Democrats Don't Want to Run for the Senate--and It Will Screw Them [View all]

[Celerity]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/stacey-abrams-and-other-top-democrats-look-longingly-at-the-white-house-but-loathe-the-senate

At least three of the nearly two dozen Democrats eyeing the presidency would have a good shot at winning a Senate race and helping to end the GOP’s domination. Instead they chose not to answer their party’s call to make the run, and you can’t really blame them.

Party favorite Stacey Abrams bowing out of the Georgia Senate race put a spotlight on the challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faces in recruiting candidates who want to come to Washington and serve in a chamber mired in gridlock. “Serving in the Senate is not nearly as fun as it used to be,” says Jennifer Duffy, who tracks Senate races for the non-partisan Cook Political Report.

Abrams may yet enter the presidential race, putting her in good company with Beto O’Rourke, who rejected a second try for the Senate in Texas, and John Hickenlooper, who won’t challenge Republican Senator Cory Gardner in Colorado, instead opting to be the longest of long shots for president.

Then there’s Montana Governor Steve Bullock, who turned down party entreaties to run for the Senate, explaining it doesn’t suit his skill set. “I just wouldn’t enjoy it,” he said. Who does these days? Democrats are hard to recruit when it means serving in an institution controlled by the loathsome Mitch McConnell, who has stripped away many of the rules and traditions that made the Senate a club politicians wanted to join.

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another big turn-down not mentioned:

Susan Rice Will Not Run Against Susan Collins For Maine Senate Seat In 2020

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/susan-rice-will-not-run-against-susan-collins-for-maine-senate-seat-in-2020_n_5caf9d2ae4b082aab082e55a