CA-48 Candidate Comparison Matrix

2026 General Election · California's 48th Congressional District

Jim Desmond (R) vs. Marni von Wilpert (D) — Open Seat

November 3, 2026

Presented by Indivisible El Dorado · Prepared: June 25, 2026, 10:30 AM PDT

Sources: FEC, KPBS, Times of San Diego, Voice of San Diego, NBC San Diego, Wikipedia, EQCA, NRCC, DCCC, Legis1

District Context

The redrawn CA-48 (Prop. 50) spans inland northern San Diego County through Palm Springs—Escondido, San Marcos, Poway, Santee, Temecula, Alpine, Ramona, and the San Diego–Mexico border corridor. Darrell Issa’s retirement after 25 years makes this an open seat. Prop. 50 shifted the district bluer: Democrats now hold a 4.4-point registration edge. Voters backed Harris by 3 pts in 2024. Race ratings: Toss-up / Key Democratic Pickup Opportunity—could determine House majority control.

Jim Desmond (Republican · Open Seat Challenger) · www.desmondforcongress.com · Marni von Wilpert (Democrat · Open Seat Challenger) · www.marnivonwilpert.com

Background
Jim DesmondRepublican · Open Seat Challenger	Marni von WilpertDemocrat · Open Seat Challenger
Born in Illinois; built his life in North County San Diego; age 69 (married 42 years, two adult children) U.S. Navy veteran; took flying lessons in the Navy; B.S., San Diego State University Delta Air Lines pilot for 33 years San Marcos City Councilmember; Mayor of San Marcos San Diego County Board of Supervisors (District 5), 2019–present; re-elected 2023 with 60% of vote Originally filed to run in CA-49; switched to CA-48 on the last possible day in March 2026 when Issa announced retirement Self-describes as a “common sense” Republican focused on local government delivery, not partisan ideology	Born 1983; raised in Scripps Ranch neighborhood of San Diego; B.A. Peace & Conflict Studies, UC Berkeley (2001); J.D., Fordham University School of Law Peace Corps volunteer in Botswana during the HIV/AIDS epidemic Civil rights attorney: founded legal clinic at Mississippi Center for Justice; protected people living with HIV/AIDS from discrimination Law clerk to Judge James E. Graves Jr.; attorney, National Labor Relations Board; detail staffer, House Education & Labor Committee; advisor to Chair Rep. Bobby Scott Associate Labor Counsel, Economic Policy Institute (2017); Deputy City Attorney, San Diego City Attorney’s Office (2018–2020) San Diego City Council, District 5, 2020–present; re-elected unopposed in 2024 Out LGBTQ+ elected official; if elected, would be the only out LGBTQ+ woman representing California in Congress San Diego County Regional Airport Authority board member

Key Priorities
Jim DesmondRepublican · Open Seat Challenger	Marni von WilpertDemocrat · Open Seat Challenger
Cost of living and affordability: opposes new taxes and regulations squeezing families and small businesses Homelessness: treatment-first approach; rejects enabling addiction without treatment Border security and immigration: stop illegal crossings; fix broken system with “security, fairness, and dignity”; hold Mexico accountable for sewage crisis on San Diego coastline Education: parents’ rights; school quality Veterans and national defense: “Peace Through Strength” framework Public safety: restore law enforcement resources Housing: cut red tape and overregulation blocking construction Environment: protect San Diego’s coastline and natural areas while opposing bureaucratic overreach American energy dominance; pro-business deregulation	Cost of living and affordability: close billionaire tax loopholes; break up corporate monopolies; grocery pricing transparency Reproductive rights: protect abortion access; passed abortion protections on San Diego City Council LGBTQ+ rights: defend against rollbacks; championed inclusive library resources against censorship Workers’ rights and labor standards: rooted in NLRB and labor law background Gun violence prevention: authored Ira Sharp Firearm Dealer Accountability Act; ghost gun ordinance; endorsed by Giffords PAC and Brady PAC Environmental protection: prosecuted polluters as city attorney; endorsed by LCV-affiliated groups Healthcare access: fought Big Pharma; lower prescription drug costs Holding Trump administration accountable on ICE abuse: filed legal action against ICE overreach Anti-gerrymandering legislation to prevent future Prop. 50–style map manipulation Teen smoking / SAAFE Act; grocery pricing transparency ordinance (first-in-the-nation at city level)

