Congressional Candidate, Navy Veteran, Airline Pilot, Engineer Jim Desmond Tackles SoCal’s High Cost Of Living

San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond is the Republican nominee for California’s 48th Congressional District in the November 2026 general election. He is running in a newly redrawn district courtesy of Proposition 50 gerrymandering, redrawn to lean more Democrat. The district encompasses parts of North County San Diego, the San Diego backcountry, and portions of Riverside County. This is an open seat after longtime Republican Rep. Darrell Issa retired and endorsed Desmond. 

Desmond advanced from the June 2026 primary well ahead of challenger Democrat Marni von Wilpert. Desmond received 73,508 votes, for 38.9%, von Wilpert received 39,327 votes for 20.8%, and trailing in third place was Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar with 20,095 votes for 10.6%.

Desmond, who is a U.S. Navy Veteran, a Delta Air Lines pilot for 33 years, founder of a technical writing company, former Mayor of San Marcos, and currently San Diego County Supervisor, says he is running for Congress because the community “deserves a representative who understands those challenges firsthand. Common sense leadership shouldn’t be hard to find — but too often, it is.”

The National Republican Congressional Committee just released the latest installment of its “MAGA Majority” video series, highlighting Jim Desmond’s lifetime of service, from serving in the United States Navy to raising his family in San Diego County, working as an engineer and airline pilot, serving as a Mayor, and County Supervisor, and his commitment to restoring affordability for Southern California families.

“Jim Desmond has spent his career solving problems and delivering results, from serving in the United States Navy to leading in local government. He knows how to fix what’s broken,” said NRCC Spokesman Christian Martinez. “Marni von Wilpert has spent her career helping break it. She backed the higher taxes, higher fees, and failed policies that made Southern California one of the most expensive places to live. Californians have a simple choice: an engineer who fixes problems or a career politician who created them.”