A group of top Democratic Senate challengers will be skipping the Democratic National Convention next week in Philadelphia, where Hillary Clinton is expected to be named the party’s nominee.
A handful of Democratic campaigns said the convention, which will be held July 25 to 28, conflicts with scheduled state campaign events, the Hill reported.
Arizona Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, former Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortex Masto, and former Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold are all missing the convention. The three Senate hopefuls are in competitive races that could help Democrats flip the chamber from Republican control.
Democrats will need to gain five Senate seats to win a majority—four if Clinton wins the White House in November.
Kirkpatrick, who will likely challenge Arizona Sen. John McCain (R.), and Cortez Masto will be campaigning during the conventions. Feingold said last month he did not plan to attend the convention.
Jason Kander, a Missouri Democrat running to oust Republican Sen. Roy Blunt, will also miss the event.
"Due to the number of events we have in Missouri next week, Jason won’t be able to make it to the convention," a spokeswoman for Kander’s campaign said in a statement Tuesday. "He was looking forward to supporting Missouri’s delegates in Philadelphia but will make sure to catch up with them when they come home."
A considerable number of Republican senators skipped their party’s convention this week. Many of those who stayed home are in competitive races and will also be using the time to campaign in their hometowns.