Jim Desmond
Jim Desmond is a member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in California, representing District 5. He assumed office in 2019. His current term ends on January 4, 2027.
Desmond (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 48th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. He advanced from the primary on June 2, 2026.
Desmond (Republican Party) also ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 49th Congressional District. He did not appear on the ballot for the primary on June 2, 2026.
Desmond completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Jim Desmond was born in Illinois. He served in the U.S. Navy. He earned a bachelor's degree from San Diego State University.[1]
2026 battleground election
Ballotpedia identified the November 3 election as a battleground race. The summary below is from our coverage of this election here
Marni von Wilpert (D) and Jim Desmond (R) are running in the general election for California's 48th Congressional District on November 3, 2026. Incumbent Darrell Issa (R) is retiring from public office.
Times of San Diego's Andrew Keatts wrote the election "is among the most-watched contests in the nation, and could determine partisan control of the House."[2]
This district was redrawn prior to the election due to Proposition 50. The old district voted for President Donald Trump (R) over Kamala Harris (D) in the 2024 presidential election 56% to 41%. Harris would have won the new district 50% to 47%, an 18-point shift toward Democrats. In the June 2 primary, Desmond and the other Republican candidate on the ballot, Kevin O'Neil, combined for 48% of the vote, while nine Democratic candidates combined for 51% of the vote. Amalia Martinez, vice president of communications for the Escondido Democratic Club, said that despite the district's shift toward Democrats, Desmond "appears more approachable, less polarizing, and he has given grants to different areas, and people know him for that, so it’s going to be tough."[3]
Von Wilpert is a member of the San Diego City Council. She is campaigning in opposition to Trump's policies, and said, "whether it's stopping [ICE] from raiding our communities ... undoing the costly tariffs ... restoring affordable health care. I will stand up for our community against Donald Trump. And I'll do it every day."[4] Von Wilpert is also campaigning on reducing the cost of housing, and her campaign website says she "will cut red tape and make it easier to build more affordable housing to make sure people can live closer to where they work."[5]
Desmond is a member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and a former mayor of San Marcos. Desmond is campaigning on his local government experience, and says, "Decades of local service as mayor and county supervisor have given me a deep understanding of local, state and federal issues ... I will bring knowledge of local issues to Congress to fight for Southern California and deliver real results for families in the 48th district."[6] Desmond is also campaigning on affordability, and his campaign website says he supports "lowering taxes, reducing overregulation, and curbing out-of-control costs that are driving seniors and families out of the state."[7]
The outcome of this race will affect the partisan balance of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 120th Congress. All 435 U.S. House districts are up for election.
Currently, Republicans have a 219-214 majority with two vacancies in the U.S. House.[8][9] To read more about the U.S. House elections taking place this year, click here.
For more information about other phases in this race, click on the links below:
Elections
2026
U.S. House California District 48
See also: California's 48th Congressional District election, 2026
California's 48th Congressional District election, 2026 (June 2 top-two primary)
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for U.S. House California District 48
Marni von Wilpert (D) and Jim Desmond (R) are running in the general election for U.S. House California District 48 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Marni von Wilpert (D) | |
 | Jim Desmond (R) | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary
Nonpartisan primary election for U.S. House California District 48
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 48 on June 2, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Desmond (R) | 38.9 | 73,508 |
| ✔ | | Marni von Wilpert (D) | 20.8 | 39,327 |
 | Ammar Campa-Najjar (D) | 10.6 | 20,095 | |
 | Kevin O'Neil (R) | 6.9 | 13,132 | |
 | Brandon Riker (D) | 6.3 | 11,892 | |
 | Abel Chavez (D) | 5.5 | 10,339 | |
 | Corinna Contreras (D) | 5.3 | 10,056 | |
 | Mike Schaefer (D) | 2.5 | 4,770 | |
 | Luis Reyna (No party preference) | 0.9 | 1,690 | |
 | Stephen Clemons (D) | 0.8 | 1,542 | |
 | Ferguson Porter (D) | 0.7 | 1,301 | |
 | Eric Shaw (D) | 0.7 | 1,299 | |
| Total votes: 188,951 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Darrell Issa (R)
- Nicholas Davis (D)
- Anuj Dixit (D)
- Marc Iannarino (D)
- Curtis Morrison (D)
- Brian Nash (D)
- Jerlilia Ryans (D)
- Whitney Shanahan (D)
- Suzanne Till (D)
- Mike Bucy (No party preference)
- Albert James Mora (No party preference)
Endorsements
Jim Desmond received the following endorsements. To send us additional endorsements, click here.
