Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Jim Desmond
Jim Desmond is a member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in California, representing District 5. He assumed office in 2019. His current term ends on January 4, 2027.
Desmond (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 49th Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.
Desmond completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Jim Desmond was born in Illinois. He served in the U.S. Navy. He earned a bachelor's degree from San Diego State University.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: California's 49th Congressional District election, 2026
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) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Endorsements
To view Desmond's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2022
See also: Municipal elections in San Diego County, California (2022)
General election
General election for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 5
Incumbent Jim Desmond defeated Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson in the general election for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 5 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Desmond (Nonpartisan) | 60.1 | 110,529 |
| Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson (Nonpartisan) | 39.9 | 73,353 | ||
| Total votes: 183,882 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| 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
The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Jim Desmond and Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson advanced from the primary for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 5.
2018
General election
General election for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 5
Jim Desmond defeated Michelle Gomez in the general election for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 5 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Desmond (Nonpartisan) | 56.3 | 112,267 |
 | Michelle Gomez (Nonpartisan) | 43.7 | 87,046 | |
| Total votes: 199,313 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| 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 San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 5
Jim Desmond and Michelle Gomez defeated Jerome Kern and Jacqueline Arsivaud in the primary for San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 5 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Desmond (Nonpartisan) | 45.2 | 58,417 |
| ✔ | | Michelle Gomez (Nonpartisan) | 22.9 | 29,662 |
| Jerome Kern (Nonpartisan) | 19.2 | 24,804 | ||
| Jacqueline Arsivaud (Nonpartisan) | 12.7 | 16,482 | ||
| Total votes: 129,365 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jim Desmond completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Desmond's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
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.- An Affordable California: Making California Affordable Again Starts with Common-Sense Leadership
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 One of my top priorities is fixing our broken immigration system with security, fairness, and dignity. We must protect our borders, stop illegal crossings, and ensure no one skips the line. America can welcome those who follow the rules while upholding the rule of law. As your representative, I’ll fight for a secure border, a legal immigration system that works, and a process that treats people with dignity—while putting American families first.
- 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.
I’ve fought to make California more affordable by cutting red tape and opposing new taxes, and I’ve prioritized protecting our environment, veterans, and families. I believe in common-sense leadership—and I’m committed to bringing that to Washington.
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.
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.
I don’t believe in endless talk or political games—I believe in action, accountability, and common-sense leadership. I hope to be remembered as someone who listened, led with integrity, and delivered for the people I served. That’s the kind of legacy that matters to me.
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
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.
2022
Jim Desmond did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Candidate U.S. House California District 49 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 16, 2025
 |
State of California Sacramento (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
