Von Wilpert Leads 48th District by 43,212 Votes in California House Races
Unofficial returns from November 10 show Democrats holding wide leads in three California House districts as the new Congress takes shape.
By Yara Nasser ·
Three California House races were effectively decided late Tuesday night as unofficial results showed substantial Democratic margins in the 48th, 49th, and 50th districts. The figures, provided by the California Secretary of State as of 5:31 p.m. on Nov. 10, reflect full district returns just before the print deadline for local news outlets. The outcome confirms that Democrats will hold their seats in these regions while facing Republican challengers in a competitive cycle.
In the 48th District, Marni von Wilpert maintained a lead of 43,212 votes over Republican Jim Desmond. Von Wilpert, a San Diego city councilwoman, secured 130,516 votes, which accounted for 59.9% of the total. Desmond, a San Diego County supervisor, received 87,304 votes, or 40.1%. The district is open because incumbent Rep. Darrell Issa announced his retirement. The area spans parts of San Diego and Riverside counties, a boundary established by the map voters approved in Proposition 50.
Von Wilpert addressed her supporters early in the night, asserting that voters were sending a message about their dissatisfaction with current congressional dynamics. She stated that constituents were tired of what she described as a corrupt Congress and out-of-control costs. Von Wilpert said she had spent the previous year listening to parents struggling with grocery prices and seniors worried about health care. She pledged to carry those stories to Washington and to fight for working families. She also indicated she would work to lower middle-class costs and hold President Donald Trump accountable.
In the 49th District, which covers parts of North County and southern Orange County, Rep. Mike Levin led Republican Armen Kurdian by 49,446 votes. Levin received 166,949 votes, representing 58.7% of the total, while Kurdian received 117,503 votes, or 41.3%. Levin has represented this district since 2019. He posted on social media last Wednesday night, describing the voter message as one of affordability and accountability. He stated that the new majority would focus on lowering costs for health care, housing, energy, and groceries. Levin also mentioned plans to ban member stock trading and reduce dark money in politics, emphasizing the responsibility that comes with such a large majority.
Rep. Scott Peters led the race in the 50th District by 69,743 votes over Republican Steve Cohen. The district includes parts of San Diego and Escondido, as well as all of Poway and Santee. Peters received 169,746 votes, or 62.9%, while Cohen received 100,003 votes, or 37.1%. Peters has served in Congress since 2013. In a Facebook post last Wednesday night, he described this as his eighth election to the House, noting that none had felt the same as the previous night. He expressed gratitude for the voters' confidence and said the nation had rejected President Trump's policies and leadership. Peters said the party must now restore trust in the government and lower costs for citizens.
The results indicate a shift in power within the U.S. House of Representatives, with Democrats holding these key California seats. The margins in all three districts exceeded 40,000 votes, suggesting strong support for the Democratic candidates. The 48th District race was the closest of the three, yet still resulted in a decisive outcome for von Wilpert. The 50th District race showed the largest margin, with Peters leading by nearly 70,000 votes. These outcomes contribute to the overall composition of the new House majority.
The data from the California Secretary of State remains unofficial, meaning final certification could result in minor adjustments. The 5:31 p.m. timestamp on Tuesday, Nov. 10, marks the point when the full district returns were compiled for reporting. The races were part of a broader election where voters in California selected their representatives for the next term. The specific districts affected by these leads are the 48th, 49th, and 50th, all located in the state's southern region.
Local leaders and candidates responded to the numbers as they came in, with von Wilpert, Levin, and Peters all issuing messages to their bases. The candidates emphasized their platforms of cost reduction and accountability. The Republican candidates, Desmond, Kurdian, and Cohen, were outpaced in their respective districts according to the available data. The final counts will determine the exact seat distribution, but the current leads position the Democrats to retain control of these House seats in the new Congress.