- President Donald Trump (R)
- April's Common Sense Cali Voters (Sway voting group by April Silverman 🇺🇸💕 (Cali MAGA Barbie))
- Based in Malibu (Sway voting group by Based in Malibu)
- Elizabeth Barcohana's Lady with a Brain Voter Guide (Sway voting group by Elizabeth Barcohana)
- Questionable Bipartisanism (Sway voting group by R)
- Reform California
- The Morning Answer with Jennifer Horn
U.S. House California District 49
See also: California's 49th Congressional District election, 2026
California's 49th Congressional District election, 2026 (June 2 top-two primary)
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for U.S. House California District 49
Incumbent Mike Levin (D) and Armen Kurdian (R) are running in the general election for U.S. House California District 49 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Mike Levin (D) | |
 | Armen Kurdian (R) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary
Nonpartisan primary election for U.S. House California District 49
Incumbent Mike Levin (D) and Armen Kurdian (R) defeated Star Parker (R) in the primary for U.S. House California District 49 on June 2, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Levin (D) | 55.9 | 125,869 |
| ✔ | | Armen Kurdian (R) | 26.1 | 58,822 |
 | Star Parker (R) | 18.0 | 40,661 | |
| Total votes: 225,352 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Julian Arellano (D)
- Jim Desmond (R)
- Eli Stern (R)
Endorsements
To view Desmond's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2022
See also: Municipal elections in San Diego County, California (2022)
General election
General election for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 5
Incumbent Jim Desmond defeated Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson in the general election for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 5 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Desmond (Nonpartisan) | 60.1 | 110,529 |
| Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson (Nonpartisan) | 39.9 | 73,353 | ||
| Total votes: 183,882 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jim Desmond and Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson advanced from the primary for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 5.
2018
General election
General election for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 5
Jim Desmond defeated Michelle Gomez in the general election for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 5 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Desmond (Nonpartisan) | 56.3 | 112,267 |
 | Michelle Gomez (Nonpartisan) | 43.7 | 87,046 | |
| Total votes: 199,313 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 5
Jim Desmond and Michelle Gomez defeated Jerome Kern and Jacqueline Arsivaud in the primary for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 5 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Desmond (Nonpartisan) | 45.2 | 58,417 |
| ✔ | | Michelle Gomez (Nonpartisan) | 22.9 | 29,662 |
| Jerome Kern (Nonpartisan) | 19.2 | 24,804 | ||
| Jacqueline Arsivaud (Nonpartisan) | 12.7 | 16,482 | ||
| Total votes: 129,365 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2026
U.S. House California District 48
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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You can ask Jim Desmond to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing info@DesmondForCongress.com.
Campaign website
Desmond's campaign website stated the following:
Cost Of Living
The California Dream Has Become a Nightmare – But Together, We Can Fix It
California once stood as the beacon of opportunity, prosperity, and hope for generations. Today, that dream is slipping away:
Last in places to raise a family.
Last in affordability.
Last in job growth.
First in homelessness.
Families are struggling to make ends meet, and seniors on fixed incomes are being forced out of their homes due to skyrocketing costs of insurance, gas, and electricity. Parents face the impossible task of raising a family in a state where basic needs are unaffordable, and small businesses are crushed under endless regulations.
For too long, politicians in Washington D.C. and Sacramento have failed us. They’ve chosen partisan fights over real solutions. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
As your representative, I will work to restore the California Dream by:
Making life more affordable by lowering taxes, reducing overregulation, and curbing out-of-control costs that are driving seniors and families out of the state.
Supporting job growth by empowering small businesses, promoting innovation, and ensuring California is a place where businesses thrive.
Focusing on families and seniors, ensuring our communities are safe, livable, and affordable for all generations.
The federal government must step in where the state has failed. It’s time for real leadership. Let’s bring affordability, opportunity, and dignity back to California. Together, we can ensure the Golden State shines again—for everyone.
Homelessness
Restoring Hope: A Real Plan to End Homelessness
Homelessness is skyrocketing, up 18% this year, with more than 770,000 people living on the streets. California alone accounts for 27% of the nation’s homeless population—a crisis that touches every community. The California dream has become a nightmare, but it doesn’t have to stay that way.
We need real solutions, not endless excuses. As your representative, I’ll push for common-sense policies to tackle homelessness at its core:
A Plan That Works for Everyone
Get People Off the Streets and Into Treatment
Fund treatment-first programs that address the root causes of homelessness: addiction and mental illness.
Stop enabling harmful behaviors and start offering real pathways to recovery through effective mental-health care and addiction treatment.
