Jim
Desmond
San Diego County Supervisor and retired Delta Air Lines pilot running for U.S. House in California's 48th District
- sources
- 15
- positions
- 11
- endorsements
- 46
Background
Jim Desmond is a Republican politician from Oceanside, California, currently serving as San Diego County Supervisor for District 5, a position he has held since January 2019. 12 He previously served as Mayor of San Marcos for approximately 12 years (2006–2018) and as a San Marcos City Council member from 2004 to 2006. 45
Before entering public life, Desmond had a 33-year career as a Boeing 757/767 captain at Delta Air Lines and founded Technical Standards, Inc., a technical-writing company. He holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from San Diego State University. 2517
Desmond is the Republican candidate for California's 48th Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election. He is not the incumbent in this race. 911 His campaign priorities include border security, homelessness, and fiscal responsibility. 1213
At a glance
- Party
- Republican
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 48, California
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- San Diego County Supervisor, District 5
- Website
- desmondforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Date unknownendorsementTrump endorses Desmond ahead of June primary
President Donald Trump endorsed Jim Desmond before the June primary, though KQED noted that Trump was not listed on Desmond's campaign endorsement page as of October.
Local Loyalties and Trump Opposition Collide in San ... · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 9pollPoll shows von Wilpert leading Desmond 47% to 38%, widening from earlier survey
A SurveyUSA poll for the San Diego Union-Tribune and Channel 10, fielded October 1–7, put von Wilpert ahead of Desmond 47% to 38% among likely voters. Von Wilpert's lead had grown from 3 points in a poll the previous month. Among unaffiliated voters, Desmond trailed 25% to 47%.
Von Wilpert widens lead over Desmond in closely watched ... · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5newsAxios publishes Desmond Q&A; outside spending in race exceeds $5.3 million
Axios published written answers from Desmond and von Wilpert. Desmond outlined priorities including housing affordability, streamlining federal permitting, limiting Wall Street investors from buying single-family homes, lower energy prices, and health-care price transparency. He also supported restoring ACA tax credits and Medicare drug-price negotiation. Outside spending in the race had exceeded $5.3 million.
San Diego House race: Desmond and von Wilpert Q&A · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5newsBallots mailed to voters in California's 48th District race
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that ballots had been mailed to voters over the preceding weekend ahead of the November 3 general election.
Ballots sent out to voters amid big races for San Diego City Council ... · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 30newsHouse Speaker Mike Johnson hosts fundraiser for Desmond in Riverside
House Speaker Mike Johnson was scheduled to host a fundraiser for the Trump-backed Desmond in Riverside. The campaign said Johnson's visit would allow Desmond to discuss cost of living, health care, public safety, and the economy.
Mike Johnson campaigns in California for Trump-backed Jim ... · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 29endorsementKPBS reports Desmond endorsements from Issa, CA GOP, San Diego Young Republicans, and National Border Patrol Council
KPBS listed Rep. Darrell Issa, the California Republican Party, the San Diego Young Republicans, and the National Border Patrol Council among Desmond's prominent endorsers. Campaign finance data showed the Desmond Victory Fund had raised $125,650 through June 30.
Meet the candidates for US House of Representatives · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 2filingDesmond and von Wilpert advance from primary to November general election
Jim Desmond and Marni von Wilpert advanced from the crowded primary to the November 3 general election for California's 48th Congressional District, as reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Von Wilpert widens lead over Desmond in closely watched ... · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- CAL Fire Local 2881–10th District unionListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Vince Fong officialU.S. Representative listed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Laurie Davies officialCalifornia Assemblymember listed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- California Republican Party organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Reform California organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Latino American Political Association of San Diego organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- North County San Diego Republican Assembly organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Oceanside Police Officers' Association unionListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction unionListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Tony Strickland officialCalifornia Assemblymember listed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Joel Anderson officialSan Diego County Supervisor listed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- California Congress of Republicans organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- New Majority Orange County organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Republican National Hispanic Assembly organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- National Border Patrol Council unionListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Brian Jones officialCalifornia State Senator listed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- John Franklin officialVista Mayor listed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Republican Party of Orange County organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Lincoln Club of Orange County organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- California Women's Leadership Association organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Deputy Sheriffs' Association of San Diego County unionListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Oceanside Firefighters Association unionListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Riverside County Farm Bureau organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Ken Calvert officialU.S. Representative listed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Carl DeMaio officialCalifornia Assemblymember listed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Rebecca Jones officialSan Marcos Mayor listed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- San Diego Young Republicans organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- New Majority San Diego organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Hispanic 100 organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Riverside Sheriffs' Association unionListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Escondido Firefighters Association unionListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Kevin Kiley officialU.S. Representative listed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Diane Dixon officialCalifornia Assemblymember listed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Republican Party of San Diego County organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Lincoln Club of San Diego County organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- California Latino Voter Alliance organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- GOP Union Caucus organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Escondido Police Officers' Association unionListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association organizationListed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Tom McClintock officialU.S. Representative listed as endorser on campaign page; no date given. desmondforcongress.com
- Donald Trump officialPresident Trump wrote that Desmond had his "Complete and Total Endorsement." trumpstruth.org · Apr 14, 2026
- Lisa McClain officialHouse Republican Conference Chair endorsed Desmond. voiceofsandiego.org · Apr 14, 2026
- Mike Johnson officialHouse Speaker endorsed Desmond. x.com · Apr 14, 2026
- Steve Scalise officialHouse Majority Leader endorsed Desmond. voiceofsandiego.org · Apr 14, 2026
- Tom Emmer officialHouse Majority Whip endorsed Desmond. voiceofsandiego.org · Apr 14, 2026
- Darrell Issa officialU.S. Representative for CA-48 endorsed Desmond when announcing his retirement. timesofsandiego.com · Mar 6, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $2.26M
- Spent
- $1.03M
- Cash on hand
- $1.23M
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6CA49128(opens in a new tab)
Sources 15
- [1] Local Loyalties and Trump Opposition Collide in San ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
- [2] Von Wilpert widens lead over Desmond in closely watched ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [3] Endorsements for Jim Desmond | Leaders & Community ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [4] Ballots sent out to voters amid big races for San Diego City Council ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [5] San Diego House race: Desmond and von Wilpert Q&A(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [6] Mike Johnson campaigns in California for Trump-backed Jim ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [7] Meet the candidates for US House of Representatives(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
- [8] Cost Of Living(opens in a new tab) Sep 26, 2026
- [9] Q&A: Meet Jim Desmond, candidate for California’s 48th ...(opens in a new tab) May 7, 2026
- [10] It is my Great Honor to endorse Highly Respected San Diego County ...(opens in a new tab) Apr 14, 2026
- [11] Mike Johnson(opens in a new tab) Apr 14, 2026
- [12] Trump Endorses Jim Desmond for 48th Congressional Seat(opens in a new tab) Apr 14, 2026
- [13] Is Rep. Issa retiring? Desmond shifts to 48th District ...(opens in a new tab) Mar 6, 2026
- [14] San Diego County Supervisors to vote on resolution to back Newsom's federal gun safety amendment(opens in a new tab) Jan 19, 2026
- [15] San Diego County supervisors, only 3 present, fail to pass reproductive freedom policy(opens in a new tab) Jan 19, 2026