Killing Border Deal is 'Terrible' for GOP: Dem Campaign Chief Gary Peters

As Senate Republicans weigh whether they will support a bipartisan border security deal currently under negotiation, the Democratic party's Senate campaign chief Gary Peters of Michigan is preparing his party's message if the GOP declines to act.

Crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border have reached historic highs, and President Joe Biden pledged on Saturday to "shut down the border right now" if Congress passes legislation granting him new powers.

However, former President Donald Trump, who's likely to face Biden in 2024 has come out against a deal, calling it "horrific" despite the bill's text having yet to be released. The president's stance has divided the Senate GOP as some lawmakers remain supportive of a deal and others come out against it.

If Republicans refuse to support a bill, Peters—who Georgetown University's Luger Center has consistently ranked as one of the most bipartisan and effective lawmakers—plans to make voters in swing states aware of their unwillingness to cross the aisle. With Senate seats up for grabs in states like Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin come 2024, such messaging could prove impactful.

"Democrats want to move a strong border security bill forward. We knew we'd have to change laws in order to strengthen our borders, and to have the Republicans unwilling to actually deal with a solution, is terrible," Peters, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, told Newsweek.

"They just want this as a political issue," he continued. "They don't actually want to solve the problem. The American people want folks that are going to solve problems. They're not doing that."

Newsweek emailed the Trump campaign as well as the National Republican Senatorial Committee for comment regarding this issue.

To Peters's point, Republican Representative Troy Nehls of Texas conveyed the thinking some members of his party have concerning partnering with Democrats on the border, telling CNN that "I'm not willing to do too damn much right now to help a Democrat and to help Joe Biden's approval rating."

However, his stance does not represent the thinking of all Republicans. Senator John Thune of South Dakota, who as minority whip serves as the second highest ranking Senate Republican, believes his party should pass a deal now while Democrats are willing to make concessions.

Thune told reporters, "There's absolutely no way that we would get the kind of border policy that's being talked about right now." Backers of the deal, like Thune, believe that legislation passed now would benefit a Republican president in the future, including Trump who previously complained about his limited authority to handle border crossings.

If Republicans ultimately follow the lead of Nehls instead of Thune, Peters believes voters will see a clear contrast between the two parties' approach to governance.

"You can't talk about border security and then not act on it. That's what the Republicans are doing," Peters told Newsweek. "It's another proof point that Republicans simply don't know how and do not want to govern."