Campa-Najjar Outraises Issa in Race for 48th District

Democratic challenger reports stronger fundraising than incumbent Republican in latest quarter

Feb. 3, 2026 at 8:15pm

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Three-time Democratic congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar reported outraising incumbent Republican Rep. Darrell Issa in the fourth quarter as the race for California's 48th district begins to heat up. Campa-Najjar raised $358,000 compared to Issa's $321,000, though Issa maintains a significant cash-on-hand advantage.

Why it matters

The 48th district, which encompasses parts of San Diego and Riverside counties, has traditionally been a Republican stronghold. However, recent redistricting has made the district more competitive for Democrats, giving the party hope of flipping the seat.

The details

Campa-Najjar also outraised other leading Democratic candidates in the race, including Palm Springs entrepreneur Brandon Riker and San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert. While Issa has over $2.64 million cash on hand, Campa-Najjar has $418,000 available. Campa-Najjar has been endorsed by three of the four Democratic members of the San Diego congressional delegation, but von Wilpert recently received the majority of the California Democratic Party's pre-endorsement vote.

  • The fundraising data covers the fourth quarter of 2025, from October 1 to December 31.
  • The California primary election is scheduled for June 2026.

The players

Ammar Campa-Najjar

A three-time Democratic congressional candidate who is running to flip the 48th district.

Darrell Issa

The incumbent Republican representative for the 48th district, who has held the seat for 10 terms.

Brandon Riker

A Democratic candidate and Palm Springs entrepreneur who is also running in the 48th district race.

Marni von Wilpert

A San Diego City Councilmember and Democratic candidate in the 48th district race.

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What they’re saying

“As the only candidate who has run against Issa before and nearly flipped this district, I'm uniquely positioned to retire a 10-term Congressman who has spent decades voting against working families, reproductive freedom and democracy itself.”

— Ammar Campa-Najjar (Times of San Diego)

What’s next

The California primary election is scheduled for June 2026, where voters will choose the Democratic and Republican nominees for the 48th district race.

The takeaway

The race for California's 48th congressional district is shaping up to be a competitive one, with the Democratic challenger Ammar Campa-Najjar outraising the incumbent Republican Darrell Issa in the latest fundraising quarter. This reflects the district's shifting political landscape following recent redistricting, which has given Democrats a chance to flip a traditionally Republican seat.