San Diego County will be represented in the House by an entirely blue delegation, after Republicans lost Rep. Darrell Issa’s seat, a result for which Democrats had pushed hard following the state’s passage of the redistricting measure, Proposition 50.
Marni von Wilpert, a member of the San Diego City Council will be sworn into Issa’s seat in the redrawn 48th District, after easily defeating San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond.
Democrats in California picked up Issa’s seat after the congressional district was redrawn to stretch north from more conservative areas, in North San Diego County and Riverside County, through Temecula and Hemet into Palm Springs — a Democratic party stronghold.
“I’ve spent my life fighting for working families — from defending workers’ rights to taking on the powerful corporations ripping our families off — and I’m ready to take that fight to Congress,” she said, declaring victory in a press release soon after the first returns were released.
The Associated Press formally called the race for von Wilpert Wednesday evening, though her commanding lead was evident in the early returns. It sat at 19% Wednesday, with the results set to be certified by Dec. 11.
Von Wilpert emphasized workers’ rights, healthcare and cost of living, while Desmond campaigned on border security and affordability. Desmond, like many Republicans, had an uphill battle after securing President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
As results poured in, Desmond remained hopeful as he spoke to supporters at the US Grant Hotel in San Diego.
“We got to keep going, San Diego. Keep those votes coming in, and we’re going to keep counting them until we win. Thank you very much,” he told the crowd at the downtown watch party.
Von Wilpert’s victory was one of many Democratic gains nationwide as the party picked up enough seats in the House and the Senate to take control of Congress.
Will Rodriguez-Kennedy, the head of San Diego County’s Democratic Party, said at another downtown watch party that “the path to getting the House goes right through San Diego and the 48th congressional district.”
That was the goal when state voters passed Prop. 50, put on the ballot by Gov. Gavin Newsom in hopes of flipping five California House seats while making others easier for Democrats to retain. He was responding to Texas’ successful effort to engineer a path to gain more Republican seats.
But the win left local progressive supporters more than pleased over Democratic gains. Cara Dessert, executive director of the San Diego LGBT Community Center, saw more than a blue wave in the local Democrat’s win. Von Wilpert is bisexual.
“I am feeling incredibly hopeful about a rainbow wave,” Dessert said.
San Diego County’s other congressional districts went to the Democratic incumbents Juan Vargas in the 52nd District, Sara Jacobs in the 51st, Scott Peters in the 50th and Mike Levin in the 49th. The AP officially called the wins in each of those races.
Stephen Goggin, an associate professor of political science at San Diego State University, said most of San Diego County is consistently blue and the 48th “may have been competitive just given national trends.
“San Diego County has always been kind of trending in the Democratic direction, particularly in the recent decade or two,” he said. “And now, right, it’s in the inevitability that that kind of takeover has happened.”
Across the country, districts turned blue as dissatisfaction with the president and Republican Party mounted. GOP unfavorability sat at 56.8% the day before the election, according to RealClear Polling.
What could happen once von Wilpert and the other new members of Congress take office, Goggin said, includes placing limits to legislative action from Republicans and more opportunities to exercise congressional oversight.
Before the election, Democrats vowed to hit the ground running — using the first 100 hours to speed legislation against unpopular Trump policies, according to the New York Times.
On a longer timeline, Democrats are expected to forcefully investigate Trump and the administration.
“But also they can issue subpoenas … they can do investigations, and we’re likely to see a lot of that, given the large focus of this election cycle on corruption and that topping the list of many voters’ concerns,” Goggin said.
Drew Sitton and Thaïs Giraudet contributed to this report.
Updated 6:05 p.m. Nov. 4, 2026