Senate Republicans gathered at the U.S.-Mexico border Friday, showcasing what they call a significant drop in border crossings while highlighting economic policies they plan to emphasize in their campaign to maintain and expand their 53-47 Senate majority this November.

The delegation, led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), used the border stop as an unofficial kickoff to the midterm campaign season. The event, hosted by One Nation, a nonprofit organization closely aligned with Thune, focused on touting the Republican-passed “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” President Donald Trump’s signature domestic achievement from last year that received almost no Democratic support.

During the visit, the senators partnered with members of the National Border Patrol Council to highlight what they described as “transformational border security funding” secured through the legislation. Border security has been a cornerstone of Republican messaging since the surge in crossings that occurred during Joe Biden’s administration.

However, the Republican strategy has broadened beyond immigration. After Democrats scored decisive victories in the 2025 elections and overperformed in numerous special elections last year with messaging focused on affordability amid persistent inflation, Senate Republicans are now also emphasizing the tax cut and energy policy provisions in their signature bill, which they’ve strategically rebranded as the “Working Families Tax Cuts.”

“The Working Families Tax Cut will make buying groceries more affordable for working Americans this year,” Senate Republicans declared on social media before the border visit. “Every Democrat voted against it.” They also emphasized that “Senate Republicans have worked closely with President Trump to lower energy prices and make life more affordable — and the results speak for themselves.”

The Republican delegation to the border included several key party figures. Joining Thune were Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, who holds the number two position in Senate Republican leadership; Senator John Cornyn of Texas, who faces a challenging primary in March against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Representative Wesley Hunt; and Republican Senators Jon Husted of Ohio and Ashley Moody of Florida, both appointed last year and facing voters this November.

Senators Pete Ricketts of Nebraska and Mike Rounds of South Dakota, both up for reelection, also participated in the border visit. Two notable Republican Senate candidates in key battleground states were present as well: former Representative Mike Rogers of Michigan and former Republican National Committee chair Mike Whatley of North Carolina, both of whom have received endorsements from Thune and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

“We’re seeing signs already that the economy is starting to tick up and is starting to take hold as the President’s policies are getting in place,” Whatley said in a recent interview. “We need to make sure that we have the trade policies, the tax policies, the regulatory policies from this administration that are going to help our small businesses, our manufacturers and our farmers across North Carolina.”

Democrats, however, remain confident in their own midterm strategy and dismiss Republican economic messaging. “If the Republican agenda actually made life more affordable for working Americans, then they wouldn’t be desperately flailing as families struggle to afford groceries, health care, and housing,” countered Lauren French, communications director at Senate Majority PAC, the leading Senate Democrat-aligned outside group. “Instead of focusing on working people, Trump and Senate Republicans are focused on bringing chaos and instability into our communities.”

Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin expressed even more direct criticism: “Donald Trump has lost the economy, is losing his mind, and is going to lose the midterms.”

The competing economic narratives underscore what appears to be the central battleground for the upcoming midterms, with Republicans touting their tax cuts and border policies while Democrats continue to focus on affordability concerns that have resonated with voters in recent elections. With control of the Senate at stake, both parties are positioning themselves early in what promises to be a hard-fought campaign season across multiple battleground states.