MIAMI – It was a unique feel-good moment from a vicious campaign: In the middle of House Speaker Paul Ryan within the elementary school now, freshman GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo promoted a creature program that will help children of immigrants within the Hispanic-heavy district learn English.

But locally during this very moment, Curbelo’s Democratic opponent was staging a protest timed to Ryan’s visit. Your message from former Rep. Joe Garcia: A vote for Curbelo is worse compared to a prefer Donald Trump. Regardless of the fact that freshman Republican has opposed Trump throughout the year.

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When you are looking for House Democrats’ ongoing mission for hitch Trump’s offensive comments to vulnerable GOP incumbents, Republicans representing districts with large Latino populations ‘re feeling essentially the most heat. Their nominee has called illegal immigrants “rapists," “criminals” – and, within the last debate, “bad hombres." Including Trump’s requires forced deportation including a towering border wall.

Democrats are sparing without trying or expense within the strategy. Their success, especially in places like Florida’s 26th district, where three of each and every four residents are Latino, might further in deciding whether Democrats can do a once-unthinkable takeover of the home.

“While Trump may say outrageous things, my opponent votes for these people,” Garcia told POLITICO within the interview, summarizing his plea to oust Curbelo. “His record is worse than Donald Trump’s.”

Days earlier, Ryan was over the Texas border to help you another first-term congressman swimming resistant to the Trump tide, Will Hurd.

“We are aware that Mr . trump and definately will Hurd don’t stand with his community: Trump would like to deport 11 million immigrants, and Hurd dicated to throw DREAMers overseas,” a Spanish-speaking narrator says from a new ad via the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Hispanics comprise over 70 % of Hurd’s district, and Democrats are capitalizing on palpable fears of Trump: “Now inside your, we need to make use of the power of our vote to stand as much as Trump and Hurd.”

Attacks such as these are forcing Republicans representing Latino-heavy districts to the office overtime to signify their constituents they’re nothing beats the male leading their ticket. In California’s San Joaquin Valley, where just not even half the people is Latino, Rep. Jeff Denham speaks Spanish on the trail, which is often joined by his wife, that’s of Mexican-Puerto Rican descent. Denham touts the Amigo of this year award he received from a Hispanic organization and reminds voters he was mostly of the House Republicans to help with the Senate’s landmark bipartisan immigration reform package (“which was controversial when,” he adds forever measure).

Curbelo is performing such like: He frequently reminds voters and reporters that he’s opposed Trump from The beginning and tries to turn the conversation to his legislative record. In English and Spanish, the Republican pitches himself for an independent thinker who will use both sides but withstand them.

“I can’t control what Donald Trump says; I can control my personal actions,” Curbelo said within the interview. “That’s whatever are offering: [I’m] a person who is able to sit down with Republicans and Democrats to get solutions.”

Democrats are pushing one other message. On Tuesday, Democratic-aligned outside spender, House Majority PAC, poured six-figures in to a Spanish-language ad linking vulnerable Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) to Trump’s insults. Valadao is regarded as just about the most vulnerable incumbents for the ballot this fall, together with Curbelo, Hurd and Denham.

“Donald Trump attacked our heritage, and hatred is on the rise, but Republican Congressman David Valadao said ‘absolutely’ he previously support Trump,” says the ad, how the Are generally Times called “misleading” as the quote was prior to a GOP primary. (Valadao announced in June he had not support Trump. ) “Say ‘NO’ to Trump. ‘NO’ to Valadao. ‘NO’ to hate.”

Democrats also are possessing a heyday linking Trump to Denham, a two-term rising-star House Republican who refuses to disavow Trump but won’t say how he intentions to vote. The Cook Political Report recently moved the race from "leans Republican" to "tossup"; Denham’s opponent, beekeeper Michael Eggman, says his internal polling has him slightly ahead.

Denham blames the DCCC, not Trump, for his newly vulnerable position. “They’re wanting to spend a ton of money entitled to apply for some movement," he said. "I think that we’re going to have to always spend a lot of money to counter-balance the attack ads against me.”

Democrats with these districts argue their message is working, though no person is likely to know until Election Day. Aides to Hurd’s opponent, Pete Gallego, say growing variety of Latinos are registering to vote this election.

“This occurs that Trump’s signature proposal would arise, just over the border- and we think that’s a message resonating,” said Lyndsey Rodriguez, Gallego’s spokeswoman.

House GOP leaders have aimed to help their candidates hold back. Ryan (R-Wis.) and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) have visited the districts of Curbelo, Hurd, Valadeo and Denham to boost money. Along with the Congressional Leadership Fund and American Action Network, which are aligned with House Republicans, are spending huge amounts of money of their.

“Curbelo can be a workhorse among workhorses in Congress,” Ryan said on a campaign stop here soon.

GOP insiders say Curbelo is not just leading but that his margin has expanded in recent weeks. They suggest Curbelo since the perfect example of the Republican successfully finding daylight from Trump.

If Curbelo is succeeding, though, it is mainly thanks to issues particular to his district. With regards to a third of his constituents, like Curbelo, are of Cuban descent, and he’s won plaudits for his opposition to President Barack Obama’s efforts to normalize relations with the island country. Curbelo has also taken advantage of an election fraud scandal involving an old aide to Garcia who pleaded guilty to your misdemeanor; though Garcia had never been indicted and denies any involvement, Curbelo argues his opponent knew of your scheme and it is corrupt.

At a Wednesday news conference at his campaign headquarters, Curbelo was clearly frustrated that each one reporters needed to know was who he’ll opt for on Election Day. The first kind school board member and page rank professional declared “without question the presidential election, especially this holiday season, results in a lot of noise, and it is often tough if you are on the ballot to contest with the noise plus the contention associated with a presidential race.”

He’s become excellent at changing the topic time for his legislative accomplishments, however – something GOP leaders urged all Republicans in tight races to try and do trapped on video tape.

“This guy went to Congress for two years and he passed one bill to a post office,” Curbelo said of Garcia. “I’ve worked alongside loads of Democrats in Congress, and we’ve passed bills together, substantive bills.”

Though Curbelo is considered as one of the more moderate House Republicans, Garcia calls him an extremist for opposing Obamacare (this district has among the highest enrollment rates in the nation) and voting to take Pell Grants.

He also accuses Curbelo when attempting to block Obama’s proposal to shield scores of undocumented immigrants from deportation. Curbelo was among a number of Republicans who backed the plan.

“His record is worse than Donald Trump’s record,” Garcia said of Curbelo.

Curbelo, however, doesn’t sound just like Trump. He boasted that he helped GOP leaders pass fast-track trade authority. He noted that she was a genuine sponsor of "no-fly, no-buy," a gun control proposal from Democrats. And twice in a 25-minute car ride, he bragged about working with Obama on stuff like environmental protections, including by using an Air Force One flight to celebrate Earth Day within the Everglades.

These are classified as the things he’s banking on to save him.

“I’m running on my record," Curbelo said. "I’ve got a good record, nonetheless expect this to be a competitive race.”