Marni von Wilpert Kicks Off General Election Campaign as the Fighter Southern California Families Deserve

From taking on price-gouging corporations and opioid manufacturers, to showing up for workers when Republicans left them behind, von Wilpert’s commitment to Southern California is undeniable. And now, CA-48 voters are seeing wall to wall coverage of how von Wilpert is gearing up to beat MAGA extremist Jim Desmond and fight for them.

While MAGA Republican Jim Desmond has shown voters he would be yet another rubber stamp for Washington’s chaos, Marni von Wilpert has built her career on delivering results for hardworking Californians.

DCCC Spokesperson Anna Elsasser:
“Southern California families deserve a leader that will put their interests first – not be another MAGA rubber stamp. Marni von Wilpert has shown up to fight for Californians time and time again, and she’s ready to carry the 48th District’s voice to Washington.”

See coverage from Marni von Wilpert’s press conference:

Times of San Diego: National Democratic committee boosts Von Wilpert as she shifts focus to Desmond in 48th District House race

• It’s no longer just “Marni von Wilpert for Congress.” After emerging from a crowded primary field to make the general election, the San Diego councilwoman retooled her campaign slogan to reflect the importance of the newly minted 48th District in the Democrats’ plans to flip the House of Representatives. 
• Now, it’s “Marni von Wilpert: Take Back Congress” as she heads for the Nov. 3 general election. 
• The candidate stood outside San Diego County Democratic party headquarters on Thursday, touting her victory and slamming her opponent, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, on two fronts – for accepting President Donald Trump’s complete endorsement and being tied to local Republican Carl DeMaio. 
• …The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added her to its “Red to Blue” program, which will bolster her campaign with organizational and fundraising support.
• “Voters are going to have a choice coming up here in November, and it’s going to be stark,” von Wilpert said. “We either continue to choose the chaos and the corruption in Washington, D.C., or we can choose a new path forward.”
• “…This congressional race here in 48 [is] one of the most important pick-up opportunities we ever have had in the nation,” von Wilpert said.
• Her platform emphasizes lowering the cost of living, restoring healthcare and food benefits, fighting for civil rights and stopping Trump. She cited ICE’s “lawlessness” and the loss of  “taxpayer money abroad to another war in the Middle East” among her criticisms of the president.

KPBS: Marni von Wilpert launches CA-48 campaign against Republican Jim Desmond

• “I have pledged the entire time I’ve been on this campaign trail to be the fighter we need in Congress to stand up to Donald Trump and end the chaos and corruption that’s affecting everyone’s lives,” von Wilpert said.
• She’s aiming to portray Desmond as a Trump-aligned extremist in the general election…Desmond has the President’s endorsement…
• Von Wilpert has also been added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s 2026 Red to Blue program that provides Democratic candidates in competitive races that could flip a Republican-held seat with fundraising and organizational support.
• “Marni is exactly the kind of fighter needed to beat MAGA extremist Jim Desmond, who has done nothing but dismiss rising costs and embrace the worst of Donald Trump and Republicans’ agenda that is increasingly out of step with CA-48 voters,” the [DCCC] says.

###