Freshman Rep. Gabriel Vasquez, D-NM, represents one of the most competitive House districts in the country and wants the president to address the economy, the border and the situation in the Middle East in his State of the Union address. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Hide caption
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Freshman Rep. Gabriel Vasquez, D-NM, represents one of the most competitive House districts in the country and wants the president to address the economy, the border and the situation in the Middle East in his State of the Union address.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
The political fate of many Democrats on Capitol Hill — particularly those voting in the elections this fall — may be tied to President Biden's fate this November.
That's why they want him to use his State of the Union address, when millions will tune in, to highlight the economic progress he made in his first term and to explain how he will do so in our remaining years in office House will be built on it.
Rep. Dina Titus told NPR she wants the president to point out certain things he's done.
“Don’t talk about infrastructure. Talk about the street in my district,” she said. Titus represents a purple seat in Nevada and wants the president to remind people that the economy is doing better because of his policies. “Las Vegas is recovering fastest in the country and we were the hardest hit. That's why we have to remind people that we are working now. They have health care. Things are moving – we're taking the express train south to California.”
Last year, Biden gave Democrats a boost by getting into a fight with Republicans over Social Security protections. Pennsylvania Democrat Matt Cartwright represents Scranton, Pennsylvania – where Biden grew up – and hopes he will go off script again.
“He needs to improve his Irish like he did last year,” Cartwright told NPR. He pushed back against the president's handlers who want to keep him informed, saying they shouldn't worry about any gaffes. “The slip-ups are already embedded in his numbers and have been for decades.”
The border and economy are key issues for Democrats in the purple district
Cartwright says the economy is recovering and that's proof Biden's policies are working. He believes that's why voters are telling him that the border is now their biggest concern.
“They're starting to realize the economy isn't as bad as it used to be, so there's a new villain to talk about.” He expects the president to talk about his recent trip to the southwest border.
Freshman Gabe Vasquez represents a district in southern New Mexico and is frustrated that House Republicans have blocked a bipartisan Senate bill to regulate the U.S.-Mexico border. He has some bipartisan suggestions of his own, saying, “The president needs to take a stronger and much stronger leadership role in this conversation at the national level.”
Sen. Gary Peters, who leads Senate Democrats' campaign arm, says he expects the president to talk about his role in shaping the border deal in the Senate. “I think the president needs to be very clear. We are on the side of finding a solution. And the Republicans have just thrown stones and have no interest in actually finding a solution,” Peters said.
While many Democrats NPR spoke with say the border is certainly a key issue, they are particularly focused on the need for Biden to explain how he has turned the economy around, but are also focused on implementing further measures that put a strain on people's wallets.
Vasquez wants Biden to speak to those voters who are not yet reaping the benefits of a growing economy. “The main problem I'm hearing about is that their paychecks aren't big enough, that they're one medical emergency away from bankruptcy, and that with the rising costs of food, utilities and everything else, they're looking for some relief.”
Sen. Jon Tester, the most vulnerable Senate incumbent running for re-election in deep-red Montana, is also calling for more action on the economy.
“I think I want to know what the administration plans to do about cutting costs. I mean, we passed the Inflation Reduction Act, but we can do more,” Tester told NPR.
He said gas prices have gone down, but other items have not. “I am a farmer. Agricultural machinery is currently very expensive. You know, if he would come up with some ideas about what he's going to do about housing, child care and worker training, that would be good.”
Some swing state Democrats want more details on Middle East policy
Vasquez told NPR he was proud to be the first swing district Democrat to call for a ceasefire in the war in the Middle East, and said of Biden, “And I think the president should find that in his heart too.” “The right thing to do is to ensure that there is no further bloodshed among civilians at the expense of American taxpayer dollars.”
Titus, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, says she expects foreign policy to be a central part of the speech and wants strong support for Ukraine. She notes that the president and his administration are pushing for a ceasefire and putting more pressure on Israeli officials to address key humanitarian issues. However, she admits that it is difficult to set an exact date for a ceasefire when Israel and Hamas are not “the two main negotiating tables.”
Unlike Trump and the age concerns
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., served in the House of Representatives and led the Democratic Campaign Committee during the 2008 presidential campaign. He says the State of the Union address should highlight the president's performance but also draw contrast with his likely opponent, former President Trump. “Speak to the country about the progress we have made, but also the progress that still needs to be made, and the dangers of turning back the clock to a toxic, divisive and chaotic administration of the former president .”
Democrats say there are voter concerns that Biden is too old to serve another term, but Titus says it's about experience, not age. She advises the president to make fun of it and says of the age issue: “Just acknowledge it and move on, there's no point in trying to hide it.” Everyone knows their birthday.”
Rep. Tom Suozzi, who just won a special election in New York, says Biden can't change his age but Thursday's speech is “very, very important” to him at this point after Super Tuesday and the start of the campaign against Trump. “I think people want to see how is this guy going to perform? And I believe it will exceed expectations.”
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