Key Endorsements
Jim DesmondRepublican · Open Seat Challenger	Marni von WilpertDemocrat · Open Seat Challenger
President Donald Trump (“Complete and Total Endorsement”, April 2026) Rep. Darrell Issa (R)—retiring incumbent; personal friend and political mentor NRCC — praised Desmond’s “proven record of service” post-primary San Diego County Supervisors Jim Desmond (self) and Joel Anderson Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner San Diego Young Republicans California Republican Assembly (CRA) WinRed small-dollar donor network (activated via Trump endorsement)	DCCC Red to Blue Program (priority flip-seat support with fundraising and organizational infrastructure) California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO California Teachers Association (CTA) National Education Association (NEA) California School Employees Association San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council United Auto Workers Region 6 San Diego Municipal Employees Association Equality California (nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization) LGBTQ+ Victory Fund Giffords PAC; Brady PAC; Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate (2026) Rep. Mark Takano (Ranking Member, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee) Bonnie Dumanis, Former San Diego District Attorney Defend the Vote

Advantages
Jim DesmondRepublican · Open Seat Challenger	Marni von WilpertDemocrat · Open Seat Challenger
Trump personal endorsement activates national small-dollar donor networks and MAGA volunteer base Issa’s blessing provides continuity of donor relationships and local political infrastructure from a 25-year incumbent NRCC full general-election support and Congressional Leadership Fund expected spending 20+ years of local elected office gives deep name recognition across much of the redrawn district Navy veteran and commercial airline pilot career: credible biography with broad appeal Topped primary with 41.4% in a crowded field—strong consolidation signal Moderate-sounding local platform (environment, homelessness treatment, immigration dignity) may peel swing voters from the Democratic column San Marcos is within the redrawn district—he has home base advantage in core territory	Prop. 50 redistricting gives Democrats a 4.4-point registration edge in the new district—structural advantage DCCC Red to Blue support: full institutional backing including staff, data, independent expenditure coordination Raised more than $1.25M in the primary—the most of any candidate in the field Deep progressive coalition: labor, educators, LGBTQ+ organizations, gun safety groups, and environmental advocates Highly credentialed and diverse professional bio (Peace Corps, NLRB, civil rights law, City Council) appeals to suburban professional voters Anti-Trump environment nationally favors Democrats in midterms; district voted for Harris by 3 pts in 2024 Historic candidacy: would be first out LGBTQ+ woman in California congressional delegation Aggressive litigation posture on ICE abuse differentiates her as a fighter, not just a policy advocate Scripps Ranch native—San Diego roots run as deep as Desmond’s

Vulnerabilities
Jim DesmondRepublican · Open Seat Challenger	Marni von WilpertDemocrat · Open Seat Challenger
Trump endorsement is a double-edged sword in a newly blued district that backed Harris by 3 points in 2024 Last-minute district switch (filed for CA-49, moved to CA-48 on the final filing day) signals opportunism, not deep roots in the redrawn seat Prop. 50 redistricting designed specifically to make this seat a Democratic pickup—structural disadvantage going in Democrats outpace him in party registration by 4.4 points—requires significant crossover to win Midterm anti-incumbent wave environment expected to disadvantage Republicans nationally Outside money ($3.5M+ in primary alone) flowing in both directions makes the general unpredictably expensive Moderate local record could be undercut by national GOP brand on abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigration enforcement No foreign policy record or clear policy positions beyond general “Peace Through Strength” framing	Finished a distant second in the primary (19.5% vs. Desmond’s 41.4%)—began the general needing to close a large primary deficit Progressive platform on LGBTQ+ rights, gun control, and immigration enforcement may face resistance in the district’s more rural and conservative inland communities District includes Temecula, Alpine, Ramona, and border corridor—areas significantly to the right of San Diego proper Palm Springs LGBTQ+ profile of new district territory is an asset in that city but may complicate messaging elsewhere National anti-abortion and gun-safety brand may poll poorly in border-adjacent precincts Desmond’s long local tenure means she must introduce herself to many voters who already know him Democratic vote was split across nine candidates in the primary—consolidating all of them in the general is not guaranteed

