Marni von Wilpert (D) and Jim Desmond (R) are running in the general election for California's 48th Congressional District on November 3, 2026. Incumbent Darrell Issa (R) is retiring from public office.
Times of San Diego's Andrew Keatts wrote the election "is among the most-watched contests in the nation, and could determine partisan control of the House."
This district was redrawn prior to the election due to Proposition 50. The old district voted for President Donald Trump (R) over Kamala Harris (D) in the 2024 presidential election 56% to 41%. Harris would have won the new district 50% to 47%, an 18-point shift toward Democrats. In the June 2 primary, Desmond and the other Republican candidate on the ballot, Kevin O'Neil, combined for 48% of the vote, while nine Democratic candidates combined for 51% of the vote. Amalia Martinez, vice president of communications for the Escondido Democratic Club, said that despite the district's shift toward Democrats, Desmond "appears more approachable, less polarizing, and he has given grants to different areas, and people know him for that, so it’s going to be tough."
