On Tuesday, Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA) was among the 154 Democrat Congresspersons who voted against H. R. 5585, the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act, which would impose criminal and immigration penalties against citizens or illegal aliens fleeing (in vehicles) from federal law enforcement. The act was crafted in light of recent high-speed chases in Texas: One happened in November, involving a 15-year-old who got up to speeds of 150 mph with five illegal immigrants with him in order to evade Texas DPS. The other occurred five days ago. An 18-year-old carrying two illegals led chase through Laredo, TX, and the surrounding county, then crashed. His human cargo of two illegals fled the scene. 

To Levin's credit, he has at least visited the Southern Border and admits there is a crisis. Levin has said that the immigration system is "broken." However, Levin still toes the Democrat Party line on the reasons for the chaos, aligning with the Biden administration with his own calls for more resources; not to secure the border, but to process the illegals coming through. Levin doesn't believe the influx should be stopped in its tracks; he believes Border Patrol's job is to ensure the hordes are properly cared for. 

In May 2023, upon the expiration of Title 42, Levin pulled the immigrant grandparent card to invest himself with moral authority on the subject. Levin waxed eloquent on how the border influx is evidence that the United States needs to foster opportunities for these souls looking for a better life. He got his dig at his Republican colleagues by doubling down on the lie that they are using border security as a "political football."

“I visit our southwest border regularly to meet with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and hear about the work they do every day. We must give CBP the resources it needs to process the looming increase in asylum cases it faces.

“My maternal grandparents emigrated from Mexico because they wanted to achieve the American dream and create a better life for their children and grandchildren. I know we can foster that same opportunity for future generations while also securing our border, and that’s what I’m fighting in Congress to accomplish. Unfortunately, I’ve found that many of my Republican colleagues would rather have immigration remain a political football they can use to score points than actually doing the work to fix it.”

By California standards, Levin has been considered a moderate Democrat, which is part of how he continues to maintain his seat in a district that is majority-red. Levin has managed to stay under the radar, allowing his fellow Dem colleagues like Reps. Eric Swalwell, Ted Lieu, and Katie Porter take up the radical label as well as the oxygen. But Levin's statements and this recent vote put him clearly in the pro-amnesty camp, as Spokesman Ben Petersen of the National Republican Congressional Committee asserts:

“It requires a certain level of liberal brain rot for Mike Levin to think evading Border Patrol is acceptable. Southern California voters deserve better than Levin who sides with dangerous and illegal activity over the safety of the community.” 

With a strong Republican challenger, voters may well get better. Levin rode the 2018 Blue wave – aka the Ballot-Harvest midterm – that foisted upon us the egregious Katie Hill. Pelosi managed to flip formerly red districts in Orange County and San Diego. California Republicans got a little smarter in 2020 and 2022 and managed to win some of those seats back. District 49 used to be Rep. Darrell Issa's seat before redistricting changed the boundary lines of the area, as well as the demographic makeup. Issa jumped over to District 48 (and won), leaving District 49 ripe for the taking. In 2020 and 2022, the California GOP ran a lackluster challenger named Brian Marycott against Levin. Despite barely doing much in the race, in 2022, Marycott managed to come close to overtaking Levin, prompting a last-minute visit from President Joe Biden to help to get Levin to victory. He maintained the seat by a mere five percentage points (52.6 percent to 47.4 percent).

For the March 5 primary, Levin has four Republican challengers: Sheryl Adams, an automotive executive who is endorsed by Darrell Issa, Matt Gunderson, also an automotive executive, Marine and businesswoman Kate Monroe, and businesswoman and television executive Margarita Wilkinson. Wilkinson appears to have the juice (and the cash) to push past her fellow Republicans in order to win the Top 2 contest of the California jungle primary. If opposing what is happening on the Southern Border is a winning strategy, then this powerful political ad should put Wilkinson at the forefront.

WATCH:

The cartels attacked my family. In Congress, I'll fight to secure the border because securing the border is personal to me.

Watch my first television ad and join #TeamMargarita today #CA49 pic.twitter.com/5wumx3ubB8

— Margarita Wilkinson (@vote4margarita) January 30, 2024

In the meantime, since Texas DPS has been taking care of business on their stretch of the Southern Border, San Diego County and Orange County are now the hot zones for illegal influx. Thanks to California's sanctuary state stance, the cartels and human traffickers are taking full advantage.

U.S. border authorities dropped off 42,000 illegal immigrants on San Diego County streets between September and November of 2023, according to a new report from Cal Matters.

The migrants have often been left at bus and trolley stops, three prominent sites for drop-off have been the Iris Transit Center San Diego; in San Ysidro, near the Port of Entry; and in Oceanside. In September, Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez said roughly 100 illegal immigrants arrived every day in Oceanside from San Clemente, where they had been processed.

San Clemente is part of Levin's district and is solidly red. They fought to become an abortion sanctuary city, so it is doubtful there is any love lost for Levin. Then, there is this charming day at the beach last week in the highly privileged community of La Jolla.

At least five migrants were able to make it ashore from a boat that split in half off Sunset Cliffs on Thursday morning, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

San Diego lifeguards were called to the scene of a boat breaking apart against the cliffs in the high surf at 6 a.m. at Adair Street and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, according to OnScene.TV.

No one was found in the water and a surveillance video showed people scrambling up the cliff and escaping, the video news service said.

The motorized boat could be seen overturned and smashing against the cliff walls.

In a second incident, in La Jolla about 90 minutes later, a large panga landed on the rocks at Windansea, OnScene reported, with up to 30 people seen leaving the boat. The group, including women and children, ran east to waiting vehicles on La Jolla Boulevard. The cars left the scene.

If District 49 voters take a stand against illegal immigration on March 5, it could put Levin on the ropes or even out of the race entirely.