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Candidates › CA-48 race › 2025–2026
Jim Desmond
R Republican nominee for U.S. House, CA-48
Has not served in Congress
- On the ballot
- Lost the general electionNov 3, 2026 · 120,697 votes (48.0%) · 2 of 2
- Where to vote
- Find your polling place (opens in a new tab) · More ways to vote
- Top priorities
- Cost Of Living
- Homelessness
- Secure Border
- Energy
- Vocational Military Education
- Money
- $3.2M raised, $2.5M spent, $717.5K cash on hand (through Oct 14, 2026). Where it comes from
- Who gives
- 14% of individual money from donors at $200 or less · 93% from California · largest committee giver KOCH, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (KOCHPAC), $10K
- Outside groups
- $285K supporting, $5.5M opposing Desmond
- Backed by
- Oceanside Police Officers’ Association · National Border Patrol Council · Riverside Sheriffs' Association and 72 more. As the campaign lists them
- Polling
- 38% in the latest poll (SurveyUSA). The polls
5 priorities from desmondforcongress.com, in the order they are listed there. Every heading and the text under it is copied exactly, as one passage for each page it is from, and links to that place on the page; hover a source to see which passage it opens.
The California Dream Has Become a Nightmare – But Together, We Can Fix It ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/cost-of-living at this heading)
California once stood as the beacon of opportunity, prosperity, and hope for generations. Today, that dream is slipping away:
- Last in places to raise a family.
- Last in affordability.
- Last in job growth.
- First in homelessness.
Families are struggling to make ends meet, and seniors on fixed incomes are being forced out of their homes due to skyrocketing costs of insurance, gas, and electricity. Parents face the impossible task of raising a family in a state where basic needs are unaffordable, and small businesses are crushed under endless regulations.
For too long, politicians in Washington D.C. and Sacramento have failed us. They’ve chosen partisan fights over real solutions. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
As your representative, I will work to restore the California Dream by:
- Making life more affordable by lowering taxes, reducing overregulation, and curbing out-of-control costs that are driving seniors and families out of the state.
- Supporting job growth by empowering small businesses, promoting innovation, and ensuring California is a place where businesses thrive.
- Focusing on families and seniors, ensuring our communities are safe, livable, and affordable for all generations.
The federal government must step in where the state has failed. It’s time for real leadership. Let’s bring affordability, opportunity, and dignity back to California. Together, we can ensure the Golden State shines again—for everyone.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/cost-of-living
Restoring Hope: A Real Plan to End Homelessness ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/homelessness at this heading)
Homelessness is skyrocketing, up 18% this year, with more than 770,000 people living on the streets. California alone accounts for 27% of the nation’s homeless population—a crisis that touches every community. The California dream has become a nightmare, but it doesn’t have to stay that way.
We need real solutions, not endless excuses. As your representative, I’ll push for common-sense policies to tackle homelessness at its core:
A Plan That Works for Everyone ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/homelessness at this heading)
- Get People Off the Streets and Into Treatment
- Fund treatment-first programs that address the root causes of homelessness: addiction and mental illness.
- Stop enabling harmful behaviors and start offering real pathways to recovery through effective mental-health care and addiction treatment.
- Federal Support for Local Communities
- Provide federal funding for cities and counties that move people from the streets into treatment, not just temporary shelters.
- Expand resources to build treatment facilities and end the Medicaid rule that blocks funding for larger psychiatric hospitals.
- Empower Medical Professionals, Not Bureaucrats
- Reduce legal barriers to getting people the care they need. Give doctors and first responders the ability to intervene when lives are at risk, including involuntary care for those in crisis.
- Demand transparency for dollars spent.
- Tie federal dollars to real results: fewer people on the streets, more lives restored, and better community outcomes.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/homelessness
A Strong, Fair, and Dignified Immigration System ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/secure-border at this heading)
Our nation is built on the strength of its people and the rule of law. It’s time to fix our broken immigration system by securing our border, creating a legal process that works, and ensuring that no one skips the line. We can welcome those who follow the rules while protecting the safety and prosperity of our country. Fairness, security, and dignity—this is the American way.
A safe, secure border and a legal immigration system that works for everyone. As your representative, I will fight to:
- Protect our borders from illegal crossings.
- Create an efficient legal process for those who follow the rules.
- Ensure fairness by stopping people from skipping the line.
- Treat every person with dignity while upholding the integrity of our laws.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/secure-border
Provide Border Patrol agents with the tools and training they need to keep us safe.
Work with border states and local communities to address challenges.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/secure-border
Launch a user-friendly online application system so immigrants can apply legally and transparently.
