President Donald Trump’s base-pleasing immigration crackdown is having an unintended effect: accelerating the race to challenge him for reelection.

As Democratic senators considered White House hopefuls have leaped into the fight over the separation of families, some have acknowledged their political intentions to a degree typically not seen so far ahead of the next presidential election. Democratic Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey cracked the door open to running in 2020 over the past week, while Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, the first Democrat to visit the border and a much longer shot for president, said that he’s “exploring“ a 2020 bid.


Of course, Merkley, Booker, and Harris didn’t choose the current moment to edge forward — the moment seems to have chosen them. Bipartisan criticism of Trump’s immigration policy has given ambitious Democrats an opening to present themselves as leaders against the president’s polarizing agenda, as polls show independent voters siding with Democrats against the splintering of migrant families.

The crisis over the separation of families, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said in an interview, gives Democratic senators looking at White House runs “more to talk about.

“Until this cycle, I think, those who wanted to run for president were sort of more cautious,” added Brown, who dismisses all talk of him running for president as he focuses on his Senate reelection in November. “I would say, this year, that’s a little turned on its head.”

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Merkley, Booker and Harris’ comments exert subtle pressure on other senators seen as potential 2020 contenders, including Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). Even so, Harris said in a brief interview that her Sunday comment not closing the door to a presidential run came only after persistent questioning from sustained pressure from her MSNBC interrogator: “It was not voluntary.”

In a moment of full-on political combat with Trump, not everyone sees the need to hold off on talking about any election bid as long as Barack Obama, whose White House interest was first reported in late October 2006, or Trump, whose intentions seeped into view in December 2014, did.

“The most common mantra around here is that the presidential race starts too early,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said. “But it begins when it begins. And let’s face it, it’s never too early. Because people need to begin working, and I’m a great believer in starting whenever it feels right.”

It’s not even the first competition for many of them. Warren, Brown and Booker were all considered as vice presidential candidates at some point in 2016, though they fell short to Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

Merkley, the most forthright of the Democratic senators seen as potential Trump challengers, told POLITICO last week that his wife gave him leeway to “explore away” when it comes to 2020. But “my biggest focus this year is trying to help my colleagues who are running for reelection” in the midterms.

Harris gave a similar answer, acknowledging the possibility of running in 2020 but emphasizing that her priority is to help fellow Democrats in November.

Harris has been barnstorming swing states, liberal enclaves and red states, raising nearly $4 million for Democratic candidates this election cycle, according to aides. Over the weekend, Harris stumped for Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill in St. Louis, and next month, she’s likely to help Sen. Bob Casey in Pennsylvania.

Booker has made a huge push of his own for fellow Democrats, appearing at events in 22 states while raising more than $4.5 million for candidates and the party, according to his campaign. He said in an interview Tuesday that his top priority is serving his own home state, even as he kept his plans open.

“That’s my focus: Doing everything I can to ensure I’ve earned New Jersey’s support,” Booker said. “I’m not closing off ... any other options, but my focus is my reelection“ in 2020.

Merkley, Harris, and Booker are not up for reelection themselves this year. But five other fellow Democratic Caucus members seen as potential presidential contenders are, which gives them firmer ground to avow that they aren’t thinking about 2020 yet.

“I’m not considering it because I’m running for reelection and I’m focused on November. So that’s where I am,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, a leading advocate for gun control in the Senate.

Gillibrand was similarly circumspect. “I would say I’m entirely focused on ‘18. I am very focused on my own Senate reelection.”

And Sanders sounded a similar note, saying, “Right now, I’m focusing on 2018.”

After giving Hillary Clinton a serious fight for the Democratic nomination in 2016, Sanders is also devoting energy to helping other candidates before he decides on another presidential bid. He’s raised more than $1.5 million for candidates and organizations during this cycle, according to aides, and campaigned on the ground for a dozen Democrats in six states.

Warren has referred to disinterest in the presidential race in the present tense as she runs for reelection, preserving the option to shift her focus after her expected victory in the fall. Like Merkley, Booker and Harris, she visited the border this month.

Since entering the Senate in 2013, Warren has raised or contributed $15 million for Democrats, including donations to each state party this cycle and committing $210,000 over the past two years to the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, according to her aides. She’s traveled to Michigan for Sen. Debbie Stabenow and over the weekend headlined a state party convention in Nevada, where Democrats are trying to oust Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.).

Some Democrats say the Senate offers a big platform for senators eyeing a 2020 bid, perhaps lessening the need for constant travel around the country.

“My sense is that given the gravity of the moment, most people who are thinking about 2020 probably feel their best advertisement is performing well as members of the opposition,” Murphy said. “So I don’t know that you have to go out and do a tour around the country if you have a job that puts you in the fight.”

The jockeying among potential Trump challengers in the Senate is bound to heat up. But for now, the Democratic Caucus room is a peaceful place. In fact, Harris and Warren had lunch in the Senate dining room together on Tuesday and were spotted leaving deep in conversation.