U.S. House race · November 3, 2026
U.S. Representative, California District 48
Represents the district in the U.S. House of Representatives, which writes federal laws, approves the federal budget and taxes, and oversees the executive branch.
2-year term. Open seat: no incumbent is running. Open seat: Rep. Darrell Issa (R) announced on March 6, 2026 that he would not seek re-election. Under the Proposition 50 map, the district takes in parts of north San Diego County, including Vista and San Marcos, and part of Riverside County, including Palm Springs. Jim Desmond (R, 38.9%) and Marni von Wilpert (D, 20.8%) were the top two finishers among 12 candidates in the June 2, 2026 top-two primary.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name.
Jim Desmond
San Diego County Supervisor, District 5 (since 2019)Jim Desmond is a U.S. Navy veteran and retired Delta Air Lines pilot who was mayor of San Marcos for 12 years and has served on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors since 2019. He is running on affordability, immigration and border security, and a treatment-first approach to homelessness.
Marni von Wilpert
San Diego City Councilmember, District 5 (since 2020)Marni von Wilpert is a San Diego City Council member and former deputy city attorney who earlier worked as a National Labor Relations Board attorney and as counsel to the House Education and Labor Committee. Her campaign focuses on lowering costs, health care and Social Security, opposing the administration's immigration enforcement and tariff policies, and abortion rights.
Compare on the issues
Summaries of each candidate's stated positions. See each profile for sources and details.
| Issue | Jim Desmond Republican | Marni von Wilpert Democratic |
|---|---|---|
| Economy & Jobs | Supports lowering taxes, reducing regulation and curbing costs he says are driving seniors and families out of California. | Opposes the administration's tariffs, supports the PRO Act and stronger wage-theft enforcement, and supports a ban on stock trading by members of Congress. |
| Housing | Supports treatment-first homelessness programs, federal funding tied to measurable results, and easing limits on involuntary care for people in crisis. | Says she will cut red tape to make it easier to build affordable housing, pointing to local down-payment grants for teachers. |
| Immigration | Supports securing the border, enforcing existing law, an online legal application system, and requiring asylum claims to be filed abroad. | Opposes current ICE enforcement tactics; supports border security with legal pathways to citizenship for long-term residents and Dreamers. |
| Abortion | No public position found yet | Supports codifying Roe v. Wade and reversing federal funding cuts to Planned Parenthood. |
| Energy & Environment | Opposes energy mandates he says raise household costs; supports choice of energy sources and investment in nuclear power, carbon capture and hydrogen. | No public position found yet |
| Health Care | No public position found yet | Supports expanding the Affordable Care Act with restored tax credits and a public option, Medicare drug price negotiation, and opposes cuts to or privatization of Social Security. |