SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — California Congressional incumbents took the lead in the Presidential General Election on election night. Included on the ballot were five of San Diego County's five Congressional districts, with four Democrats and one Republican seeking to reclaim their seats.
District 48: Issa vs Houlahan | Live Election Results:
Longtime Republican Darrell Issa defeated former Santee City Councilman Stephan Houlahan. The district covers a large swath of East County and some portions of southern Riverside County.
Issa's priorities include border security, Second Amendment protections and being anti-abortion.
Houlahan says border security is also an issue, but not without also addressing immigration reform. He also supports reinstating protections provided in the 1973 Supreme Court Roe v Wade decision and legislation that addresses climate change.
District 49: Levin vs Gunderson | Live Election Results:
Democrat Mike Levin took the lead in the race for California's 49th congressional district over Republican opponent Matt Gunderson. This covers the northern coastal areas of San Diego County and a portion of southern Orange County.
Levin has represented the 49th District since 2019. Climate change and environmental issues remain a priority for Levin, who says that if elected to a fourth term, he would seek to prevent landslides from endangering railways through the LOSSAN corridor and ensure spent nuclear fuel will be fully removed the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
Matt Gunderson, a Ladera Ranch resident who owns and operates car dealerships in Mission Viejo, describes himself as an outsider to politics. Gunderson says his priorities include inflation and the state's high costs of living, as well as border security in order to stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States.
District 50: Peters vs Bono | Live Election Results:
Democrat Scott Peters, who's seeking his seventh term, pulled ahead of Republican challenger Peter Bono for the 50th District, and went on to win the race. This district covers coastal areas of the city of San Diego and up north into San Marcos and Escondido.
Peters has served in Congress since 2013 and previously was chair of the San Diego Unified Port District and a member of the San Diego City Council.
Bono, a retired Navy technician, says he would pursue assistance for small business owners and legislation to close the southern border.
District 51: Jacobs vs Wells | Live Election Results:
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs defeated El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells in the race for California's 51st congressional district.
The district includes central portions of San Diego and parts of East County including El Cajon, La Mesa and Spring Valley.
The 35-year-old Jacobs is the youngest member of California's House delegation. She said addressing the high costs of living in San Diego County is one of her major concerns and pursuing affordable access to housing and childcare are among her other priorities.
Wells said if elected, he would work to secure the border, shore up public safety concerns by addressing police staffing issues and would address homelessness by enforcing laws and treating addiction as opposed to housing.
District 52: Vargas vs Lee | Live Election Results:
Democratic incumbent Juan Vargas will remain in the house over Republican Justin Lee, a business owner and military veteran in the 52nd District in southern San Diego County.
Vargas has been a congressman since 2013 and previously served in the state senate, state assembly and San Diego City Council. He says addressing cross-border wastewater pollution, immigration reform and the housing crisis are among his chief concerns.
Lee, a business owner and military veteran, says border security, public safety and rising taxes are among his priorities.
