Schumer throws Senate into campaign mode with borderline vote.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is shifting into campaign mode, planning a series of messaging polls on border security, contraceptive access and other pressing issues.

The changes reflect a widespread perception in the Senate that there is little chance of substantive legislation being passed between now and Election Day as lawmakers remain committed to an arduous campaign.

Schumer has largely avoided so-called “show votes” on bills that have little chance of passage. Because for most of this Congress and the first two years of 2021 and 2022 when Democrats have a Senate majority, he wanted to focus on bills that actually have a chance of passing. It could become law.

But senators don’t expect much more to be done before the election beyond confirming judges and executive branch nominees now that Congress has safely passed $61 billion in Ukraine funding for fiscal 2024 and its annual budget proposal. -Reauthorization by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“The election is getting closer,” said one Democratic senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, describing Schumer’s focus on getting out the vote message.

“The question is what can we do with the rest of the year?” the lawmaker asked, noting that top priorities have already been completed, including funding Ukraine, funding the government, reauthorizing FISA warrantless surveillance and the FAA.

Democrats have become increasingly anxious about losing Senate seats, as a new poll last week showed President Biden trailing in five battleground states hosting Senate races: Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania.

Many Democratic senators are concerned that border security will be a political burden for Biden, but they see an advantage over Republicans on women’s health issues, particularly abortion rights.

The Senate is expected to vote Thursday to advance a bipartisan border security agreement that was introduced with just four Republican votes as part of an emergency foreign aid package in February.

Senate Republicans, including the bill’s co-author, Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), sought to block the bill again on Thursday, even though it was approved by the National Border Patrol Council earlier this year. He said he would vote overwhelmingly for it. American Chamber of Commerce, Wall Street Journal Editorial Board.

It’s something Schumer and other Democrats say will be a good talking point in campaign ads and stumps this fall as they face a barrage from Republicans over border security.

“Three months ago, Donald Trump told his Republican allies to block the strongest bipartisan border security bill in an entire generation. Luckily, we’re trying again tomorrow and this time we hope Republicans will join us and get a different result,” Schumer said Wednesday.

Schumer previewed Thursday’s vote earlier this month and tried to draw more attention to Thursday’s vote by holding a press conference Wednesday afternoon focused on the flow of fentanyl across the southern border.

But Schumer and other Democrats are well aware that the bill is expected to get only two or three Republican votes at most.

They inherently know there is no chance of getting Republicans to support border security legislation or proposals to protect women’s access to reproductive health. That’s why they plan to ruin their Republican colleagues with political messaging polls.

Schumer also announced Wednesday that the Senate will hold a vote on the contraceptive rights bill next month. Democrats plan to use the bill to further highlight rulings by conservative judges that have restricted women’s access to health care, including abortion.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), chairwoman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, said Democrats plan to highlight political and policy differences with Republicans on other issues, but did not specify what messaging bills might be forthcoming.

“We’ll have to wait with bated breath to decide what’s next, but there will be other opportunities,” she said.

But Republicans are ignoring the vote, saying it is unlikely to do much to protect vulnerable Democratic incumbents, including Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

“This is actually purely a political maneuver right now, and I think most people will see it that way,” said Senate Republican leader John Thune (D-S.D.).

He said the issue comes down to how many voters view Republicans and Democrats, as polls show voters trust Republicans more to handle border security.

“There’s no way (Democrats) can get away with that. They own it. Their incumbents own it,” Thune said.

Lankford, the bill’s lead Republican author, said there was “no question” the bill would make things better at the border. But he said Schumer is not introducing the bill with any serious desire to get it passed.

“This isn’t about trying to accomplish something. “Now it’s about the message,” he said.

Senate Democrats have said they expect Schumer to hold another vote later this year on other bills related to women’s access to health care and reproductive rights.

Schumer forced Republicans to vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act in May 2022 after a draft opinion of the Supreme Court’s majority decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which overturned abortion rights, was leaked to the public.

Republicans blocked the bill by a vote of 49 to 51, some of whom argued that the bill would be passed over the 1973 Roe v. It argued that it went beyond simply codifying the right to abortion established by Wade.

Schumer also introduced a voting rights bill to the Senate in January 2021. Even though it was clear there wouldn’t be enough Republican support to pass it.

Democrats advanced the bill to highlight Senate Republicans’ refusal to protect voting rights, especially those of Black voters, from a barrage of new restrictions at the state level.

But much of the 2022 election, when Democrats still controlled the House, was devoted to passing major bipartisan legislation, including legislation to address gun violence and bolster domestic semiconductor production after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas.