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California's 49th Congressional District election, 2026
← 2024
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California's 49th Congressional District |
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General election |
Election details |
Filing deadline: March 6, 2026 |
Primary: June 2, 2026 General: November 3, 2026 |
How to vote |
Poll times:
7 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
Race ratings |
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending Inside Elections: Lean Democratic Sabato's Crystal Ball: Likely Democratic |
Ballotpedia analysis |
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026 |
See also |
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All U.S. House districts, including the 49th Congressional District of California, are holding elections in 2026. The general election is November 3, 2026. To learn more about other elections on the ballot, click here.
Candidates and election results
Note: The following list includes official candidates only. Ballotpedia defines official candidates as people who:
- Register with a federal or state campaign finance agency before the candidate filing deadline
- Appear on candidate lists released by government election agencies
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House California District 49
Incumbent Mike Levin, Jim Desmond, Star Parker, Eli Stern, and Julian Arellano are running in the general election for U.S. House California District 49 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
![]() | Mike Levin (D) | |
![]() | Jim Desmond (R) ![]() | |
Star Parker (R) | ||
Eli Stern (R) | ||
Julian Arellano (No party preference) ![]() |
![]() | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I'm a U.S. Navy veteran and a retired Delta Air Lines Captain, with 33 years of experience in the cockpit and a lifelong commitment to service. For over 40 years, I’ve been married to my wife, Kerri, and we’re proud to have raised our two children in North County—where they still live today. I currently serve as the San Diego County Supervisor for District 5, representing a vast and diverse region that stretches across more than 4,200 square miles—including 70 miles of Pacific coastline and a 60-mile international border with Mexico. With more than 3 million residents, San Diego County is the fifth most populous county in the nation, and I’m honored to fight every day for the people who call it home. Before being elected to the Board of Supervisors, I served as the Mayor of San Marcos for 12 years. I’ve spent my public service career focused on real, common-sense solutions—leading on issues like public safety, infrastructure, veterans’ support, and protecting taxpayers from government overreach. Whether it's at city hall or the county level, I’ve worked to strengthen our communities and improve the quality of life for every North County resident. Now, I'm running for Congress to bring that same common-sense leadership to Washington and stand up for the families, veterans, and job creators who deserve a voice that puts them first."
Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!
Party: No party preference
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I am a Latino candidate who is here to fight for the working class and human rights"
Voting information
- See also: Voting in California
Ballotpedia will publish the dates and deadlines related to this election as they are made available.
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Survey responses from candidates in this race
Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
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Julian Arellano (No party preference)
Woman rights and the right to decide the fait of thoer own bodies
Human rights and protecting the working class

Jim Desmond (R)
One of my top priorities is restoring affordability in California—because the California Dream has become a nightmare for far too many.
Once a symbol of opportunity and prosperity, California is now:
Last in affordability
Last in places to raise a family
Last in job growth
And first in homelessness
Families are being priced out of their own communities. Seniors on fixed incomes are being forced from their homes because of surging costs in insurance, gas, and electricity. Parents face the impossible task of raising kids in a state where basic necessities are unaffordable, and small businesses are crushed by overregulation.
Fixing Our Immigration System with Security, Fairness, and Dignity
Homelessness is out of control—up 18% this year, with California home to 27% of the nation’s homeless. We need real solutions, not more excuses. I’ll push for treatment-first policies that tackle addiction and mental illness, stop enabling harmful behaviors, and get people off the streets. We must also demand transparency and tie federal dollars to real results: fewer people on the streets, more lives restored, and safer communities. It’s time to restore hope with common-sense solutions that work.

Julian Arellano (No party preference)
Woman rights Affordable housing Minority rights
Education rights
Jim Desmond (R)

Julian Arellano (No party preference)
AOC
Because they represent thier congressional districts and fight for thier constituents
Julian Arellano (No party preference)

Jim Desmond (R)
As a U.S. Navy veteran, retired Delta pilot, and County Supervisor, I’ve always approached leadership with common sense, a steady hand, and a commitment to doing what’s right. That means listening first, cutting through bureaucracy, and delivering real results—whether it’s addressing the homelessness crisis, stopping raw sewage from Mexico, or fighting new taxes that make California unaffordable.
An elected official should never forget who they work for—and that’s the people.
Jim Desmond (R)
It’s not about making headlines—it’s about restoring trust in government, upholding the Constitution, and ensuring accountability at every level. That includes securing our border, keeping our communities safe, reining in out-of-control spending, and making life more affordable for families, seniors, and small businesses.
As someone who’s served as a U.S. Navy veteran, airline captain, and County Supervisor, I believe the job is about leadership, responsibility, and putting people before politics—every single time.
Jim Desmond (R)

Jim Desmond (R)

Julian Arellano (No party preference)

