Congressional Shakeup in North County as Issa Exits, Desmond Shifts Races

New redistricting map reshapes 48th District race, leading to a flurry of candidate changes

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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In a dramatic turn of events, longtime Republican Rep. Darrell Issa has decided to drop out of the race for the 48th Congressional District, citing the impact of a new redistricting map that has made the district more Democratic-leaning. Issa has tapped Republican County Supervisor Jim Desmond, who was previously running for the 49th District, to take his place. This has set off a chain reaction, with Desmond withdrawing from the 49th District race and retired Navy officer Armen Kurdian jumping in to run there instead.

Why it matters

The reshuffling of candidates in these two North County congressional races reflects the significant impact of California's new redistricting plan, which was approved by voters last year. The changes to the 48th District in particular have made it much more challenging for Republicans to hold onto the seat, leading to Issa's exit and the party's search for a new standard-bearer in Desmond. This will be a closely watched race as Democrats look to flip the district.

The details

Under the new redistricting map, the 48th Congressional District will now include Vista, parts of Oceanside, San Marcos and portions of Palm Springs, while cutting out more Republican-leaning areas like Poway, Ramona, Santee and Lakeside. This has dramatically shifted the district's voter registration in favor of Democrats, making Issa's path to re-election much more difficult. Desmond, the current Republican County Supervisor, is seen as a stronger candidate to take on the Democratic field, which includes San Diego City Councilmember Marni Von Wilpert, Vista City Councilmember Corinna Contreras, and Ammar Campa-Najjar, who narrowly lost to Issa in 2020.

  • Proposition 50, the statewide redistricting measure, was approved by voters last year.
  • Issa announced his withdrawal from the 48th District race on Friday, March 11, 2026.
  • Desmond and Kurdian made their candidate changes within a day of the filing deadline for the June primary election.

The players

Darrell Issa

A Republican who currently represents the 48th Congressional District and was planning to run for re-election, but has now withdrawn from the race due to the impact of the new redistricting map.

Jim Desmond

A Republican County Supervisor who was previously running for the 49th Congressional District, but has now switched to run for the 48th District after Issa's withdrawal.

Armen Kurdian

A retired Navy officer and Republican who was previously running for the 38th State Senate District, but has now filed to run for the 49th Congressional District after Desmond's withdrawal.

Marni Von Wilpert

A San Diego City Councilmember who is running as a Democrat for the 48th Congressional District.

Corinna Contreras

A Vista City Councilmember who is running as a Democrat for the 48th Congressional District.

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What they’re saying

“I want to assure everyone that this was not in the works for months or even weeks. However, as a good soldier, I go to defend my country where I am most needed.”

— Armen Kurdian, Retired Navy Officer (Armen Kurdian's website)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.