Ahead of midterms, Democrats mobilize around immigration, anti-ICE sentiment
CBSN
Immigration may have been a political liability for Democrats in 2024. But two years later, it's shaping up to be a top issue they're relying on to galvanize support and mobilize their base.
Immigration may have been a political liability for Democrats in 2024. But two years later, it's shaping up to be a top issue they're relying on to galvanize support and mobilize their base.
Voters will be casting their ballots in the midterm elections in 10 months. In their campaigns, Democrats across the country are responding to the anger felt by many communities over the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations, after the fatal shootings this month in Minneapolis of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer and Alex Pretti by Customs and Border Protection agents.
"We're living in a time where we have ICE kidnapping people and we've got moms getting shot in the face," Brian Varela, a Democratic candidate running in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, told CBS News in an interview. "We don't have time for just strategy and only pragmatism."
That district, held by incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr., could play a critical role in the balance of power in the House. Republicans currently hold a very slim five-seat majority, which means Democrats would take control of the House with a net gain of just three seats in November.
Varela will be endorsed Thursday by the progressive-leaning organization Latino Victory Fund, CBS News has learned. His campaign is betting the endorsement, and the national group's financial and operational backing, can help propel the New Jersey entrepreneur to victory over his seven Democratic primary opponents this June and position him to flip the district.

Another winter storm may be headed toward the East Coast of the United States this weekend, on the heels of a powerful and deadly system that blanketed huge swaths of the country in snow and ice. The effects of that original storm have lingered for many areas in its path, and will likely remain as repeated bouts of Arctic air plunge downward from Canada and drive temperatures below freezing. Nikki Nolan contributed to this report. In:

Washington — The Senate is set to take a procedural vote Thursday morning on a package to fund the remaining government agencies and programs, with less than two days to avoid a partial government shutdown. But Democrats say they won't allow the package to move forward without reforms to immigration enforcement. Caitlin Huey-Burns contributed to this report.











