| Nonpartisan race rater Cook Political Report shifted California’s 48th Congressional District in Democrats’ direction – just the latest sign that Southern Californians are souring on Republicans’ toxic, cost-spiking agenda.
This move comes just days after Republican incumbent and MAGA firebrand Darrell Issa announced that he would abandon Californians and not seek re-election — a telltale sign that Republicans know they’re in trouble in CA-48.
Race raters noted the district remains competitive, underscoring why Democrats are fully committed to flipping this seat in November.Â
From Cook Political Report:Â
- Issa’s trepidation about running in this redrawn seat was clear from the start…After Proposition 50 passed, the congressman was rumored to be looking at running instead in California’s 40th District (where two sitting incumbents were already battling each other) or even halfway across the country in Texas’ open 32nd District…
- Just based on the political history of the district, Issa would have been one of the most vulnerable House Republicans in the country. Overall, it’s…trended toward Democrats in the past decade, relative to the nation…
- 56% of this district voted “yes” on Proposition 50 last November…
- The Republican frontrunner, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, switched from a run in the neighboring 49th District to the 48th shortly before Issa’s retirement announcement…it remains to be seen if he’ll be able to maintain [a] moderate profile…Â
DCCC Spokesperson Anna Elsasser:
“Darrell Issa saw the writing on the wall: Southern Californians are fed up with Republicans’ extreme agenda and ready for new leadership. Voters know Republican policies like health care cuts and reckless tariffs are hiking their costs and destroying California’s economy, and Jim Desmond would bring more of the same extreme, failed policies to Washington. They’re ready to push back by electing a commonsense, California-first leader to Congress.” |