Jim Desmond (R)
Tom McClintock - Congressman Brian Maryott (Former Mayor of San Juan Capistrano) Riley Gaines – Advocate for Women’s Sports and Rights Orange County Supervisor – Janet Nguyen Carl DeMaio – Assemblymember Laurie Davies – Assemblymember Steve Knoblock – Mayor of San Clemente Rick Loeffler – San Clemente Councilmember John Franklin – Mayor of Vista Brian Jones – Senate Minority Leader Melanie Burkholder – Carlsbad Councilmember Peter Weiss – Oceanside Councilmember Rick Robinson - Oceanside Councilmember
Groups: National Border Patrol Council – San Diego Chapter Oceanside Police Officers’ Association Deputy Sheriffs Association of San Diego County Republican Party of San Diego County
Reform California
Jim Desmond (R)
You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:
Campaign finance
Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mike Levin | Democratic Party | $1,395,356 | $591,621 | $1,073,471 | As of June 30, 2025 |
Jim Desmond | Republican Party | $827,480 | $123,067 | $704,413 | As of June 30, 2025 |
Star Parker | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
Eli Stern | Republican Party | $0 | $0 | $0 | Data not available*** |
Julian Arellano | No party preference | $2,971 | $2,246 | $1,000 | As of June 30, 2025 |
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
General election race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[1]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[2][3][4]
Race ratings: California's 49th Congressional District election, 2026 | |||||||||
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Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
9/16/2025 | 9/9/2025 | 9/2/2025 | 8/26/2025 | ||||||
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter | Likely Democratic | Likely Democratic | Likely Democratic | Likely Democratic | |||||
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill | Pending | Pending | Pending | Pending | |||||
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | |||||
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Likely Democratic | Likely Democratic | Likely Democratic | Likely Democratic | |||||
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week. |
Ballot access
This section will contain information on ballot access related to this state's elections when it is available.
District history
The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2020.
2024
See also: California's 49th Congressional District election, 2024
California's 49th Congressional District election, 2024 (March 5 top-two primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 49
Incumbent Mike Levin defeated Matt Gunderson in the general election for U.S. House California District 49 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Mike Levin (D) | 52.2 | 197,397 |
![]() | Matt Gunderson (R) | 47.8 | 180,950 |
Total votes: 378,347 | ||||
![]() | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 49
Incumbent Mike Levin and Matt Gunderson defeated Margarita Wilkinson, Kate Monroe, and Sheryl Adams in the primary for U.S. House California District 49 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Mike Levin (D) | 51.0 | 97,275 |
✔ | ![]() | Matt Gunderson (R) | 25.7 | 49,001 |
![]() | Margarita Wilkinson (R) | 11.0 | 20,900 | |
![]() | Kate Monroe (R) | 10.0 | 19,026 | |
Sheryl Adams (R) ![]() | 2.4 | 4,617 |
Total votes: 190,819 | ||||
![]() | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
2022
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 49
Incumbent Mike Levin defeated Brian Maryott in the general election for U.S. House California District 49 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Mike Levin (D) ![]() | 52.6 | 153,541 |
![]() | Brian Maryott (R) ![]() | 47.4 | 138,194 |
Total votes: 291,735 | ||||
![]() | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 49
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 49 on June 7, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Mike Levin (D) ![]() | 48.9 | 92,211 |
✔ | ![]() | Brian Maryott (R) ![]() | 19.0 | 35,805 |
![]() | Lisa Bartlett (R) ![]() | 10.7 | 20,163 | |
![]() | Christopher Rodriguez (R) ![]() | 9.7 | 18,248 | |
Josiah O'Neil (R) | 7.8 | 14,746 | ||
![]() | Nadia Smalley (D) ![]() | 2.5 | 4,804 | |
Renee Taylor (R) | 1.4 | 2,597 |
Total votes: 188,574 | ||||
![]() | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Anne Elizabeth (R)
2020
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 49
Incumbent Mike Levin defeated Brian Maryott in the general election for U.S. House California District 49 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Mike Levin (D) ![]() | 53.1 | 205,349 |
![]() | Brian Maryott (R) | 46.9 | 181,157 |
Total votes: 386,506 | ||||
![]() | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 49
Incumbent Mike Levin and Brian Maryott advanced from the primary for U.S. House California District 49 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Mike Levin (D) ![]() | 56.6 | 125,639 |
✔ | ![]() | Brian Maryott (R) | 43.4 | 96,424 |
Total votes: 222,063 | ||||
![]() | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Ryan Doheny (Independent)
- Mara Fortin (R)
- Steven Craig Knoblock (R)
- Nadia Smalley (D)
District analysis
This section will contain facts and figures related to this district's elections when those are available.
See also
California | 2026 primaries | 2026 U.S. Congress elections |
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Voting in California California elections: 2026 • 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 |
Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries |
U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018