Republican Jim Desmond is leading the race for California’s Congressional District 48, which will determine the successor to U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa. Issa, a Republican from San Diego County, chose not to run for another term in the newly redrawn district.
With 84.7% of precincts partially reporting, Desmond holds 41.2% of the vote, while Democrat Marni von Wilpert has 20.2%. Both candidates are likely to face off in the November 3 general election.
Desmond’s Background and Campaign Focus
Jim Desmond currently serves as a San Diego County supervisor and is a former mayor of San Marcos. He also has a background as a Delta Air Lines pilot and is a U.S. Navy veteran. In a press release, Desmond expressed gratitude to his supporters and highlighted his commitment to addressing issues such as taxes and border security.
“This win belongs to the families who are sick of being taxed out of their own neighborhoods, to the small business owners hanging on, to the seniors stretching a fixed income further every month,” Desmond stated. “They voted for a secure border, lower taxes, and a chance to actually afford the life they’ve worked for. I hear them, and I’m not going to forget it.”
Von Wilpert’s Campaign and Democratic Field
Marni von Wilpert, a member of the San Diego City Council, has positioned herself as a candidate capable of building coalitions and challenging Republican seats. She emphasizes the need to “unrig the economy for working people” and to address issues related to former President Donald Trump and ICE’s impact on communities.
Other Democratic candidates in the race include Navy Reserve Officer Ammar Campa-Najjar, energy systems executive Stephen Clemons, Vista City Councilmember Corrina Contreras, small business owners Ferguson Porter and Brandon Riker, teacher and school board member Abel Chavez, Board of Equalization member Mike Schaefer, and digital marketing executive Eric Shaw. Besides Desmond, the only other Republican candidate was computer software engineer Kevin Patrick O’Neil.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
