Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Nov 1: Democratic candidates contesting key US midterm election races are increasingly criticising former president Joe Biden's handling of border security, seeking to address a political vulnerability that Republicans have repeatedly used against the party.
Candidates in crucial Senate and House battleground contests are openly distancing themselves from Biden's immigration policies, acknowledging that border security remains a major concern among voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
In Texas, Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico has criticised Biden's record in a campaign advertisement aired during the final stretch of his closely contested race against Republican Ken Paxton. “I called out Joe Biden for failing us on the border,” Talarico said. He had also criticised the former president in July while announcing his own border security plan.
In Kansas, Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton similarly described immigration management under Biden as a disaster during a debate with Republican Senator Roger Marshall. Hamilton said the subsequent response to the situation had also created serious problems for people across the state.
Like several other Democrats campaigning in areas that supported Donald Trump in 2024, Hamilton has combined criticism of Biden's border policies with objections to what he considers excessive enforcement under the current administration.
The debate has intensified following reports of immigration officers fatally shooting two Americans in Minnesota and another person in Maine this year. Critics have questioned the administration's enforcement methods, while Democratic candidates are attempting to strike a balance between supporting border security and defending humanitarian immigration policies.
Biden's handling of immigration became a major political liability during his presidency, particularly following a sharp increase in migrant crossings. When he took office in 2021, he inherited a migration surge that had begun during the Covid-19 period. His decision to roll back several Trump-era restrictions and allow more asylum-seekers to remain in the country while their cases were considered was followed by a significant increase in border crossings.
Republicans repeatedly highlighted the issue during the 2024 presidential campaign, with Trump making border security a central part of his political messaging.
Democratic House candidate Paige Cognetti, who is challenging Republican Congressman Rob Bresnahan in a competitive district around Scranton, Pennsylvania, also acknowledged Biden's failures during a debate. She said the country needed a secure border while ensuring that legitimate pathways to citizenship remained available.
In South Carolina, Democratic Senate candidate Annie Andrews similarly admitted during a debate that Democrats had failed on border security.
Democratic pollster Celinda Lake said candidates were making a politically sensible move by distancing themselves from Biden's record. She noted that immigration had been a major issue for Republican voters and swing voters during the 2024 election.
Lake also said criticism of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement could create a different political challenge for Republicans, arguing that effective messaging should combine border control with a humanitarian approach to immigration.
In Iowa, Democratic Senate candidate Josh Turek travelled more than 800 miles to Laredo, Texas, to film a campaign advertisement highlighting his support for stronger border enforcement. He said developments along the southern border had consequences for communities across the country, including Iowa.
Turek also said he had voted alongside Republicans to allow law enforcement agencies to arrest and deport criminals. In an earlier advertisement, he pledged to work with anyone, including Trump, to address immigration and secure the border.
In Texas, Democratic candidate Johnny Garcia, who is contesting the redrawn 35th Congressional District against Republican nominee Carlos De La Cruz, has criticised Trump's immigration raids for their economic impact while also acknowledging shortcomings under Biden.
During a recent public forum, Garcia referred to the 2022 migrant smuggling tragedy in which 53 migrants died after being found inside a tractor-trailer in San Antonio. He said the incident demonstrated the consequences of failures in border management, adding that the country could not ignore border security or the concerns surrounding immigration enforcement.
The growing criticism of Biden among Democratic candidates reflects the party's attempt to reshape its immigration message ahead of the midterms, balancing demands for stronger border controls with concerns over enforcement practices and access to legal pathways for migrants.