Senate Control
In recent weeks, with their control of the Senate in the balance, Democrats had pressed Obama to delay action on immigration, arguing the issue would work against reelection of several incumbents facing strong Republican challengers. They include Senators Mark Begich of Alaska, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Mark Pryor of Arkansas.
Democrats and their allies hold 55 seats in the 100-member chamber, which means Republicans — who already control the House of Representatives — need a net gain of six seats to also control the Senate. They are poised to gain at least six and perhaps as many as eight seats, according to a Sept. 4 analysis by Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
The electoral calculus around immigration is complex, with some Republican groups — primarily those representing business interests — saying current policies impede the hiring of needed workers.