WASHINGTON — The “Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2014” seemed ideal for Sen. Kay Hagan’s re-election bid in politically divided North Carolina, where many people like to hunt and fish. Her bill would open more federal lands to hunters, and conservation groups liked it too.

The first-term Democrat lined up dozens of co-sponsors from both parties and appeared ready to claim a feel-good accomplishment. And yet the proposal still collapsed, one of many uncontroversial measures to die as members of Congress, consumed by midterm election politics, deny each other achievements — then complain about their do-nothing colleagues.

The dilemma may boost Republicans’ hopes of winning the six new seats they need this fall to gain the Senate majority. The closest races involve Hagan and other Democrats from states that President Barack Obama lost.

With the president relatively unpopular, these senators are desperate to cite personal achievements that set them apart from generic Democrats. Their opponents, meanwhile, suggest they are deadbeats.

“Look at the folks running for re-election. What have they done?” said Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., who supports Hagan’s GOP challenger, Thom Tillis. “She’s got nothing,” he said of Hagan. Burr added, however, “She’s not alone in that.”