The blue wave's tough-on-crime surprise
They rejected a measure requiring police to notify federal immigration authorities in certain cases involving violent crime suspects or people with prior felony convictions whose immigration status was unlawful or uncertain.
Key points
- Zoom out: Ballotpedia's historical analysis found more punitive sentencing and bail proposals dominated from 2022 through 2026, reversing 2012–2020, when less punitive measures appeared more often.
- By the numbers: Voters approved all six statewide ballot measures Ballotpedia tracked that proposed tougher sentences, criminal penalties or bail restrictions in 2026.
- Michigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive, said days before the election: "We needed tougher border security." He also criticized Trump's use of ICE.
Meanwhile, the nation's violent-crime rate plunged 9.7% in 2025, its steepest annual decline in 90 years.
Texas Sen.-elect James Talarico called himself a "border security Democrat," criticized former President Biden for failing to secure the border and said there needs to be comprehensive immigration reform.
Additional details
- That included electing Phil Weiser (D) as governor and approving tougher fentanyl penalties and life without parole for child sex trafficking.
- Yes, but: Virginia voters approved automatically restoring voting rights to people convicted of felonies upon release from incarceration.
- Why it matters: Six years after the George Floyd protests, Democrats won big without promising a return to sweeping 2020-era reforms.
- Weiser and state Democrats are now weighing changes to the fentanyl measure, arguing it falls short on promised addiction treatment.
- The shift: Some Democratic winners embraced tougher border-security language while opposing Trump's immigration crackdown.
How this summary was made: extractive summary — built from the sources' own reporting. It is drawn only from the reporting of the sources listed below — read the originals for full detail. How we summarize →
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