Von Wilpert and Desmond Will Compete for 48th District

Marni von Wilpert and Jim Desmond will face off on November 3, 2026, for the open California congressional seat.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Elections

Von Wilpert and Desmond Will Compete for 48th District

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Do you plan to vote in the upcoming election for California's 48th Congressional District?

Marni von Wilpert and Jim Desmond are set to compete in the November 3, 2026, election for California's 48th Congressional District. The seat became available following the decision by long-serving incumbent Darrell Issa to retire from Congress.

Why it matters

The outcome of this race in the reconfigured district could be a deciding factor in which party secures control of the House of Representatives. The election is viewed as highly competitive due to recent boundary changes that reshaped the district.

Proposition 50 reconfigured the 48th District to move its boundaries inland, adding nearly 200,000 new voters. This change shifted registration advantages toward the Democratic Party within the area covering parts of San Diego and Riverside counties.

The players

Marni von Wilpert

She has served as a member of the San Diego City Council since 2020.

Jim Desmond

He is a member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors who previously served as the mayor of San Marcos.

Darrell Issa

He is the retiring 72-year-old incumbent who represented the district for 12 terms.

National Border Patrol Council

This labor organization represents over 18,000 Border Patrol agents and has endorsed Jim Desmond.

The details

The race follows the retirement of Darrell Issa, who served 12 terms over a 23-year career representing the district. The new boundaries have intensified the contest between von Wilpert, a San Diego City Council member since 2020, and Desmond, a San Diego County Board of Supervisors member since 2019.

Jim Desmond served as the mayor of San Marcos from 2006 to 2018.
Jim Desmond began his tenure on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in 2019.
Marni von Wilpert began her service on the San Diego City Council in 2020.
Proposition 50 reconfigured the 48th District boundaries in 2025.
The general election for the 48th Congressional District occurs on November 3, 2026.

Political Context

The race is heavily influenced by Proposition 50, which reconfigured the 48th District and shifted its political leanings. Supporters of the Republican candidate, Jim Desmond, argue that the district's history of conservative representation remains relevant despite these boundary changes.

Residents in the newly drawn 48th District will see changes to their congressional representation for the first time in over two decades. The election results will determine which federal policies are prioritized for the district's diverse communities across San Diego and Riverside counties.

The takeaway

Voters should review how the recent boundary adjustments to the 48th District may have shifted the political balance in their local communities. Identifying these changes is essential for understanding how the next representative will align with the district's new registration profile.