Democratic Candidates for California's 48th Congressional District
2026 Primary Election — June 2, 2026
District: CA-48 covers parts of San Diego and Riverside counties, including Palm Springs. Voter registration: 37% Dem, 33% GOP, 22% NPP — shifted from red to "leans Democratic" under the Prop 50 redistricting map. Incumbent: Republican Darrell Issa retired just before the filing deadline, leaving an open seat in a nationally watched race. California uses a top-two primary: all candidates appear on one ballot; the top two vote-getters advance to November 3 regardless of party.[1]
Marni von Wilpert Dem Age 42
San Diego City Councilmember • San Diego Establishment Favorite
San Diego City Council (2020–present). Workers' rights attorney, former prosecutor. Flipped a GOP-held council seat in 2020. Author of CA's ghost gun ban.[2]
Top Issues / Platform
- Rein in Trump — reassert War Powers Act, stop ICE overreach
- Anti-corruption — government accountability, campaign finance reform
- Workers' rights — raise wages, protect unions
- Public safety — gun violence prevention, fentanyl crisis
- Protect Social Security and Medicare
Key Endorsements
- San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria
- Rep. Scott Peters, Rep. Mike Levin
- CA Attorney General Rob Bonta
- San Diego County Democratic Party
- Planned Parenthood Action Fund, EMILYs List, SEIU California
- $1.04M raised; $494K COH (Mar 2026)[1]
Strengths ▲
- Won majority of CA Democratic Party convention delegates (just shy of 60% endorsement threshold)
- Proven ability to flip GOP-held seats; broad institutional support
- Strong local roots — represents part of district on City Council
Weaknesses ▼
- Crowded Dem field splits the vote
- Attacked as too moderate by progressive rivals
- City council experience only — no state or federal office
Brandon Riker Dem Age 38
Entrepreneur / Economist • Palm Springs Self-Funded Challenger
Trained economist (LSE, Washington College). Former Obama campaign organizer (2008). Ran for VT Lt. Gov. in 2016. Has the largest campaign war chest in the field, mostly self-funded. Lives in Palm Springs.[1]
Top Issues / Platform
- Affordability — cost of living, economic development
- Keep What You Earn Act — make first $50K earned tax-free
- Robin Hood Act — Wall Street transaction tax
- Higher minimum wage, expand Medicare access
- Protect Social Security & Medicare for every generation
Strengths ▲
- Largest war chest in the race — can self-fund through November
- Only trained economist in the field; strong on economic messaging
- Lives in district (Palm Springs); active campaign with 700+ volunteers
Weaknesses ▼
- No elected experience; dropped out of VT LG race in 2016
- Low name ID compared to von Wilpert
- Little institutional support from CA elected officials
Abel Chavez Dem Age 34
Educator / School Board President • Nuevo Grassroots Progressive
Teacher and president of the Nuview Union School District board. Small business owner. Grew up in extreme poverty. Raised $204K — second-best funded Democrat in race. Lives in Nuevo (Riverside County).[7]
Top Issues / Platform
- Reduce cost of living — affordable healthcare, lower gas prices
- Abolish ICE — replace with humane, accountable enforcement agency
- Ban Wall Street landlords from buying single-family homes
- Support public education — career pathways beyond college
- End the Iran war; protect the economy
Key Endorsements
- Grassroots campaign; no major elected-official endorsements listed
- $204K raised; $16.9K COH (Dec 2025)[1]
Strengths ▲
- Second-best funded Democrat; actual campaign operation
- Compelling personal story (poverty to educator/school board president)
- Signed Term Limit Pledge; anti-establishment appeal
Weaknesses ▼
- Very low name ID; lives in rural Nuevo (far southeast corner of district)
- "Abolish ICE" position may alienate moderate/swing voters
- Uphill battle against better-known, better-connected rivals
Corinna Contreras Dem Age 36
Vista City Councilmember • Vista Progressive Incumbent
Vista City Council since 2018, former Deputy Mayor. First Latina and first LGBTQ+ council member in city history. Delivered scholarships from cannabis tax revenue, safe parking program, microtransit. CA Assembly Woman of the Year 2019.[9]
Top Issues / Platform
- Medicare for All
- Affordable housing — mixed-income development, limit sprawl
- Expanded public transportation
- Worker protections — right to organize
- Climate-resilient infrastructure, fire prevention
- Immigrant rights
Key Endorsements
- Grassroots campaign
- $12.9K raised; $11.8K COH (Dec 2025)[1]
Strengths ▲
- Only elected official in the race who lives in and represents part of the district
- Progressive record with tangible local accomplishments
- Historic firsts (Latina, LGBTQ+) could drive coalition support
Weaknesses ▼
- Minimal fundraising — $12.9K far behind top contenders
- Limited name ID beyond Vista
- Progressive platform may struggle in a moderate-leaning district
Stephen Clemons Dem Age 57
Education & Energy Professional • Palm Springs Pragmatic Moderate
Palm Springs resident. Background in education and energy; worked with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Marine Corps veteran (25+ yrs). Positions himself as a pragmatic problem-solver focused on bipartisanship. One of few candidates living in-district. $0 raised.[11]
Top Issues / Platform
- Affordability — housing, energy, everyday costs
- Public safety & border security — enforce existing law, target fentanyl trafficking
- Fix government — bipartisan results over rhetoric
- Infrastructure, water, wildfire mitigation, veteran services