Streamline legal immigration for skilled workers, family reunifications, and humanitarian cases.
Prioritize areas of economic need, like agriculture, technology, and healthcare.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/secure-border
Enforce existing immigration laws to stop illegal crossings and overstays.
Require asylum claims to be filed at U.S. embassies or designated centers abroad.
Remove incentives for illegal entry by creating real, legal options
Our immigration system should reflect who we are as Americans—fair, secure, and welcoming to those who follow the rules. I’ll fight for a plan that protects our border, strengthens our economy, and ensures a system we can be proud of. Together, we can build an immigration system that works for everyone.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/secure-border
Common-Sense Climate and Energy Policies ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/energy at this heading)
Balance is key. California’s climate policies shouldn’t punish families, seniors, and small businesses. By forcing costly energy solutions and electric vehicles on people, we’re driving hardworking Californians out of the state. It doesn’t need to be this way.
Common-sense climate solutions can protect our environment, provide clean water, lower costs, and support our communities—without sacrificing livelihoods or our energy independence.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/energy
California’s current climate policies are hurting the very people they claim to help.
Keep Energy Affordable ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/energy at this heading)
Oppose proposals that charge people more for electricity based on income or mandate costly energy alternatives that drive up household costs
Promote Energy Choice ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/energy at this heading)
Allow families to choose the energy sources that work best for them, from natural gas to renewables, without unnecessary mandates or penalties.
Support Reliable Energy ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/energy at this heading)
Invest in energy solutions that ensure the lights stay on, especially for seniors and vulnerable populations during extreme weather events.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/energy
“Energy should be a tool for prosperity, not a weapon of policy.”
Leverage Fossil Fuels Responsibly ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/energy at this heading)
Fossil fuels have lifted billions out of poverty by making food, medicine, and essential goods affordable and accessible.
Invest in Clean Energy Innovation ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/energy at this heading)
Support cutting-edge technologies like carbon capture, hydrogen energy, and advanced nuclear power to reduce emissions without sacrificing energy reliability.
Expand Nuclear Power ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/energy at this heading)
- Preserve and modernize America’s existing nuclear fleet.
- Develop next-generation technologies, such as small modular reactors, to provide clean, reliable power 24/7.
- Streamline regulations to encourage the construction of new nuclear plants.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/energy
Invest in Agricultural Innovation ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/energy at this heading)
Provide funding for research and development to enhance productivity, improve water efficiency, and implement innovative farming practices.
Protect Farmland ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/energy at this heading)
Oppose policies that make farming unaffordable by driving up energy, water, or transportation costs.
Ensure Access to Affordable Energy ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/energy at this heading)
Farmers rely on cost-effective fuels for tractors, irrigation systems, and transportation. Protect their access to reliable energy sources.
Promote Local Agriculture ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/energy at this heading)
Expand programs that connect local farmers with consumers, schools, and restaurants to strengthen the local food system.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/energy
We can protect our air, water, and planet without driving people into poverty.
Clean Air and Water ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/energy at this heading)
Focus on reducing industrial pollution and cleaning up toxic waste sites that harm local communities.
Innovative Emissions Reductions ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/energy at this heading)
Use advanced technologies to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.
Transportation Freedom ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/energy at this heading)
Expand consumer choice with incentives for electric vehicles, hybrids, hydrogen-powered cars, and gas-powered vehicles—not mandates.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/energy
Overview ↗ (opens desmondforcongress.com/vocational-military-education at this heading)
The Vocational Military Education program is a transformative initiative that redefines how we support both our military and workforce development. The concept is simple yet powerful: encourage volunteer military service by offering free, high-quality vocational education and training in diverse fields, from plumbing to coding, engineering, finance, healthcare, and more. This program would benefit individuals who serve their country and ensure America has a skilled workforce ready to tackle the challenges of the future.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/vocational-military-education
This initiative provides service members with valuable skills that are directly transferable to civilian careers, ensuring their long-term success and stability.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/vocational-military-education
America faces significant shortages in skilled trades and STEM fields. By integrating vocational training into military service, we can address these gaps while fostering economic growth.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/vocational-military-education
A program like this incentivizes enlistment, ensuring a strong and capable military. It provides opportunities for those who may not see traditional college as the right path, offering a unique way to serve and grow.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/vocational-military-education
This program would open doors for underprivileged and underserved communities, offering a pathway to education, financial security, and personal growth through service.
Investing in those who serve: Vocational Military Education equips our troops with the tools for success both in service and beyond.
source ↗ (opens the page at this passage) · desmondforcongress.com/vocational-military-education