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WASHINGTON — With little worry about their own re-election, some members of California’s congressional delegation are playing active roles in party primaries for the two U.S. House districts in which no incumbent is running. 

Those districts, as well as the San Joaquin Valley seat of Democratic Rep. Gary Condit, are the only ones in which the outcome is in doubt, political operatives in both parties agree. 

Of California’s 53 House districts — the state is gaining a seat because of population growth — incumbents are widely expected to win re-election in 50 of them. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, has no major-party opponent and Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Pleasanton, faces one primary challenger who likes her record. 

The Legislature’s once-a-decade redistricting that followed the 2000 Census placed a premium on protecting incumbents and making congressional districts either safely Democratic or Republican. “After redistricting, there are no competitive congressional seats left in California,” said Dan Schnur, a veteran Republican aide. 

Even in the two districts with no incumbent running, the March 5 primary is expected to be decisive. Condit’s seat is competitive race because of the incumbent’s relationship with Chandra Levy, the 24-year-old former federal intern from Modesto, Calif., who disappeared in Washington in May. 

Many members of Congress stay neutral in primaries, reasoning little good can come from meddling. 

But Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Bakersfield, chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and eight other House Republicans are backing 28-year-old Devin Nunes in the race for an agriculture-based Central Valley seat representing parts of Fresno and all of Tulare counties. Nunes was briefly a Bush administration appointee, serving as state director for rural development for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, until he stepped down to mount his second campaign for Congress. 

Thomas’s role has irritated Nunes’ more politically experienced opponents, state Assemblyman Mike Briggs and former Fresno mayor Jim Patterson. “The last thing we need is another congressman from Kern County,” Briggs said. 

Briggs was one of four Republicans who joined Democrats last year to break a stalemate over Democratic Gov. Gray Davis’s budget. He said he seized an opportunity to extract concessions from Assembly Democrats that have aided local farmers. Patterson touts the reduction in crime in Fresno during his time as mayor. 

Briggs, 42, and Patterson, 53, have been trying to make an issue of Nunes’ age. “Voters are going to look for a serious, experienced, trusted person who’s got a few years on them,” Patterson said. 

Nunes promotes himself as the only farmer and the only Tulare County resident among the major candidates. 

In the Los Angeles area, an open seat is expected to be another gain for the state’s growing Hispanic population and for Democrats. The three major Democratic contenders are all Hispanic. 

Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Garden Grove, who upset Republican longtime Rep. Bob Dornan in 1996, is heavily involved because her sister, Linda, is a candidate. 

Hector de la Torre, a South Gate city councilman, is running a strong race in some polls. Assemblywoman Sally Havice, 64, who has won three competitive races for the Legislature, said she is building support among “thousands of former students” from her English class at Cerritos College. 

Loretta Sanchez has lent her sister her press secretary, Carrie Brooks, who also remains on the congressional staff in a reduced role. The congresswoman’s popularity has been a big boost to her younger sister, who is 32. 

“The message is not, ’Vote for me because I’m Loretta’s sister,”’ Linda Sanchez, a lawyer, said. “Vote for me because I happen to be very qualified and passionate about Democratic issues. The fact that Loretta has high name ID helps convey that to voters.” 

Emily’s List, a Washington-based organization that raises money for women who support abortion rights, has endorsed Sanchez. 

De La Torre, 36, is a former Clinton administration aide, who has picked up the endorsements of Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante and Rep. Hilda Solis, D-El Monte. “I’m the only candidate with any Washington experience,” said de la Torre. 

In Condit’s district, the embattled incumbent from Ceres is holding a series of sidewalk chats, presenting himself as the most experienced and knowledgeable of the candidates, said Chad Condit, the congressman’s son and campaign manager. 

His major primary opponent is Assemblyman Dennis Cardoza, a one-time protege who has secured support from prominent Democrats who say Condit’s saga has embarrassed them. Republicans say they will focus on this Democratic-leaning seat in the fall if Condit survives the primary.