SAN DIEGO, CA — Democratic San Diego City Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert has declared victory over Republican county Supervisor Jim Desmond in the race for the 48th U.S. House District seat.
Von Wilpert had 92,924 votes, or 59.6%, compared with 63,015 votes, or 40.4%, for Desmond, as of 9 a.m. Wednesday. The race still likely has tens of thousands of ballots left to be counted.
"Tonight the voters of this district are sending a clear message -- they're tired of a corrupt Congress and out of control costs and ready for a representative who will fight for them," von Wilpert said in a message to supporters late Tuesday. "I've spent the last year hearing from parents struggling to afford groceries and seniors scared of losing healthcare and I will carry their stories with me to Washington.
"I've spent my life fighting for working families -- from defending workers' rights to taking on the powerful corporations ripping our families off -- and I'm ready to take that fight to Congress. I'll fight to bring down the costs crushing the middle class, protect the healthcare our families rely on and clean up the corruption that's stopping Washington from working for the rest of us. That includes holding Donald Trump accountable and reining in his chaos agenda," she continued.
While von Wilpert has a sizable lead, Desmond has not conceded.
The winner will replace Rep. Darrell Issa. The 48th District, spanning portions of San Diego and Riverside counties, was previously represented by Issa, who announced his retirement earlier this year. It has been identified as a key swing district after its lines were redrawn following the passage of Proposition 50.
Desmond, a San Diego County supervisor, U.S. Navy veteran, former Delta Air Lines pilot and former mayor of San Marcos, prioritized border security and addressing affordability issues, according to his campaign website.
He states on his site that he supports establishing a "strong, fair, and dignified immigration system" that prevents illegal border crossings while creating "an efficient legal process for those who follow the rules."
Von Wilpert, a former civil prosecutor with the San Diego City Attorney's Office, says on her campaign site that she turned the city's "most conservative council district blue -- and she's ready to do it again in Congress."
On immigration, she says she supports "meaningful reform" that will keep borders secure and provide legal pathways to citizenship, while also seeking to hold federal immigration enforcement agencies "accountable" for "terror tactics and un-American, unconstitutional attacks on our community."
On the City Council, von Wilpert joined fellow council members in advancing a resolution authorizing the City Attorney's Office to support lawsuits filed in other states against the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies for actions that "undermine our shared American values of life, liberty, and due process."
Von Wilpert also said she would combat affordability issues by working to undo tariffs introduced by the Trump administration and pushing back on corporate interests that she says have contributed to price hikes for average Americans.
The four incumbents in San Diego County's congressional delegation were ahead in their races as of early Wednesday.
In the 49th District, which covers North County and southern Orange County, Democratic incumbent Mike Levin led Republican candidate Armen Kurdian, 58.5% to 41.5%. Levin had 111,554 votes Tuesday night, while Kurdian had 79,009.
Levin has represented the 49th District since 2019. Cost-of-living issues are a key issue for him this election, and he says they have prevented Americans from having affordable access to housing, food and health care.
Environmental and energy issues also remain a priority for Levin, who says that if elected to a fifth term, he would support legislation to reduce energy costs and advance clean energy initiatives to offset climate change impacts.
On immigration, Levin says he supports secure borders, but opposes the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics, which he said have largely involved arrests of people who were not accused of violent crimes.
Kurdian, a retired U.S. Navy captain, says he would work to help Americans struggling with cost-of-living issues by opposing new federal taxes and cutting government spending, while also investing in energy infrastructure that lowers energy costs.
He also advocates keeping jobs in California by bringing manufacturing into the state and cutting "job-killing regulations," according to his campaign site, which also highlights his priorities of expanding access to affordable health care and supporting law enforcement and veterans.
On immigration, Kurdian said recent immigration enforcement efforts have prevented migrant deaths by dissuading people from making the perilous trek across the border. He supports facilitating legal avenues for immigrants to become American citizens.
The 50th District, covering coastal areas of San Diego and extending north to San Marcos and Escondido, features a race between Democrat Scott Peters and Republican challenger Steve Cohen. Peters led 60.9% to 39.1% Tuesday night, with 108,743 votes to Cohen's 69,905.
Peters has served in Congress since 2013 and previously chaired the San Diego Unified Port District and served on the San Diego City Council. He said if reelected, he would work to tackle the region's housing crisis and cross-border pollution flowing into San Diego County from the Tijuana River Valley.
Advancing legislation to combat climate change and expedite clean energy projects was also among Peters' key concerns.
Regarding immigration, Peters said his opposition to the Trump administration's enforcement efforts led him to introduce the Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act, which he says would limit immigration enforcement agents from employing military-style tactics during operations and mandate transparency standards such as body-camera requirements and limits on agents wearing masks.
Cohen, the former news director for local television station KUSI, said on his campaign website, "I'm running for Congress because I've watched from behind the camera long enough."
He said he would address affordability issues affecting San Diegans by expanding housing supply and job growth. Cohen also said he would pursue a balanced budget by supporting transparent government spending and eliminating wasteful spending.
In the 51st District, which includes central portions of San Diego and parts of East County, including El Cajon, La Mesa and Spring Valley, Democratic incumbent Sara Jacobs had 62.7%, compared with 37.3% for Republican challenger Ricardo Cabrera. Jacobs had 100,065 votes, while Cabrera had 59,604.
Jacobs, who is seeking a fourth term, said she would pursue increased housing construction and an expansion of rental assistance to combat the housing affordability crisis. She also supports free, universal child care, which she says will help local families stay afloat.
On immigration, Jacobs said she supports expanding legal pathways to immigration while condemning federal immigration enforcement tactics that have largely targeted migrants with nonviolent histories.
Cabrera advocates for congressional term limits, addressing cost-of- living burdens for everyday Americans and American energy independence, according to his campaign website.
In the 52nd District in southern San Diego County, Democratic incumbent Juan Vargas led Republican Jeff Belle 68.2% to 31.8%. Vargas had 77,474 votes, while Belle had 36,105.
Vargas, who is seeking his eighth term, has been a congressman since 2013 and previously served in the state Senate, state Assembly and San Diego City Council. He says addressing cross-border wastewater pollution from the Tijuana River Valley and lowering costs to help families afford housing and make ends meet are among his chief concerns.
Vargas also said he supports pathways to citizenship and "humane" immigration policies while criticizing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics, which he says have been conducted without proper oversight.
Belle said he would address the Tijuana River crisis and help small businesses if elected, and support lawful immigration and strong border security that takes "tougher action against cartels and smugglers."
— City News Service
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