A parade of candidates hoping to flip the Senate took the stage at the Republican National Convention Tuesday night and criticized President Joe Biden and his Democratic allies, saying they have embraced policies on crime and border security that jeopardize public safety and put American lives at risk.
“We’re losing our country,’’ said Hung Cao, a refugee from Vietnam who is running against Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine in Virginia. “Under Joe Biden, millions of illegal aliens flood our borders. They fly Hamas flags on our campuses and they shout ‘death to America.’ As an immigrant to this great country, let me be very clear to everyone who comes here. Don’t ask for the American dream if you’re not willing to obey the American laws and embrace the American culture.”
Another immigrant seeking a Senate seat, Ohio’s Bernie Moreno, struck a similar theme.
“The American dream that I lived is under attack from Joe Biden and his enablers in the Senate like Sherrod Brown,’’ Moreno said, referring to his Democratic opponent. “They have encouraged millions of illegals to invade America … They’ve destroyed our border. They destroyed our economy. They’re destroying our standing in the world. And they’ll destroy America if we don’t stop them.”
The focus of the second night of the RNC was on crime and border security under the theme “Make America Safe Again.” Unmentioned by any of the Senate candidates was a bipartisan immigration bill negotiated by Sens. Christopher S. Murphy, D-Conn.; James Lankford, R-Okla.; and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., that sought to stem the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs and give the president new tools to manage the southern border. Republicans tanked the measure in February after former President Donald Trump expressed opposition.
Kari Lake, who is running for Senate in Arizona, falsely asserted that her Democratic opponent, Rep. Ruben Gallego, voted to allow noncitizens to vote in the November election. Voting by noncitizens in federal elections is already illegal, but that ban would be reinforced in a House bill that passed last week on a largely party-line vote that also would allow private citizens to sue election officials over voter registrations and establish criminal penalties for registering a noncitizen to vote.
In their brief speeches, several of the Senate candidates painted a bleak picture of an America under Biden that has been ravaged by criminals and choked by inflation.
“Drugs have poured across the Biden-Harris-Casey wide-open borders,” said Dave McCormick, who is seeking to unseat Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania. “Illegal immigrants have victimized innocent young women who could easily be your daughter or mine … Biden and Casey’s failed policies have crushed working families with sky-high prices for gas and groceries and rent.”
The hourlong lineup of candidates also included Eric Hovde of Wisconsin, who is challenging Sen. Tammy Baldwin; former Rep. Mike Rogers, who is running for an open seat in Michigan; Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia, who is seeking that state’s open seat; and Sam Brown of Nevada, who is challenging Sen. Jacky Rosen.
While decrying the country under Biden, many of the candidates said the nation’s fortunes would turn, however, if Trump is reelected.
“We need President Trump back in the White House if we’re going to make America great once again,’’ said Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana, who is running for the state’s open Senate seat. “He’s going to need backup in the United States Senate. This is no time for wimpy Republicans … We’ll start by securing the border. If you came here illegally under Joe Biden, you’re going back to where you came from under Donald Trump.”
Democrats sought to turn the succession of Republicans to their advantage by sending out email fundraising pitches.
“Eric Hovde got a prime speaking slot at the RNC tonight in Milwaukee,” Baldwin wrote. “If we lose this race, Democrats will lose control of the Senate majority. I need your help to respond and curb my opponent’s momentum.”
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