Democrat Marni von Wilpert wins California race for Issa’s House seat

San Diego City Council member Marni von Wilpert (D) is projected to win the race for California’s 48th Congressional District and take the reins from outgoing Rep. Darrell Issa (R), according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).

She defeated San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond (R) in a race where the district leaned Democratic, the nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report noted.

Von Wilpert led Desmond by nearly 19 percentage points with 64 percent of the vote reported, according to DDHQ as of 11:14 p.m. Tuesday.

She ran on addressing concerns over the cost of living, stronger restrictions on access to firearms and called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be held accountable. Von Wilpert also campaigned on helping reform the pathways to citizenship “for hardworking long-term residents and Dreamers who have grown up here as Americans,” her campaign website reads.

The California Democrat ran on protecting the rights of the LGBTQ community, herself being “a proud member,” according to her campaign website.

Earlier in her career, von Wilpert worked as a civil rights attorney and helped provide legal services to people diagnosed with HIV and AIDS through a free legal clinic in Mississippi, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Von Wilpert was first elected to the San Diego City Council in 2020 and ran unopposed in 2024.

The district covers parts of San Diego and Riverside counties and includes the cities of Murrieta, Costa Mesa, Laguna Niguel and parts of Aliso Viejo and Santa Ana, among other cities.

This district has long been led by a Republican, with the exception of former Rep. Harley Rouda (D), who defeated former Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R) in 2018.

Former Rep. Michelle Steel (R) reclaimed the district in 2020 before the congressional map was redrawn after the 2020 U.S. Census. Issa was elected to lead the district in 2022.

Issa announced in March that he would not seek reelection.