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Democratic Senators Reflect on Election Setbacks Due to Immigration Issues

In the wake of the election losses, Democratic senators are admitting that their party made significant errors regarding border security, which many believe contributed to President-elect Trump’s decisive victory and the loss of four Senate seats.

During a recent lunch meeting in the Senate’s Mansfield Room, senators engaged in a thorough discussion, examining the various factors that led to their electoral defeat, despite what they perceive as President Biden’s noteworthy achievements and a robust economy.

Several Democratic lawmakers expressed concern that voters’ dissatisfaction with President Biden’s performance was largely influenced by rising costs, which they argue played a pivotal role in Trump’s electoral success.

However, there is a growing sentiment among party members that the Biden administration’s handling of the migrant surge at the southern border severely undermined their campaign efforts. One senator remarked, “We destroyed ourselves on the immigration issue in ways that were entirely predictable and manageable. Our mismanagement is not someone else’s doing.”

There is a consensus among some Democratic officials that lifting Title 42, the emergency health order implemented by Trump to curb the entry of migrants, was a critical blunder. This reversal allowed a significant influx of migrants to remain in the U.S. while awaiting the slow legal process of their asylum claims.

Senate Democrats attempted to shift the blame onto Trump for undermining a bipartisan border security agreement negotiated with Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) earlier in the year.

Vulnerable Democratic candidates argued that their proposed asylum reform legislation would have empowered the President to manage border control effectively, but claimed that Republicans opted to kill the bill to leverage the issue politically.

This defensive strategy ultimately fell flat. One senator noted, “Many Democrats believe the leadership, particularly Biden, mishandled the border situation.” He criticized Biden’s broad reversal of Trump-era policies upon taking office, questioning the strategic rationale behind such sweeping changes.

Biden’s decision to terminate the “remain in Mexico” policy, halt construction on the border wall, and pause deportations has drawn particular ire within the party, with some senators labeling border policy as Biden’s “Achilles’ heel.” Yet, this senator acknowledged the necessity of rescinding Trump’s controversial family separation policy.

Polling data underscores the importance of immigration as a key concern for voters, trailing only the economy. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll identified immigration as nearly as significant as abortion for voters’ priorities. Furthermore, recent polls suggested that Trump held a slight edge over Vice President Harris on the immigration issue in several key battleground states.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), who transitioned to an independent following the 2022 midterms, warned of an impending crisis at the border as Title 42’s expiration approached. She had previously sponsored bipartisan legislation to extend the policy’s enforcement measures.

Colleagues Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and others echoed her concerns, having made proactive appeals to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas regarding the potential repercussions of ending Title 42.

As Democrats reflected on the election results, several House members voiced their agreement that the party’s border security policies played a substantial role in the losses. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) asserted that the border crisis severely alienated working-class voters, further complicating an already challenging election landscape.

Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.) indicated that Biden’s administration mismanaged the situation, a sentiment that resonates with several party members who are now calling for a more profound analysis of the electoral fallout.

One senator emphasized the need to comprehend broader voter trends that led to losses across demographic groups, including among men, Hispanic voters, and women, attributing part of this shift to Trump’s effective messaging on social media platforms.

Biden’s reaction to the surge in migrants, characterized by an executive order intended to curb asylum requests, was regarded by some as too little, too late.

Comments from a Democratic strategist highlighted that the perception of inaction over the years eroded any last-minute efforts to reclaim voter trust. The exit polls revealed a notable shift among Latino men, with Trump outperforming Harris, despite his controversial remarks about immigration.

Some Democratic leaders had been hesitant to adopt a tougher stance on border security out of fear of appearing anti-Latino. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) noted that the party would continue to analyze the election results, highlighting instances where Democratic candidates did succeed in traditionally Republican states.

Yet, many senators find little solace in this view, especially in light of significant losses among key party figures. One senator captured the mood succinctly, noting, “We were caught on the wrong side of a change election. The presidential ticket posed a significant challenge, especially for Harris.”

In light of these internal discussions, there is a growing recognition within the party that recalibrating their approach to border security could be essential for regaining lost ground in future elections.

Source
thehill.com