- Reduce homelessness — compassion paired with accountability
Key Endorsements
- No major endorsements reported
- $0 raised; no campaign finance activity[1]
Strengths ▲
- Lives in district (Palm Springs) — unlike several top rivals
- Moderate, pragmatic pitch could appeal to swing voters
- Completed Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey
Weaknesses ▼
- Zero fundraising — no visible campaign infrastructure
- No political experience or prior office
- Extremely low name ID; no path to viability without funding
Eric Shaw Dem Age 57
Digital Marketing Executive • Temecula Bridge-Builder
Temecula resident (12+ yrs). Digital marketing executive originally from Omaha. Runs as a "pragmatist by nature" — pledges no corporate PAC money and monthly town halls. Detailed policy focus on Colorado River water rights and the affordability crisis. $0 raised.[13]
Top Issues / Platform
- Public safety — top priority for the district
- Affordability — groceries, gas, housing
- Colorado River water rights — operating agreement expires this year
- Immigration — points-based system like Canada/Australia
- Climate action — clean energy jobs, protect EPA standards
- Fight misinformation as threat to democracy
Key Endorsements
- No major endorsements reported
- $0 raised; no campaign finance activity[1]
- Pledges no corporate PAC money
Strengths ▲
- Lives in district (Temecula); detailed knowledge of local issues (Colorado River, wildfires)
- Active media engagement — completed candidate questionnaires
- Moderate, pragmatic tone could appeal to crossover voters
Weaknesses ▼
- Zero fundraising — no campaign infrastructure
- No political experience
- Tough-on-immigration stance may alienate progressive base
Mike Schaefer Dem Age 87
CA Board of Equalization / Former San Diego Council • San Diego Veteran Politician
Current CA Board of Equalization member (District 4). San Diego City Council (1965–1971) — youngest ever elected at 30. Was Republican until switching to Democrat in 2003. Also on ballot for Lt. Governor. Controversial record: disbarred in two states; ordered to pay $1.83M to former tenants for uninhabitable conditions. $0 raised.[15]
Top Issues / Platform
- Fight for an affordable America — lower federal taxes and fees
- Voting rights reform — authored landmark election lawsuits (Sumner v. Sexton, Canaan v. Abdelnour)
- Reduce money in politics
- Says he will "support Democratic leadership" — party-line voter
Key Endorsements
- No major endorsements reported
- $0 raised for this race; also running for Lt. Governor[1]
Strengths ▲
- Holds current elected office (Board of Equalization)
- Authored significant voting-rights lawsuits that changed CA elections
- Name ID from decades in politics
Weaknesses ▼
- Disbarred in two states; $1.83M landlord judgment against him for deplorable conditions
- Only switched to Democrat in 2003 for political convenience (to support Schwarzenegger)
- Running for two offices simultaneously (CA-48 and Lt. Gov)
- Zero fundraising; no campaign infrastructure; age and health questions
Ferguson Porter Dem Age 43
Small Business Owner / Writer • Palm Springs Progressive Reformer
Palm Springs resident since 2010. Comic book seller and published writer. Son of public school teachers. SMU graduate (2005). Running on structural reform platform: expand the House, reform SCOTUS, end gerrymandering. $62K raised — most among long-shot Dems.[17]
Top Issues / Platform
- Expand the House to reflect population growth
- Supreme Court reform — expand Court, term limits, geographic representation
- End partisan gerrymandering
- Protect Social Security & Medicare
- Higher wages, fairer taxes — tax the ultra-wealthy
- Defend democracy — automatic voter registration
Key Endorsements
- No major endorsements reported
- $62K raised; $21.5K COH (Sep 2025)[1]
Strengths ▲
- Some fundraising ($62K) — more than most long-shot Dems
- Lives in district (Palm Springs); 15-year resident
- Clear, distinctive platform focused on structural reform
Weaknesses ▼
- No political experience
- Low fundraising relative to top contenders
- Structural reform proposals (expand Court, expand House) not mainstream
- Extremely low name ID
Race Summary & Outlook
CA-48 is one of the most competitive U.S. House races in the country following Darrell Issa's (R) retirement and Prop 50 redistricting. The district shifted from reliably red to "leans Democratic" (37% D, 33% R). With Republicans holding a razor-thin House majority, this race could help determine control of Congress.[1]
Key dynamics among the 8 Democratic candidates:
- Marni von Wilpert (42) is the establishment favorite with the most institutional support and the strongest convention delegate showing.
- Brandon Riker (38) has the largest war chest ($1.5M+) and would be the only trained economist in Congress, but lacks elected experience.
- Abel Chavez (34, $204K raised) is the only other Democrat with meaningful fundraising and a campaign operation.
- The remaining five (Contreras 36, Clemons 57, Shaw 57, Schaefer 87, Porter 43) have minimal or no funding and limited visibility.
- The biggest risk is vote-splitting among 10+ Democratic candidates, which could allow Republican Jim Desmond (Trump-endorsed) to advance alongside another Republican — shutting Democrats out of November entirely.
Likely outcome: Desmond (R) is expected to take one top-two slot. The second slot is a primary battle among von Wilpert, Riker, and Campa-Najjar. Von Wilpert's institutional support gives her an edge, but Riker's spending could change the calculus.
Primary: June 2, 2026 — General: November 3, 2026