Several Democratic Senators up for re-election in battleground states are facing a difficult situation in the Senate as the impeachment trial for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is expected to begin soon due to his role in the ongoing crisis at the southern border. Republican sources expect pressure to increase on Senators such as Jon Tester, Jacky Rosen, Tammy Baldwin, Sherrod Brown, and Bob Casey, who are all facing competitive races in November. Voters in these states have expressed strong concerns about the state of the border, prompting potential challenges for these Senators.
The House passed two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas in February, but the articles were held until after the appropriations process was finished. House Speaker Mike Johnson intends to deliver the articles to the Senate on April 10, urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to move quickly on a trial. While Senate Democrats largely dismiss the charges against Mayorkas as political posturing, the Senators up for re-election in close races might be influenced by the growing concern over the border among their constituents. This presents a political challenge for these vulnerable Democrats, who may face attacks on the campaign trail from their Republican opponents.
Republican Senate candidates are expected to hold their Democratic counterparts accountable for their stance on the border crisis. In a memo from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, candidates were advised to emphasize the Biden administration’s failures at the southern border and target Senate Democrats who vote to acquit Mayorkas. This could potentially hurt the re-election chances of Democratic Senators like Jon Tester, who is facing pressure to hold a full impeachment trial against Mayorkas. Similarly, Senators like Bob Casey, Sherrod Brown, and Tammy Baldwin may face scrutiny from their Republican challengers.
Senator Joe Manchin, who has been known to occasionally break ranks with Democrats, is expected to support his party in dismissing the trial quickly. However, other Republican Senators like Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins may not be on board with continuing the trial, potentially complicating the process given the Senate’s narrow 49-51 split between Republicans and Democrats. The decision on whether to continue the trial could be a difficult one for Senators like Tester, Brown, and Casey, who will have to choose between their base and the concerns of independent voters regarding the border crisis.
As Senators grapple with this decision, DHS Secretary Mayorkas is scheduled to appear on Capitol Hill on April 10 for an unrelated hearing before the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee. This coincides with the expected delivery of the articles of impeachment to the Senate, adding to the complexity of the situation. The outcome of the impeachment trial and the response of Senators in battleground states to the border crisis could have significant implications for the upcoming elections and the political landscape in the Senate.
