Washington's failure to address an escalating immigration crisis is making a mess of campaign politics for Democrats and Republicans alike, nowhere more so than along the border, where incumbent candidates are desperately trying to distance themselves from unpopular party leaders.
Lawmakers in both parties have struggled to stave off attacks from their challengers. Republicans have tied Democrats to the Obama administration's failure to manage the crisis, Democrats have blamed Republicans for putting off immigration reform, and incumbents on both sides have claimed independence from their parties.
Take Democratic Rep. Ron Barber of Arizona, who is blaming President Obama, and Republican Reps. David Valadao of California and Steve Pearce of New Mexico, who are touting their support for immigration reform, which the GOP-controlled House refused to consider.
Both parties' efforts to secure Hispanic voters is affecting their immigration message too, and in many cases that's meant putting some daylight between their positions and those espoused by leadership on the Capitol. Valadao, for example, facing a challenge from former congressional staffer Amanda Renteria in a 70 percent Hispanic district, has pointed to his support for immigration reform as Renteria criticizes him for not doing enough.