Ahead of midterms, Democrats mobilize around immigration, anti-ICE sentiment

Exclusive Politics Ahead of midterms, Democrats mobilize around immigration, anti-ICE sentiment By Nidia Cavazos, Fin Daniel Gómez Fin Daniel Gómez Political Director and Executive Director of Politics and White House, CBS News Fin Daniel Gómez is CBS News' political director and executive director, Politics and White House. In this role, Gómez oversees the daily White House and political coverage for CBS News and works closely with Washington bureau leadership to inform the Network's political coverage. Read Full Bio Fin Daniel Gómez Updated on: January 29, 2026 / 12:04 PM EST / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Immigration may have been a political liability for Democrats in 2024. But two years later, it's shaping up to be a top issue they're relying on to galvanize support and mobilize their base. Voters will be casting their ballots in the midterm elections in 10 months. In their campaigns, Democrats across the country are responding to the anger felt by many communities over the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations, after the fatal shootings this month in Minneapolis of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer and Alex Pretti by Customs and Border Protection agents. "We're living in a time where we have ICE kidnapping people and we've got moms getting shot in the face," Brian Varela, a Democratic candidate running in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, told CBS News in an interview. "We don't have time for just strategy and only pragmatism."That district, held by incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr., could play a critical role in the balance of power in the House. Republicans currently hold a very slim five-seat majority, which means Democrats would take control of the House with a net gain of just three seats in November.Varela will be endorsed Thursday by the progressive-leaning organization Latino Victory Fund, CBS News has learned. His campaign is betting the endorsem...