A potential deal between President Trump and Democratic leaders to protect immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children is likely to benefit vulnerable House Republicans in 2018, according to a Republican strategist.
Trump got flak from his conservative supporters for entertaining an agreement with Democrats on how to legislatively restore the Deferred Action on Childhood Deportations (DACA) program, including Breitbart News and radio host Laura Ingraham. But the move is being applauded by 2018 watchers who are rooting for Republicans to hold onto their House majority in the face of motivated Democrats.
“This is an 80/20 issue. To a lot of moderates in these tough suburban districts, a deal on DACA absolutely will be helpful to Republicans trying to get re-elected,” said a senior Republican strategist involved in 2018 House contests.
This includes the likes of Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., and Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., both of whom represent suburban districts with an influx of Hispanics and are prime targets of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The DCCC is currently targeting upwards of 80 seats in next year’s elections.
Trump lost both districts to Hillary Clinton in November. He lost in Coffman’s district by 9 points, and lost by 16 points in Curbelo’s. The strategist said getting somewhere on DACA would probably help the chances of the two GOP lawmakers.
“It’s a no-brainer, it’ll be helpful,” the operative added.
Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., a former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, believes that a deal could help the vulnerable members, and he gave Trump credit for moving the ball forward on DACA despite receiving initial criticism.
“I think they should be pretty happy,” Walden said of vulnerable GOP members. “I think it depends upon your district, but if it’s done properly and openly, and we get legal certainty and we get border security, I think Americans said we want somebody that’s going to get their job done in Washington.”
“The American voters elected Donald Trump [and] wanted to get security on the border. That was a big issue for him, and he can be Nixon to China on this issue,” Walden said. “He’s probably done more to move both of these agendas forward than anybody in recent time, including the last administration that at one point had 60 votes in the Senate and didn’t do immigration reform. So I think he can lead and is leading effectively on his issue.”
Curbelo and Coffman have been at the forefront of the Republican effort to help the so-called Dreamers. In March, Curbelo introduced the Recognizing America’s Children (RAC) ACT that would give legal status to undocumented children and young adults. Coffman was also one of nine co-sponsors of the bill.
Coffman signed on as a co-sponsor of Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard’s, D-Calif., Dream Act legislation and said Thursday that he welcomed a deal between Trump and Democratic leadership.
Republicans are defending 23 seats where Clinton topped Trump, including two open seats being vacated by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., whose 27th District neighbors Curbelo’s, and Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash. Democrats will need to win about two dozen seats to take over control of the chamber.
