Campa-Najjar outraises Issa, other Democrats in race to flip 48th District

Three-time Democratic congressional candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar reported outraising incumbent Republican Rep. Darrell Issa in the fourth quarter as the race for the 48th district in San Diego and Riverside counties begins to heat up.

Data from the Federal Election Commission shows Campa-Najjar raising $358,000 from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, compared to $321,000 for Issa. However, Issa has over $2.64 million cash on hand, versus $418,000 for Campa-Najjar.

Campa-Najjar also outraised other leading Democrats during the three-month period. Palm Springs entrepeneur Brandon Riker raised $225,000 and has $1.06 million on hand. San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert raised $293,000 and has $304,000 available.

Redistricting under Proposition 50 has given Democrats hope of winning the previously solidly Republican district, which formally encompassed east San Diego County, but now includes Democratic-leaning Escondido and Palm Springs.

Campa-Najjar has been endorsed by three of the four Democratic members of the San Diego congressional delegation, but last month von Wilpert picked up nearly 70% of the California Democratic Party’s pre-endorsement vote, followed by Campa-Najjar with 14% and Riker with 10%.

Campa-Najjar, a Navy officer, ran unsuccessfully against former Rep. Duncan Hunter in 2018 and Issa in 2020, then lost a bid to be mayor of Chula Vista in 2022. He contends he has the best chance of winning against Issa because of his longtime name recognition.

“As the only candidate who has run against Issa before and nearly flipped this district, I’m uniquely positioned to retire a 10-term Congressman who has spent decades voting against working families, reproductive freedom and democracy itself,” Campa-Najjar said, adding that his fundraising “momentum shows people are ready for leadership that puts communities first.”