New Calif House map turns Issa's red district to blue, as he now faces 11 Democratic challengers

California's new congressional map has turned GOP Rep. Darrell Issa's reliably red district to blue, resulting in him now facing 11 Democratic challengers in his 2026 reelection bid and likley resulting in Republicans losing their only congressional seat for San Diego. 

Last month, California passed Proposition 50, a new congressional map that makes five more Democratic House seats possible, after Texas passed its own redistricting plan to help Republicans pick up five seats. Both congressional maps are being challenged in court.

If California's new congressional map holds up in court, then Democrats could flip the lone Republican seat in San Diego, held by Issa, The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday. The 48th Congressional District will switch from a 12-point Republican advantage to a 4-point Democratic lead, according to voter registration.

Due to the shift, Issa will face off against his former opponent, Ammar Campa-Najjar; San Diego City Council Member Marni von Wilpert; attorney Anuj Dixit; school board member Abel Chavez; entrepreneur Brandon Riker; and Marc Iannarino, a Navy veteran and bartender.

Currently, the district covers conservative East County San Diego communities. However, the new district moves west and north, adding the North County San Diego cities of Escondido, San Marcos, and Vista, while including Palm Springs in Riverside County, where Democratic voters outnumber Republicans by more than 4 to 1.

Issa has been a congressman for more than 20 years in different districts, winning his current seat in 2020, and holding it after it was redrawn during statewide redistricting in 2021.

The GOP congressman declined to answer questions from CalMatters, but said in a statement that Proposition 50 was an “unprecedented purely partisan campaign that pitted neighbor against neighbor and divided the state as never before.”

Issa also said he plans to run again.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll continue to represent the people of California — regardless of their party or where they live,” he said.