In a memo to fellow party members, Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut called on Democrats to take a proactive stance on border and immigration issues, citing Democratic Representative Tom Suozzi's recent victory in a special election for New York's 3rd Congressional District. Senator Murphy, who led negotiations on a bipartisan border security bill that was ultimately rejected by Republicans, praised Suozzi's forceful messaging on the topic.

According to Murphy, Suozzi effectively highlighted his support for a secure border and legal pathways to citizenship through campaign ads, successfully painting his Republican opponent as unserious about border security due to her opposition to the bipartisan bill. Murphy expressed his frustration at the swift rejection of the bill by Senate Republicans after months of negotiations, but he also saw it as an opportunity for Democrats to counter Republican talking points on the border.

Murphy argued that Republicans could not claim there was a border crisis while voting against a bipartisan bill written by their own party. He urged Democrats to emphasize their belief in a strong border and legal immigration, presenting a sharp contrast to what he characterized as Republicans' use of the border as a political tool to spread hateful and xenophobic messages about immigrants.

Highlighting the potential consequences, Murphy concluded that failing to seize this opportunity to address the border issue could result in a loss for Democrats in the 2024 election. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed Murphy's message in a New York press conference, emphasizing the importance of Suozzi's campaign strategy, which criticized Republicans for not supporting the bipartisan border security bill.

Schumer also criticized former President Donald Trump, suggesting that being aligned with his policies would not be beneficial for down-ticket Republicans in swing districts. He stated, "the American people don't want Trump acolytes running the country." Schumer expressed confidence that focusing on the border issue would be advantageous for Democrats.

Furthermore, the White House praised Suozzi's strategy and announced that President Joe Biden plans to adopt a similar approach. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates condemned Speaker Johnson's decision to kill the bipartisan border legislation, and noted that Biden aims to spread this message across the country.

In the lead-up to Suozzi's victory in the special election, Democrats saw an opportunity to demonstrate their dedication to addressing the record-high migrant crossings at the southern border. The National Republican Congressional Committee acknowledged that immigration was a net positive for Republican candidate Mazi Pilip, but it was not enough to overcome Suozzi's other advantages.

During the campaign, Republicans attempted to associate Suozzi with the liberal lawmakers known as "the squad," who are opposed to immigration enforcement. However, Suozzi's support for the bipartisan border deal and his criticism of Pilip's opposition to it helped him gain the upper hand.

In his victory speech, Suozzi emphasized the need for collaboration and stated that those who do not support his approach should step aside. The election result in New York's 3rd Congressional District has energized Democrats, who now believe that focusing on the border and immigration can be a winning strategy in the upcoming general election in November.

Overall, Democratic leaders are urging their party to seize the opportunity presented by Republican rejection of the bipartisan bill, turning the narrative on the border in their favor and presenting a contrasting vision of a strong border and comprehensive immigration policies. With their eyes set on the 2024 election, Democrats are determined to make the border issue a key talking point in their campaign.