When Republican senators voted against border bills tied to foreign aid, they gave Democrats the opportunity to portray themselves as the strong border party in November.
On Wednesday, 49 Republican Senators voted against a border deal that aimed to slow down illegal immigration, which Senate Democrats tied to aid for Ukraine and Israel. Now, if Democrats are hoping to take advantage of voters heavily interested in seeing the Southern Border secured, they can point to some Republicans who are willing to vote against border aid if it is tied to foreign aid.
Biden’s recent statement that his administration would quickly act to secure the border if a bill is passed provides him with the ammunition to attack Republicans now that they have voted down his border bill. Biden said he would “shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed” if the bill had passed into law.
Biden’s change of heart can be attributed to voters’ evolving priorities reflected in polls, where immigration has risen to the top concern. As border crossings continue to rise, Biden administration policies, which have led to the crisis, are primed to take action that places blame on the Republican side of the aisle.
Trump’s pressure on House Republicans to reject any immigration compromise adds another layer to the complexity. Trump aims to leverage the immigration issue for the upcoming elections, putting the GOP in a delicate position. If the necessary number of Republicans vote against future border bills, they may face challenges explaining to voters why they did not take decisive steps to address the escalating border crisis.
In the Senate, proposed legislation aligns with Republican priorities, encompassing measures to support border security agents and elevate asylum-seeking thresholds. Despite these commonalities, Biden’s attempt to outpace Trump on illegal immigration may be a futile endeavor for Democrats. It could also be just the move Biden needs to secure enough independent voters in November.
Voter memory is often clouded and focused on the most recent of recent history. Voters will forget that the Democrats’ open border policies created the crisis in the first place, instead remembering how the Democrats attempted to secure the border, while Republicans fought against these efforts.
In the election of 2020, voters forgot the accomplishments of the Trump administration due to the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing Biden to win the day.
Republicans who refuse to compromise, especially in matters related to national security, could allow Democrats to portray the GOP as incapable of governing. But Republicans who negotiate risk getting primaried by unelectable MAGA candidates. Republican voters will remember their elected officials’ lack of action in addressing the political failure at the border, demonstrated with how Senators voted on Wednesday’s failed border bill.
Historically, Republicans have lost the public relations battle on spending and other federal issues, allowing the Democrats to control the narrative. Should they continue forcing Republicans to vote on border bills unpopular with GOP primary voters but supported by independents, America might see the re-election of Biden in 2024.
