Von Wilpert leads Desmond by 19 points in CA-48, putting Issa's Republican-held seat on track to flip

San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert, a Democrat, holds a 35,919-vote lead over Republican county Supervisor Jim Desmond in the 48th Congressional District, putting a seat now held by Republican Rep. Darrell Issa on track to switch parties, according to unofficial results posted by the California Secretary of State at 4:21 p.m. Nov. 8.

Von Wilpert had 114,358 votes, or 59.3%, to Desmond's 78,439, or 40.7%, districtwide. Issa, who holds the seat according to the U.S. House directory, was not on the Nov. 3 ballot.

In the San Diego County portion of the district, von Wilpert led 60,310 votes, or 59.63%, to 40,828, or 40.37%, according to the San Diego County Registrar of Voters update posted at 5:46 p.m. Nov. 6. The rest of the district's votes were cast outside the county.

The 48th is the only one of the five House districts on San Diego County ballots now held by a Republican. Von Wilpert represents District 5 on the San Diego City Council, and her move to Congress would leave that council seat open. Desmond represents District 5 on the Board of Supervisors.

Democratic incumbents led by wide margins in the other four San Diego-area districts.

In the 49th District, Rep. Mike Levin had 139,475 votes, or 57.7%, to Republican Armen Kurdian's 102,258, or 42.3%, districtwide. In the San Diego County portion, Levin led 114,513, or 60.52%, to 74,692, or 39.48%.

In the 50th District, Rep. Scott Peters had 137,701 votes, or 61.8%, to Republican Steve Cohen's 85,005, or 38.2%.

In the 51st District, Rep. Sara Jacobs had 129,656 votes, or 64.0%, to Republican Ricardo Cabrera's 72,959, or 36.0%.

In the 52nd District, Rep. Juan Vargas had 106,561 votes, or 69.7%, to Republican Jeff Belle's 46,266, or 30.3%.

The 50th, 51st and 52nd districts lie entirely within San Diego County, and the Secretary of State and registrar totals for those races match.

The registrar's Nov. 6 update counted 886,224 ballots countywide and projected about 390,000 ballots still outstanding, with the next results post scheduled for Nov. 9 by 6 p.m. The smallest lead among the five races is Levin's, at 37,217 votes districtwide. The results remain unofficial until counties certify in December.

If current leads hold, all five House members representing San Diego County in the next Congress will be Democrats.