Democratic candidates in several key 2026 races are openly criticizing former President Joe Biden’s handling of border security as they try to win over swing voters ahead of the midterm elections. Candidates running in states such as Texas, Kansas, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Iowa have called Biden’s border policies a failure, arguing that Democrats need to show stronger support for enforcement. Many of them are also promoting their own immigration plans that combine tougher border security with legal pathways to citizenship. Their comments reflect growing concern within the party that Republicans continue to use border issues as a powerful campaign message. At the same time, many of these Democrats have criticized President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, arguing that some enforcement actions have gone too far. Candidates are trying to strike a balance by supporting stronger border controls while opposing policies they see as harmful to communities and the economy. Political strategists say the shift shows how much immigration has changed as an issue for Democrats since 2024, when high numbers of migrant crossings became a major political problem for the party. With control of Congress at stake, candidates in competitive races are increasingly trying to distance themselves from Biden’s record while presenting themselves as tougher on border security.
FILE - In this Sunday, March 15, 2020, file photo, former Vice President Joe Biden participates in a Democratic presidential primary debate at CNN Studios in Washington. Biden won Oregon’s Democratic presidential primary, outpacing Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who both suspended their campaigns earlier in the year. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)