Polling Average
30%20%10%0%
27%
11.3%
10.7%
CA-48 primary: first place
$4.6K
JUN 6, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleCommissioner
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
LocationCalifornia
BackgroundPolitician
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EducationSan Diego State University (B.S.)
Notable personal detailsJim Desmond is a Republican politician serving on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for District 5 (since 2019) and previously served as mayor of San Marcos, California (2006–2018) and on the San Marcos City Council (2004–2006). He is a U.S. Navy veteran and worked as an airline pilot for Delta Air Lines for more than three decades before retiring in 2020. In 2026, he became a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in California’s 48th Congressional District.
SourcesShowHide
fec.goven.wikipedia.orgsupervisorjimdesmond.comsandiegocounty.govlinkedin.comcongress.govbonsallchamber.orgthecandidate.comballotready.orgvote-usa.orglegistorm.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgjoincalifornia.comtheballotbook.comvoteinfo.netdocquery.fec.govpunchbowl.newsdesmondforcongress.comtimesofsandiego.comcontent.govdelivery.comthecoastnews.comcountynewscenter.comjamn957.iheart.comkpbs.orgapnews.comdocs.house.gov10news.comcaliforniahealthline.orgvoiceofsandiego.orgkesq.comcbs8.comnrcc.orgx.comnbcsandiego.compolitico.comfox5sandiego.comsandiegouniontribune.cominewsource.orgcalmatters.orghrc.orgnytimes.comebar.cominkl.comhjta.orgfacebook.cominstagram.comvotesmart.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgdonate.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgstatic.votesmart.orghistory.house.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports lower taxes and opposes new or increased local taxes and tax measures; argues the county has a spending problem rather than a revenue shortfall and favors reducing or restraining spending instead of raising taxes.
Healthcare
Jim Desmond has prioritized expanding and improving behavioral and mental-health services at the county level, including supporting construction of a psychiatric facility in Oceanside and authoring board letters to expand behavioral-health court and community behavioral-health initiatives. Public materials and news coverage document actions on county safety-net and behavioral health programs but do not provide a clear statement of his position on federal healthcare policy (e.g., ACA, Medicare, public option, or Medicare for All).
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Immigration & Border
Supports stronger border security and enforcement, opposes local policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, and has called the migration situation in San Diego a crisis that strains local resources. Advocates restricting local assistance to migrants and has sought to repeal county limits on helping federal immigration enforcement while requesting more federal support and resources for handling migrant flows.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Jim Desmond voted against San Diego County Board measures supporting a state constitutional amendment to enshrine abortion rights (California Proposition 1) and has publicly opposed that measure. His record shows opposition to formal local endorsement of codifying reproductive rights, consistent with favoring restrictions rather than protecting unrestricted access statewide.
Climate & Energy
Jim Desmond has made statements that express skepticism about the human role in climate change while also participating in county actions related to decarbonization and opposing offshore drilling near San Diego’s coast. His public record includes votes and statements that both question aggressive climate policy and support local measures addressing energy/shoreline risks, producing an overall mixed or unclear policy pattern on climate and energy.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports law enforcement and increased public-safety funding and has opposed county-level gun-safety measures such as a ghost-gun ordinance and a county gun-violence prevention study; emphasizes addressing mental health as the focus of reducing gun violence rather than new local regulations. Campaign materials and endorsements highlight his alignment with sheriff and police associations and a priority on holding criminals accountable.
Polls
CA-48 primary: first place
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$2.3M
$1.7M
$1.1M
$564.7K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$2.3M
$1.2M
$1.0M
$57.2K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- News
- Endorsements