Michael Stansfield never expected to be a major player in California politics when he threw his hat into a congressional race as a Republican agitating for peace in the Middle East.

California’s congressional primaries on Tuesday are a preliminary test of Democrats’ best chance at countering Republican redistricting gains elsewhere this year.

The nation’s fifth most populous county has decided to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities beyond what California law dictates, San Diego County on the border with Mexico is allying itself with jurisdictions across the country that are raising new obstacles to President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations.