoman Leslie Pollner-Levey said Tuesday that Mahoney still hadn’t made a final decision and that his office is looking at his schedule.

The offices of Boyda, Cazayoux, McNerney and Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Wis.) also emphasized that they’d prefer to spend the time with constituents.

Even those who are going suggested they were doing so begrudgingly.

Several emphasized that they would be there for a short time.

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) said he would be there, “but only for two days in order to cast my vote as the representative of nearly 700,000 constituents in my district for the nomination of the next president — a responsibility in being their representative.”

Similarly, almost every Democratic candidate trying to win a conservative House seat is not taking part, including former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes, Montgomery, Ala., Mayor Bobby Bright and Louisiana candidate Paul Carmouche.

Of those candidates who are showing up, five — Nevada candidate Dina Titus, New Jersey candidate John Adler, Illinois candidate Debbie Halvorson and Florida candidates Raul Martinez and Joe Garcia — are delegates to the convention.

Betsy Markey is running in the nearby district held by Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.) and is a top Democratic hope.

The only one traveling a distance completely by choice is Ohio candidate John Boccieri (D), who is running in retiring Rep. Ralph Regula’s (R) swing district.

Several candidates were still finalizing their schedules to see if they could make the convention fit, including New Mexico candidates Harry Teague and Martin Heinrich and Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), whose spokesman said she is likely to show up.

Of the 19 Democratic Senate candidates surveyed, 13 said they would definitely attend and only three — Anchorage, Alaska Mayor Mark Begich, former Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and former Rep. Jim Slattery (D-Kan.) — said they will not be going.

Almost all of the top races are takeover opportunities for Democrats. In those races, many top GOP candidates have balked at attending the Republican National Convention, held the following week in St. Paul, Minn.

Click here to download a PDF of who is attending the Democratic convention. 

Kevin Bogardus contributed to this article.