Local Politics · San Diego County
Congressional District 48, spanning parts of San Diego and Riverside counties in California, features a closely contested race between San Diego City Council member Marni von Wilpert (D) and San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond (R). Von Wilpert campaigns as a moderate, pro-Israel Democrat with backing from former Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Adam Schiff, while Desmond emphasizes tax cuts, lower energy prices, and local issues like opposing a power-line project in Temecula. Campaign-finance data shows von Wilpert raised $4.5 million versus Desmond's $3 million, with over $6 million in external spending directed mostly toward von Wilpert. The district was redrawn in 2025 to lean Democratic, combining conservative voters from Temecula and Fallbrook with Oceanside and Palm Springs voters who supported Harris by wide margins. Former Rep. Darrell Issa, who held the seat for over two decades, did not seek reelection.
Public Safety
A CalMatters investigation examining court filings and DMV records for more than 130 commercial licensees charged with vehicular manslaughter from 2019 to early 2024 found nearly half still held valid Class A or B licenses as of late May. The report centers on Baljit Singh, who killed a motorcyclist in Kern County in July 2021 and then killed Jenny Chow outside Fresno in June 2022, with the DMV aware of the first crash but not suspending his license until 2024. State law empowers the DMV to investigate fatal collisions and suspend licenses without a conviction, but records show the agency routinely does nothing or takes years to act. About 4,000 people died in large-truck crashes in California from 2015 through 2024. After CalMatters submitted questions about specific drivers, the DMV took action against a dozen of them.
Public Safety · Indio, CA
Federal law enforcement agencies conducted joint operations at the Highway 86 checkpoint in Indio, California, throughout August and September. U.S. Border Patrol, ICE, and DOT officials inspected at least 196 commercial drivers, issuing citations to 57 for infractions such as English-language proficiency issues and logbook violations. Twenty-seven drivers were ordered out of service, and two arrests were made related to visa compliance violations. The multi-agency effort aimed to ensure compliance with immigration standards, transport regulations, and roadway safety laws.
Local Politics · Imperial County
With less than three weeks until Election Day, PACs backed by tech companies, unions, and business groups have spent over $100 million on California legislative races this cycle, eclipsing 2024 totals. Two new tech-backed groups—Grow California (funded by Chris Larsen and Tim Draper) and California Leads (funded by Meta and Google)—have dominated independent spending in competitive districts. In the Latino-majority border district along the California-Mexico line that Republican Jeff Gonzalez flipped in 2024, Imperial councilmember and nurse practitioner Ida Obeso-Martinez is challenging him, with outside groups having spent $2.7 million supporting Gonzalez while the Democratic Party has given her over $1.5 million. The article profiles nine of the most expensive competitive general-election contests statewide, including races in Orange County, coastal Los Angeles, Marin/Sonoma, Riverside County, and the Sacramento area.
