Democrats Vie for CA-48 Seat After Issa's Departure

With Rep. Darrell Issa out, the race is wide open in this closely watched California district.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:06pm

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A fractured, abstract painting in warm earth tones and cool blues, depicting the shape of a ballot box or voting booth, conceptually representing the competitive and fast-paced nature of the California 48th Congressional District race.The wide-open race for California's 48th Congressional District seat has become one of the most closely watched contests in the country.San Diego Today

After longtime Republican Rep. Darrell Issa decided not to run for reelection in California's 48th Congressional District, the race has become a wide-open contest between several Democratic candidates and Republican County Supervisor Jim Desmond. The district, which was redrawn as part of a voter-approved redistricting initiative, is seen as a potential pickup opportunity for Democrats, but Desmond's name recognition and the district's history of Republican representation make it a closely watched race.

Why it matters

The CA-48 race is one of the most closely watched congressional contests in the country, as Democrats see it as a prime pickup opportunity in a district that was redrawn to be more favorable to their party. However, the presence of a well-known Republican candidate in Desmond, as well as the district's history of Republican representation, means the race is still considered a toss-up. The outcome could have implications for the balance of power in Congress.

The details

After Rep. Darrell Issa, a high-profile Republican, decided not to run for reelection, the race for California's 48th Congressional District has become an open contest. Several Democratic candidates, including Ammar Campa-Najjar, Marni von Wilpert, and Brandon Riker, are vying for the chance to face off against the lone Republican in the race, County Supervisor Jim Desmond. The district, which was redrawn as part of a voter-approved redistricting initiative, is seen as a potential pickup opportunity for Democrats, with a slight registration advantage. However, Desmond's name recognition and the district's history of Republican representation make it a closely watched race.

  • Issa announced his decision not to run for reelection last month.
  • The June primary will determine the Democratic and Republican nominees for the general election.

The players

Jim Desmond

The Republican County Supervisor for San Diego County and former mayor of San Marcos, Desmond entered the race after Rep. Darrell Issa's departure and has the backing of the state's top Republicans.

Ammar Campa-Najjar

A three-time Democratic candidate for Congress, Campa-Najjar is running in the 48th district after losing to Issa in 2020. He has been the subject of recent controversies over his military service and past use of a racial slur.

Marni von Wilpert

A San Diego City Councilmember, von Wilpert is one of the Democrats running in the 48th district race. She has touted her support for labor unions and work to bring federal funding to San Diego.

Brandon Riker

A Palm Springs investor, Riker is the only other Democratic candidate to receive party support in the race. He is pledging to reduce payroll taxes to put more money in workers' paychecks.

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What they’re saying

“Candidates need to put forth an economic vision that solves real problems for real people, and I hope we start hearing that from more of the people in this race.”

— Brandon Riker, Democratic Candidate

“My biggest concern is that Desmond supports Donald Trump, and what I see happening in this country, I cannot agree with.”

— Carol Gendel, Democratic Voter

What’s next

The June primary will determine the Democratic and Republican nominees for the general election in November.

The takeaway

The open race in California's 48th Congressional District is seen as a prime pickup opportunity for Democrats, but the presence of a well-known Republican candidate in Desmond and the district's history of Republican representation make it a closely watched and potentially tight contest.