Federal Support for Local Communities
Provide federal funding for cities and counties that move people from the streets into treatment, not just temporary shelters.
Expand resources to build treatment facilities and end the Medicaid rule that blocks funding for larger psychiatric hospitals.
Empower Medical Professionals, Not Bureaucrats
Reduce legal barriers to getting people the care they need. Give doctors and first responders the ability to intervene when lives are at risk, including involuntary care for those in crisis.
Demand transparency for dollars spent.
Tie federal dollars to real results: fewer people on the streets, more lives restored, and better community outcomes.
Homelessness isn’t just a tragedy for those living on the streets—it’s a public safety issue, an economic drain, and a health crisis for our communities. My plan ensures your tax dollars are spent wisely, helping people rebuild their lives and making our streets safer and cleaner.
It’s time for leadership that delivers solutions, not more empty promises. Together, we can end this crisis and restore hope for those who need it most.
Secure Border
A Strong, Fair, and Dignified Immigration System
Our nation is built on the strength of its people and the rule of law. It’s time to fix our broken immigration system by securing our border, creating a legal process that works, and ensuring that no one skips the line. We can welcome those who follow the rules while protecting the safety and prosperity of our country. Fairness, security, and dignity—this is the American way.
A safe, secure border and a legal immigration system that works for everyone. As your representative, I will fight to:
Protect our borders from illegal crossings.
Create an efficient legal process for those who follow the rules.
Ensure fairness by stopping people from skipping the line.
Treat every person with dignity while upholding the integrity of our laws.
Securing the Border
Provide Border Patrol agents with the tools and training they need to keep us safe.
Work with border states and local communities to address challenges.
A Legal Immigration System That Works
Launch a user-friendly online application system so immigrants can apply legally and transparently.
Streamline legal immigration for skilled workers, family reunifications, and humanitarian cases.
Prioritize areas of economic need, like agriculture, technology, and healthcare.
No Skipping The Line
Enforce existing immigration laws to stop illegal crossings and overstays.
Require asylum claims to be filed at U.S. embassies or designated centers abroad.
Remove incentives for illegal entry by creating real, legal options
Our immigration system should reflect who we are as Americans—fair, secure, and welcoming to those who follow the rules. I’ll fight for a plan that protects our border, strengthens our economy, and ensures a system we can be proud of. Together, we can build an immigration system that works for everyone.
Lowering Food & Energy Prices
Common-Sense Climate and Energy Policies
Balance in key. California’s climate policies shouldn’t punish families, seniors, and small businesses. By forcing costly energy solutions and electric vehicles on people, we’re driving hardworking Californians out of the state. It doesn’t need to be this way.
Common-sense climate solutions can protect our environment, provide clean water, lower costs, and support our communities—without sacrificing livelihoods or our energy independence.
1. Protect Families and Seniors
California’s current climate policies are hurting the very people they claim to help.
Keep Energy Affordable: Oppose proposals that charge people more for electricity based on income or mandate costly energy alternatives that drive up household costs
Promote Energy Choice: Allow families to choose the energy sources that work best for them, from natural gas to renewables, without unnecessary mandates or penalties.
Support Reliable Energy: Invest in energy solutions that ensure the lights stay on, especially for seniors and vulnerable populations during extreme weather events.
2. Harness America’s Energy Advantage
“Energy should be a tool for prosperity, not a weapon of policy.”
Leverage Fossil Fuels Responsibly: Fossil fuels have lifted billions out of poverty by making food, medicine, and essential goods affordable and accessible.
Invest in Clean Energy Innovation: Support cutting-edge technologies like carbon capture, hydrogen energy, and advanced nuclear power to reduce emissions without sacrificing energy reliability.
Expand Nuclear Power:
- Preserve and modernize America’s existing nuclear fleet.
- Develop next-generation technologies, such as small modular reactors, to provide clean, reliable power 24/7.
- Streamline regulations to encourage the construction of new nuclear plants.
3. Support Farmers—The Backbone of Our Economy
Invest in Agricultural Innovation: Provide funding for research and development to enhance productivity, improve water efficiency, and implement innovative farming practices.
Protect Farmland: Oppose policies that make farming unaffordable by driving up energy, water, or transportation costs.
Ensure Access to Affordable Energy: Farmers rely on cost-effective fuels for tractors, irrigation systems, and transportation. Protect their access to reliable energy sources.
Promote Local Agriculture: Expand programs that connect local farmers with consumers, schools, and restaurants to strengthen the local food system.
4. Balance Environmental Protection with Economic Growth
We can protect our air, water, and planet without driving people into poverty.
