PALM SPRINGS, Calif.

Democrat Marni von Wilpert and Republican Jim Desmond are competing for California’s open 48th Congressional District seat in the November 3 election, a contest that gives Palm Springs and Indian Wells voters a role in the fight for control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Von Wilpert serves on the San Diego City Council. Desmond is a San Diego County supervisor and former mayor of San Marcos. Their matchup follows redistricting under Proposition 50 and Republican Rep. Darrell Issa’s decision not to seek reelection.

A redrawn district reaches the Coachella Valley

The new district combines communities in San Diego and Riverside counties. Its Coachella Valley portion includes Palm Springs and Indian Wells, according to Senate Office of Demographics

The boundaries changed the political composition of a seat previously considered reliably Republican that the reconfigured district would have favored Kamala Harris over Donald Trump by 3.4 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election. The prior district favored Trump by 15.3 points. Those figures describe past voting under different boundaries; they are not results or polling for this election.

Candidates emphasize different approaches

Von Wilpert has framed her candidacy around congressional oversight of the Trump administration and the cost of living. According to CalMatters’ October 20 report, she has criticized Trump’s tariff policies and supported congressional action to end the war in Iran. Harris and U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff have campaigned for her.

Desmond has emphasized lower taxes, reduced energy costs and fewer regulatory burdens. CalMatters reported that his campaign says he supports Trump while maintaining that he would act independently in Congress. Desmond publicly rejected the president’s comments suggesting Iran could attack San Diego and Los Angeles.

His campaign also stresses his history in local government. He was San Marcos mayor from 2006 through 2018 and is completing his second term as county supervisor, according to KQED. The station reported that he has advocated assistance for first-time homebuyers and a ban on congressional stock trading.

An open seat with national stakes

With Issa retiring, neither candidate enters the election as the district’s incumbent member of Congress. Both parties are targeting the seat, and outside organizations have joined the campaign spending.

For voters in Palm Springs and Indian Wells, the November 3 election will help determine both their next representative in Washington and the partisan makeup of the House. The winner will represent the entire district, spanning communities in both counties.

Also Read