Immigration Reform 2014: The Pro-Immigration Reform Politicians Running in This Year's Midterm Elections
The 2014 midterm general election is set for November 4, and with Congress still in a deadlock over immigration reform, voters are likely to be looking for some decision makers when they cast their votes. For those looking to hold onto or claim a Senate seat, being a pro-immigration reform candidate might make all the difference.
And it's an important times, says one state election website.
"Traditionally, midterm elections tend to go heavily against the party of sitting presidents, more so during the second midterm of a presidency (sixth year). In the past 100 years, all second midterms, with the exception of 1998, saw the opposition party gaining seats in the Senate, House and state governorships."
Here are several of the top midterm candidates who are pro-immigration reform:
Chris Coons --- The Senate candidate from Delaware doesn't support a pathway to citizenship, he does want to work to help people stay here legally, and backs comprehensive immigration reform. He backs granting amnesty to undocumented immigrants, according to Faith2Action.org. He also co-sponsored the "Best to Brightest Act" which could grant more visas to immigrants working in STEM related fields.
Mark Udall ---- He has a mixed record on his support for immigration, but one of the key things he supports is extenuating immigrant residency rules. Udall also voted against a bill that would require hospitals to report when they treated undocumented immigrants.
Michelle Nunn --- Georgia Senate candidate backs the immigration reform bill. "I admire the senators that are working together, like Marco Rubio and John McCain, to work with our Democrats to get things done. I think the immigration bill is one of the rare examples where people are coming together for a common-sense solution. We've got the Chamber of Commerce, labor unions--we've got a lot of people saying this is a pragmatic solution for immigration challenges. It's good for the economy, it's good for deficit reduction," she told the Atlanta Journal Constitution last year.
Colleen Hanabusa --- The Democratic candidate in Hawaii supports allowing more visas to immigrants who focus in the science fields through the "best and brightest act". She also supports a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who come here.
Richard "Dick" Durbin --- This Illinois Senator supports immigration reform as well as extending partner immigration rights to gay couples. He's also backed a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants access to social security benefits, as well as establishing a guest worker program. Durbin also supports giving guess workers a path to citizenship.
Alison Grimes --- The Senate candidate running in Kentucky backs the immigration reform bill and has worked as an activist fighting for immigrants rights. She was a leader in the Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition.
Al Franken --- The Minnesota Senator supports a guest worker program and comprehensive immigration reform. "I believe we need comprehensive immigration reform. I don't believe it's practical to deport the 10-12 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the US. And I don't believe in breaking up families. Instead, we should look to bring them out of the shadows and put them on a path to citizenship," he said on his website, AlFranken.com.
Tom Udall --- The New Mexico senate candidate supports a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. He also has an open border stance, according to the U.S. Border Control organization. He also have voted on extending residency for people here without proper documents.
Jack Reed --- The Rhode Island Democrat does support immigration reform. He's also backed several bills supports immigrant rights.
Lindsey Graham -- The South Carolina Republican up for re-election is one of the authors of the immigration reform bill."A pathway to citizenship, after you secure the border, control who gets a job, more legal immigrations where they have to pass a criminal background check, learn the English language, wait 10 years before you can apply for a green card," TheHill.com reported him saying this summer on a Sunday talk show. "If you solve the immigration problem in a good, American, responsible way, our party's back in the game and we can dominate the 21st century."
Rick Weiland --- The South Dakota Democrat endorses the immigration reform bill, but also backs border security.
Ed Gillespie --- The Virginia Republican is a firm supporter of the immigration reform bill