Campaign & Major Donors
Jim DesmondRepublican · Open Seat Challenger	Marni von WilpertDemocrat · Open Seat Challenger
Total raised through mid-May 2026: approximately $1.35M–$1.7M (FEC / KPBS / Legis1); $1.1M cash on hand as of March 31 ~$276K raised in Q1 2026; PAC contributions approximately $20K—relatively modest, reflecting GOP institutional money’s tendency to wait for the general WinRed small-dollar donor surge followed Trump endorsement in April Congressional Leadership Fund (GOP super PAC) and NRCC independent expenditures expected to scale up substantially for the general Local San Diego County business and real estate donor networks from two decades of supervisorial fundraising Issa donor network contacts transferred with the retirement endorsement Outside spending in the primary race exceeded $3.5M total—general expected to be among the most expensive in San Diego history	Raised more than $1.25M during the primary—the most of any candidate in the CA-48 field (Times of San Diego) Many individual donors maxed at $3,500 individual contribution limit (KPBS) Major labor PACs: AFL-CIO, United Auto Workers Region 6, Building and Construction Trades Council, Municipal Employees Association Education PACs: CTA, NEA, California School Employees Association Equality California, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, Giffords PAC, Brady PAC DCCC Red to Blue independent expenditure support will add significant outside money House Majority PAC expected to invest heavily given the seat’s House-control implications Note: Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI) spent $2M+ against opponent Campa-Najjar in the primary—von Wilpert was DMFI’s preferred Democratic outcome

Foreign Policy
Jim DesmondRepublican · Open Seat Challenger	Marni von WilpertDemocrat · Open Seat Challenger
Frames foreign policy through “Peace Through Strength” doctrine—consistent with Trump administration posture Supports strong U.S. military and veterans; draws on Navy veteran identity in messaging No specific public positions on the U.S.–Israel war on Iran; Trump endorsement implies general alignment with administration foreign policy Holds Mexico accountable for Tijuana sewage contamination reaching San Diego beaches—cross-border environmental and diplomatic issue central to his platform Supports secure southern border as intertwined national security and foreign policy priority No public positions on Gaza, Israel military aid, or sanctions policy as of publication date Former Rep. Issa, his endorser, was a strong Israel hawk and chair of House Oversight—alignment implied but not stated	Explicitly opposed to Trump’s Iran war: called it a “reckless foreign war America can’t afford” in response to Trump’s endorsement of Desmond Frames foreign policy through human rights, rule of law, and anti-corruption lens—consistent with Peace & Conflict Studies background and civil rights career Endorsed by LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and Equality California—organizations that typically prioritize candidates with human-rights-centered foreign policy Filing legal action against ICE abuse domestically signals willingness to challenge executive branch overreach beyond borders No stated public position on Israel-Gaza conflict or military aid to Israel as of publication date; DMFI spent $2M+ to defeat her primary opponent Campa-Najjar (who opposed unconditional Israel aid), suggesting DMFI views von Wilpert as the more Israel-aligned Democratic candidate Supports congressional oversight and accountability for executive war-making power

Presented by Indivisible El Dorado. For informational purposes only. Data drawn from public FEC filings, candidate websites, and reported news sources as of June 25, 2026. This document does not constitute an official endorsement.