The 49th Congressional District seat held by Rep. Mike Levin is the lone U.S. House race in San Diego County considered competitive in Tuesday’s election.
Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, is among the 40 Democrats targeted by the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House Republicans’ political arm. He is facing Matt Gunderson, the owner of three car dealerships in Mission Viejo in the district stretching from Del Mar to Laguna Niguel.
Levin is seeking a fourth term with the slogan, “Commitment to our community,” touting the more than $1 billion in federal funds he has secured for the district.
In what he calls “an agenda for our future,” Levin has pledged to:
- “To use every tool at his disposal to promote competition, produce goods here in America, and lower costs for families”
- Continue supporting elimination of the cap on the state and local tax deduction;
- Increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, “implemented at a pace that allows employers to adapt their business plans”
- “Increase funding for police in a way that helps them stay safe, do their jobs more effectively, and earn the trust of the communities they serve”
- Continue “to advocate for improved border infrastructure and more personnel”
- Expanding access to affordable health care, which includes protecting and strengthening Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, protecting those with pre-existing conditions, and lowering prescription drug costs
- Protect the planet for future generations
- Fighting for more transparency and accountability in Washington
Levin was an environmental attorney before being elected in 2018, defeating Republican State Board of Equalization Chair Diane Harkey, 56.4%- 43.6% to succeed Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, who chose not to run for re- election after representing the district for 18 years.
(Issa was returned to Congress in 2020 when he was elected to represent the then-50th District, succeeding Duncan D. Hunter, who had resigned after pleading guilty to a federal felony count for misusing $250,000 in campaign funds.)
Levin defeated former San Juan Capistrano Mayor Brian Maryott, 53.1%- 46.9% in 2020 and Gunderson by 52.6%-47.4% in 2022.
Gunderson has said he supports:
- Term limits
- Tepealing the gas tax hike, stopping the proposed mileage tax, and protecting the 1978 property tax reducing initiative Proposition 13
- Tecuring the border
- Protecting Social Security and Medicare
- Opposing any federal restrictions on abortion and fighting to protect fertility treatments;
- Making certain “our communities are safer for everyone”
- Prohibiting biological boys who identify as trans girls from competing in youth girls’ sports
- Giving treatment to people experiencing homelessness, banning tent cities and camping on sidewalks
