2026 midterms · California · November 3
California’s 48th District race 2026
Who’s running for U.S. House in California’s 48th District on November 3, 2026: Marni von Wilpert (D) and Jim Desmond (R). Open seat, now held by Darrell Issa (R). Forecasters: Likely D (average of 7; range Solid D to Tilt D).
How to vote in California: check your registration on California’s election website · deadlines on Vote.gov for California
Next to a Democrat in Congress, $ backing is their backing from the pro-Israel PACs we track, 2016–2026; $0 backing means none. Tap a name for each PAC by year, with FEC links.
| Race | Rating | Democrats | Republicans | Others on the ballot | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California 48 | Likely D Average of 7; Solid D to Tilt D Each forecaster for California 48
|  Marni von Wilpert | Jim Desmond | No one else listed | Open seat · Top-two · Now held by Darrell Issa (R) |
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Questions and answers
Who is running for U.S. House in California’s 48th District in 2026?
On the November 3, 2026 ballot: Marni von Wilpert (D) and Jim Desmond (R).
When is the 2026 election for U.S. House in California’s 48th District?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The two leaders of the primary advanced, whatever their party.
Who is favored in the 2026 race for U.S. House in California’s 48th District?
The nonpartisan forecasters we track rate it Likely D on average (7 forecasters; their ratings range from Solid D to Tilt D). These are their ratings, not our prediction.
How do I vote in California?
Check your registration on California’s election website and the registration deadlines on Vote.gov; both are linked on this page.
Where this comes from
Candidates as of October 9, 2026, from state election offices, news reports and Ballotpedia’s candidate lists; independent and minor-party candidates may not be complete. Ratings are the average of up to seven nonpartisan forecasters, read from the tables Wikipedia editors keep of them: how we average them and each forecaster’s own pages. Backing is contributions plus outside spending for a candidate by the pro-Israel PACs we track, from FEC filings (method). Results, on election night, only from AP or official sources. Found an error? Tell us.
Photos of members of Congress: official portraits (public domain). Other photos: Marni von Wilpert: City of San Diego (photo of Marni von Wilpert), Public domain.