This story will be updated with results after polls close at 8 p.m. on June 2.
A redrawn congressional district that includes Palm Springs and Indian Wells could play a key role in deciding which party controls Congress after the midterms. Several Democrats, as well as a Republican recently endorsed by President Donald Trump, are among those vying for the House seat.
With no incumbents running in the new 48th Congressional District, its voters are guaranteed to elect a newcomer to Washington. The district was created when California voters approved new Democrat-friendly maps in last year’s Proposition 50 special election.
Palm Springs and Indian Wells have been represented by GOP Rep. Ken Calvert, but the longtime congressman from Corona is instead running in the new 40th district, setting up an intraparty race with fellow GOP incumbent Rep. Young Kim. That district does not include any of the Coachella Valley.
Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, an incumbent in the 48th District who’s been in Congress since 2001, announced he wouldn’t seek re-election in the redrawn district in early March, saying it’s “the right time for a new chapter and new challenges.”
The redrawn 48th district runs from Palm Springs and Indian Wells to much of northern and eastern San Diego County almost to the Mexican border, more than 80 miles from Palm Springs. The rest of the Coachella Valley falls into the new 25th district, where incumbent Democrat Raul Ruiz is running for re-election against three Republicans.
The race for the 48th district is expected to be competitive heading into November. Democrats comprise about 36.9% of its registered voters, while Republicans make up 32.7% and no-party preference and third-party voters make up the rest. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the district as “lean Democrat.”
A dozen candidates — nine Democrats, two Republicans and one with no party preference — have qualified for the ballot, according to the California Secretary of State’s office. (One of them, Stephen Clemons, dropped out and endorsed San Diego Councilmember Marni von Wilpert in early May, so 11 candidates still have active campaigns.)
The California Democratic Party’s caucus ultimately didn’t endorse a candidate for the 48th District at its convention earlier this year, as no candidate reached the 60% vote threshold. But von Wilpert got the highest share of the vote, with 54.5%, followed by Ammar Campa-Najjar (18.2%) and Brandon Riker (12.1%).
On the GOP side, the California Republican Party did not endorse a candidate in the race, but Trump endorsed San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond in mid-April. Desmond has also gained support from Issa.
With vote-by-mail ballots arriving in mailboxes several weeks ago and polls set to close at 8 p.m. June 2, The Desert Sun will have the latest results from this race on Election Night.
Who’s running to represent Palm Springs, Indian Wells in Congress?
The race for the 48th district includes the following candidates, listed in alphabetical order:
Tom Coulter covers local government and politics for The Desert Sun. Reach him at tcoulter@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Election results in California’s key 48th Congressional District
Reporting by Tom Coulter, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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