California 48th District
Darrell Issa (R) is not running again. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Jim Desmond
Republican · san diego county supervisor, retired airline pilot
ALiberty Score A100 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Desmond has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Desmond.
Raised $3,177,972 since January 2025: 77% from people, 13% transfers and other income, 10% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Marni von Wilpert
Democrat · san diego city councilmember, former labor and civil rights attorney
FLiberty Score F56 out of 100 across 4 principles. Graded on what Wilpert has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Wilpert.
Raised $4,966,576 since January 2025: 78% from people, 16% from PACs and other committees, 6% transfers and other income. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Jim Desmond. Jim Desmond: A, 100 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count. Marni von Wilpert: F, 56 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
Voting in California: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Jim Desmond, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Desmond, so the grade above comes from this list: what Desmond has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
His campaign site says he will streamline regulations to encourage new nuclear plants.
“streamline regulations to encourage the construction of new nuclear plants.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Cutting a named set of regulations is with liberty on free markets.
-
His campaign site says he will lower taxes and reduce overregulation, naming no tax or rule.
“making life more affordable by lowering taxes, reducing overregulation, and curbing out-of-control costs”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
'Lower taxes' with no tax named does not settle the measure.
-
He proposed that the county board support the federal bill keeping women's sports to the female sex, and said this.
“males, however they identify, should not be competing in women's sports”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Keeping women's sport female is with liberty on equal rights.
-
Proposes free vocational training for people who enlist so the military recruits more volunteers.
“A program like this incentivizes enlistment, ensuring a strong and capable military.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing a strong, well-manned military and policy to equip and recruit for it is with liberty on defense.
-
As a county supervisor he tried without success to repeal the county policy that limits local help for federal immigration enforcement.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Pushing to end a sanctuary-style policy is on the with side of the migration measure.
-
He was the only supervisor to vote against a county ordinance requiring judicial warrants for federal access to non-public county areas.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Voting against limits on federal immigration agents is on the with side of the migration measure.
-
His campaign site lists protecting the borders from illegal crossings as something he will fight for.
“protect our borders from illegal crossings.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Securing the border is on the with side of the migration measure.
-
His campaign site says he would enforce existing immigration laws to stop illegal crossings and overstays.
“enforce existing immigration laws to stop illegal crossings and overstays.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Enforcing the law is on the with side of the migration measure.
Marni von Wilpert, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Wilpert, so the grade above comes from this list: what Wilpert has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
Her campaign site says she will work to end the current Iran war.
“end Trump's costly Iran War”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Calling for the war to end, with no policy, bill or vote named, does not settle the Iran regime measure.
-
She said she will work to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship.
“I'll work to strengthen the historic U.S.-Israel relationship that protects both nations' security”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Treating Israel as an ally and backing the relationship is with liberty on free nations.
-
Her campaign site says she will push for a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians.
“In the Middle East, she'll push for a two-state solution that ensures lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians,”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A two-state solution alone does not say whether she backs or conditions weapons to Israel, so it does not settle the measure.
-
Her campaign site says she would stand with Ukraine against Putin and support America's role in NATO.
“stand with Ukraine in its fight against Putin's aggression,”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing Ukraine against Putin is with liberty on free nations.
-
Her campaign site says she supports America's role in NATO.
“and support America's role in NATO.”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Backing NATO is with liberty on free nations.
-
Her campaign site says she opposes the current tariffs, which she says make essential goods more expensive.
“Marni will fight against Trump's tariff war that has made essential goods more expensive”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
Broad tariffs are against liberty on free markets, so opposing them is with.
-
Her campaign site says she would expand Medicare's power to negotiate drug prices and cap what families pay out of pocket.
“To lower costs, Marni will expand Medicare's power to negotiate prescription drug prices and cap what families pay out of pocket.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Government price negotiation and caps are price controls, which are against liberty on free markets.
-
Her campaign site says she supports a public option in health care and the PRO Act.
“Marni will fight to protect and expand the Affordable Care Act, restore ACA tax credits, and include a public option that gives families more affordable choices.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A government public option is a step toward government-run health care, which is against liberty on free markets.
-
Says school sports should not be regulated by rule and disagrees with the Supreme Court ruling that allows bans on transgender athletes.
“we shouldn't be regulating school sports”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Opposing limits on who plays in girls' school sports is the against side of keeping women's sport female.
-
Her campaign site says she supports legal pathways to citizenship for long-term residents and Dreamers.
“She supports meaningful reform that keeps our borders secure and provides legal pathways to citizenship for hardworking long-term residents and Dreamers who have grown up here as Americans.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
A path to citizenship for people who are here illegally is on the against side of the migration measure.
-
Her campaign site says she will work to get ICE agents off the streets and says she led the city's move to join a lawsuit against ICE.
“In Congress, she will work to get ICE's masked mobs off our streets, stand up to Trump's attacks, and protect our neighbors from lawless government overreach.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
Opposing ICE enforcement is on the against side of the migration measure.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
Say it where other readers can answer you. Opinions, videos and corrections about this race are all in one place.
Discussion
California 48th District
Opinions, videos, corrections and bug reports about this race, all in one place. What readers post is their words, not mine. My answers carry the Host tag.
Leave out anything private about anyone. The rules, what your account keeps, and what readers have changed so far
Know this race better than I do?
Argue it with the hosts on a call. The community meets every day, and members help decide what goes on these pages.