Clean Air and Water: Focus on reducing industrial pollution and cleaning up toxic waste sites that harm local communities.
Innovative Emissions Reductions: Use advanced technologies to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.
Transportation Freedom: Expand consumer choice with incentives for electric vehicles, hybrids, hydrogen-powered cars, and gas-powered vehicles—not mandates.
Let’s build a better future—one with clean air and water, affordable energy, and strong communities. Together, we can fight for common-sense climate solutions that protect our environment and our economy.
Vocational Military Education
Vocational Military Education
Overview:
The Vocational Military Education program is a transformative initiative that redefines how we support both our military and workforce development. The concept is simple yet powerful: encourage volunteer military service by offering free, high-quality vocational education and training in diverse fields, from plumbing to coding, engineering, finance, healthcare, and more.
This program would benefit individuals who serve their country and ensure America has a skilled workforce ready to tackle the challenges of the future.
Why It Matters:
Empowering Veterans and Active Duty Members:
This initiative provides service members with valuable skills that are directly transferable to civilian careers, ensuring their long-term success and stability.
Addressing Workforce Shortages:
America faces significant shortages in skilled trades and STEM fields. By integrating vocational training into military service, we can address these gaps while fostering economic growth.
Strengthening the Military:
A program like this incentivizes enlistment, ensuring a strong and capable military. It provides opportunities for those who may not see traditional college as the right path, offering a unique way to serve and grow.
Economic Mobility and Equality:
This program would open doors for underprivileged and underserved communities, offering a pathway to education, financial security, and personal growth through service.
Investing in those who serve: Vocational Military Education equips our troops with the tools for success both in service and beyond.
— Jim Desmond's campaign website (July 17, 2026)
U.S. House California District 49
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jim Desmond completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Desmond's responses.
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I’ve fought to make California more affordable by cutting red tape and opposing new taxes, and I’ve prioritized protecting our environment, veterans, and families. I believe in common-sense leadership—and I’m committed to bringing that to Washington.
As a U.S. Navy veteran, retired Delta pilot, and County Supervisor, I’ve always approached leadership with common sense, a steady hand, and a commitment to doing what’s right. That means listening first, cutting through bureaucracy, and delivering real results—whether it’s addressing the homelessness crisis, stopping raw sewage from Mexico, or fighting new taxes that make California unaffordable.
It’s not about making headlines—it’s about restoring trust in government, upholding the Constitution, and ensuring accountability at every level. That includes securing our border, keeping our communities safe, reining in out-of-control spending, and making life more affordable for families, seniors, and small businesses.
I don’t believe in endless talk or political games—I believe in action, accountability, and common-sense leadership. I hope to be remembered as someone who listened, led with integrity, and delivered for the people I served. That’s the kind of legacy that matters to me.
Tom McClintock - Congressman
Brian Maryott (Former Mayor of San Juan Capistrano)
Riley Gaines – Advocate for Women’s Sports and Rights
Orange County Supervisor – Janet Nguyen
Carl DeMaio – Assemblymember
Laurie Davies – Assemblymember
Steve Knoblock – Mayor of San Clemente
Rick Loeffler – San Clemente Councilmember
John Franklin – Mayor of Vista
Brian Jones – Senate Minority Leader
Melanie Burkholder – Carlsbad Councilmember
Peter Weiss – Oceanside Councilmember
Rick Robinson - Oceanside Councilmember
Groups:
National Border Patrol Council – San Diego Chapter
Oceanside Police Officers’ Association
Deputy Sheriffs Association of San Diego County
Republican Party of San Diego County
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2022
Jim Desmond did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Candidate U.S. House California District 48 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 16, 2025
- ↑ Times of San Diego, "Desmond, von Wilpert to face off in redrawn CA-48 that could decide control of Congress," June 2, 2026
- ↑ Cal Matters, "Democrats are eager to flip Issa’s seat. But his Republican successor is a ‘formidable opponent’," April 6, 2026
- ↑ NBC San Diego, "Can San Diego City Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert turn District 48 blue?" May 15, 2026
- ↑ Marni von Wilpert 2026 campaign website, "Issues," accessed July 15, 2026
- ↑ San Diego Union Tribune, "Q&A: Meet Jim Desmond, candidate for California’s 48th Congressional District," May 7, 2026
- ↑ Jim Desmond 2026 campaign website, "Cost of Living," accessed July 15, 2026
- ↑ Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-Calif.) caucuses with the Republicans.
- ↑ A majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, when there are no vacancies, is 218 seats.
