46 Democrats Face Primary Backlash Over 2025 Laken Riley Act Votes
Updated
Updated · Salon · Aug 11
46 Democrats Face Primary Backlash Over 2025 Laken Riley Act Votes
1 articles · Updated · Salon · Aug 11
Summary
Primary challengers are turning 2025 votes for the Laken Riley Act into a liability for Democrats, arguing the law helped legitimize Trump’s mass-deportation agenda.
The law passed with 46 Democratic votes and requires detention and deportation of immigrants charged with crimes including shoplifting, even without a conviction, drawing due-process criticism.
In Minnesota’s August 11 Senate primary, Peggy Flanagan has made Rep. Angie Craig’s vote a central attack line; Craig now says she regrets giving the administration more authority after ICE’s "Operation Metro Surge."
Maryland Rep. April McClain Delaney also disavowed her vote before winning her primary by 6 points, while Arizona Rep. Greg Stanton faced similar criticism but easily beat back a challenge.
The backlash reflects a broader Democratic shift as Trump’s immigration crackdown deepens and polling shows 92% of Democrats and 60% of independents disapprove of his handling of immigration.