Five San Diego County congressional representatives are vying for re-election in Tuesday’s primary, facing a host of challengers.
In the 48th Congressional District, voters will have six candidates to choose from, including incumbent Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Bonsall.
Issa, a longtime local political fixture, cites border enforcement, jobs, and protecting the First and Second Amendments as his key issues.
Issa is being challenged by four Democrats and an independent candidate.
Stephen Houlahan, a registered nurse and former Santee City Council member, says he supports women’s reproductive freedom, health care, and energy infrastructure. Houlahan previously ran in 2022, but was defeated by Issa in the general election.
Matthew Rascon previously ran to represent the 48th District in 2022, but did not make it past the primary. Rascon says his key concerns are term limits for members of Congress, mandatory divestiture for lawmakers to eliminate conflicts of interest, and harsher penalties for elected officials who take part in insider trading.
Whitney Shanahan, an abortion rights advocate, says she will protect the right to a safe and legal abortion, will address escalating costs of living and oppose corporate special interests.
Mike Simon, an energy technology business owner, says immigration reform, energy infrastructure and improvements to education are among his chief concerns.
Lucinda KWH Jahn, the lone independent candidate, previously ran against Issa twice, but did not make it past the primary either time. Jahn says she supports setting term limits for Congress members, reproductive rights and legal immigration.
The 48th District covers a wide swath of North and East San Diego County, as well as a portion of Riverside County.
In the 49th District straddling San Diego and Orange counties, Democratic Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, faces four Republican challengers.
Levin, who has represented the 49th District since 2019, says his priorities are safely removing the nuclear waste at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, curbing the effects of climate change, and bringing down the high cost of living for residents.
Sheryl Adams, who has worked as an executive with General Motors, Ford, GE Capital and other companies, says securing the border, reducing cost of living and energy independence are some of her key issues.
Matt Gunderson, a business owner based out of Ladera Ranch, says he would work to reduce inflation, secure the border to reduce fentanyl trafficking and crime, and support law enforcement.
Kate Monroe, a Marine Corps veteran, says she is seeking to combat inflation and crime, as well as working to secure the border.
Margarita Wilkinson, senior vice president of Entravision Communications, says border security, halting inflation and supporting law enforcement are among her chief issues.
In the 50th Congressional District, which covers coastal San Diego as well as inland portions of the county extending up into Escondido and San Marcos, Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, faces three challengers.
Peters, who has served in Congress since 2013 and was previously on the San Diego City Council and Port Commission, cites in campaign materials his record of legislation related to climate issues and making prescription medication more affordable for those who need it. Peters says he would continue efforts to address climate change and the cross-border wastewater pollution flowing from the Tijuana River Valley.
Dr. Timothy Bilash, the only other Democrat in this year’s race, is an obstetrician and gynecologist. Bilash says universal health care is a priority for him, along with curbing global warming and protecting reproductive rights.
Peter Bono, a Republican retired Navy technician, says he supports stricter enforcement of immigration laws, economic growth and sustainable environmental policies.
Solomon David Moss, a Republican small business owner, says he wants to secure the border, which he says would reduce crime and homelessness.
In the 51st Congressional District, which covers central San Diego and parts of East County, Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-San Diego, faces three challengers for re-election.
Jacobs says combating the high cost of living, expanding childcare availability, and increasing the supply of affordable housing are among her priorities.
Bill Wells, Republican and mayor of El Cajon since 2013, describes himself as a “vocal critic of the Housing First and Defund the Police movements” in his campaign materials and says he has helped the city of El Cajon maintain a balanced budget and has been “actively engaging in advocacy for conservative causes.”
Stan Caplan, an independent who ran as a Republican when he lost to Jacobs in the general election in 2022, says he will address homelessness with mandates on getting treatment and job training for the unhoused, work to reduce inflation, and enforce immigration laws.
Hilaire Shioura, another independent candidate, says he is “the only pro-military and anti-war candidate” and supports parental rights and transparency in government.
In the 52nd Congressional District, which covers southern San Diego County, Rep. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, has represented the region in the state assembly, state senate, and Congress dating back to 2000.
Vargas says in his campaign materials that he is “committed to ensuring access to quality public education, expanding our economy, (and) protecting vital services for historically excluded communities.”
Republican challenger Justin Lee says he supports strengthening border security, reforms for veterans who need healthcare, combating high taxes.
The top two candidates in each race will advance to the November general election.
City News Service contributed to this article.
