San Diego's 48th District candidates answer our questions
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Marni von Wilpert and Jim Desmond. Photos: Eduardo Contreras/San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images and Luke Johnson/San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images
The 48th Congressional District race is attracting national attention and big spending, as Democrats hope to flip the seat from red to blue.
The big picture: Republican Rep. Darrell Issa opted not to run again after redistricting made the district favorable to Democrats, and Democratic City Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert is hoping to capitalize on that.
- Meanwhile, County Supervisor Jim Desmond is trying to keep the seat in the Republican camp.
The district stretches across inland San Diego and Riverside counties, including Escondido, Vista, San Marcos, Temecula, Murrieta and Palm Springs.
- It's attracted more than $5.3 million in outside spending so far.
Axios sent questions to both candidates. Their answers are edited for length.
Axios: Why are you running for Congress?
Desmond: I've seen firsthand how decisions made in Washington affect people here at home, and how they too often make it harder and more expensive to solve problems locally.
- There are also limits to what we can do at the local level.
- I understand why people have lost faith in government.
Von Wilpert: I've spent my career fighting for people who don't have a voice in Washington.
- I know what real leadership looks like: focusing on results and making government work for everyday people, not big corporations and Trump's megadonors.
What would you do to lower costs for people in the district?
Desmond: Start with housing, streamline federal regulations and permitting that add time and cost to building homes and give local communities more flexibility to increase housing supply.
- Restricting large Wall Street investors and foreign buyers from buying up single-family homes and competing with families trying to become homeowners.
- Lower gas and energy prices.
- Greater price transparency in health care.
Von Wilpert: Stop the policies and practices driving costs up, starting with Trump's tariffs and failed policies.
- Restore the expired ACA tax credits, create a public option, expand Medicare's power to negotiate drug prices and cap what families pay out of pocket for prescriptions.
- Expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to build more affordable homes and ban the software corporate landlords use to coordinate rent increases.
How do you differ from your opponent?
Desmond: The biggest difference is our records, especially on affordability. I've consistently fought to lower costs and opposed higher taxes and fees.
- Marni von Wilpert has a failed record on governing. During her time on the San Diego City Council, families have faced higher taxes and fees while the city has struggled with serious financial challenges.
Von Wilpert: MAGA Republican Jim Desmond has made clear that he will be a complete rubber stamp for Trump's agenda and ignore the issues working families are facing in this district.
- That includes support for Trump and ICE's harassment of our immigrant neighbors.
- And the war in Iran.
On what issue would you be willing to break with your party?
Desmond: Affordability. I'm not going to support a policy simply because my party does if I believe it will significantly raise the cost of housing, groceries, gas, utilities, or health care for the people I represent.
Von Wilpert: I opposed the trash tax proposals. I opposed the city's water rate hikes and pushed for reform. I reached across the aisle to my Republican colleagues to combat the fentanyl epidemic and expand opioid addiction treatment.