After US President-elect Donald Trump’s sweeping victory, Democrats spent Thanksgiving reflecting on what went wrong, with many admitting that President Biden’s handling of the border crisis alienated voters and handed Republicans control of the White House, New York Post reports.
Party insiders have privately acknowledged that their failure to address concerns about illegal immigration hurt vice president Kamala Harris’ campaign.
‘Political malpractice’
“We destroyed ourselves on the immigration issue in ways that were entirely predictable and entirely manageable,” a Democratic senator told The Hill, acknowledging the party’s role in their election loss. “We utterly mismanaged that issue, including our Democratic caucus here. That’s political malpractice,” they added.
A source close to New York City mayor Eric Adams said his warnings about the effects of a porous border on cities and working-class voters were ignored. “For two years, (he) warned, and they did not listen.”
One House Democrat said the party needed to simplify its message to win voter support saying, “We need to admit to the American people, ‘crime and illegal immigration are bad.’”
How did Biden’s policies backfire?
Many Blue party members blamed Joe Biden’s border policies for the Democrats’ defeat. These included halting the construction of Trump’s border wall, ending the “Remain in Mexico” policy, and pausing deportations.
“Why would you do that? Who are you trying to play to?” another Democratic senator told The Hill, voicing confusion and frustration over Biden’s policies.
In January 2023, Eric Adams had warned Biden’s campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, that working-class voters were angry about the growing number of low-skilled asylum seekers. Instead of heeding the warning, Chavez dismissed Adams, accusing him of using Republican talking points.
“Now Democrats are paying the price,” an official close to Adams said.
Border crisis
The border crisis hit a record high last December with over 302,000 crossings in a single month. Critics accused him of hiding the problem by funnelling migrants through legal entry points.
Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in January that over 85% of illegal border crossers were released into the US, up from 71% the previous October.
These policies fuelled Republican attacks, leaving Democrats vulnerable on an issue that mattered deeply to voters.
What led to Trump’s victory?
Trump’s campaign focused on immigration and crime. He pledged to deport criminals and proposed economic reforms like eliminating taxes on overtime pay and tips, which appealed to working-class voters.
His message connected with voters in Hispanic areas of South Texas and South Florida, where he gained strong support. Exit polls showed Trump won most Hispanic male voters and grew his support among black men in key swing states.
Immigration, alongside inflation and crime, ranked among voters’ top concerns, helping Trump reclaim the presidency.
