Another GOP Departure: California Rep. Darrell Issa Withdraws From Race After California’s Gerrymandering

Longtime California Congressman Darrell Issa (R) announced late Friday that he will not seek reelection in 2026, citing the radical redistricting forced upon the Golden State by power-hungry Democrats.

Issa has served California’s 48th District with distinction for over two decades.

But thanks to the corrupt Proposition 50 – a Democrat-orchestrated ballot measure rammed through by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2025 – his once-solid Republican stronghold has been twisted into a Democrat-leaning nightmare.

Prop 50, laughably billed as an “anti-gerrymandering” effort to counter supposed Republican moves in Texas, is nothing more than a blatant power grab by California liberals to steal up to five GOP seats and tip the balance of power in Washington.

Issa said in a heartfelt statement on X, where he enthusiastically endorsed San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, a Navy veteran, to take his place.

“Today I’m announcing my enthusiastic endorsement of Supervisor Jim Desmond for Congress – to represent California’s new 48th district.

Jim is not only a personal friend, he’s a true patriot, a Navy veteran, a successful businessman, and has a 20-year record of public service. He understands this community, was born and raised here, and will make a terrific Congressman.

This decision has been on my mind for a while and I didn’t make it lightly.

First, we built the right campaign infrastructure, support has been overwhelming — including from President Trump — and our polling was unmistakable: We would win this race.

But after a quarter-century in Congress — and before that, a quarter-century in business — it’s the right time for a new chapter and new challenges.

Serving in Congress has been the honor of my life, and every day my teams in Washington and California have worked to deliver for our constituents — like most recently gaining the Congressional Medal of Honor for the Secret Soldier of the Korean War, the great Royce Williams.

A point about our campaign on behalf of Captain Williams: For a decade, my team and I waged a nonstop fight for Royce, and we were turned down on his behalf more times than I can remember.

But that all changed this year. President Trump made Royce’s award possible, and when I witnessed the First Lady place the Medal of Honor on my hero, it was more than just a job done. It felt like a career accomplishment.

There is still work to be done throughout 2026 both in Washington and my beloved current 48th District – and as many days that remain, I’ll dedicate each one of them to the people I serve and the indispensable nation I have sworn to protect as a soldier in the Army and as a proud and grateful Member of the People’s House of Representatives.”

Statement by Congressman Darrell Issa

Today I’m announcing my enthusiastic endorsement of Supervisor Jim Desmond for Congress – to represent California’s new 48th district.

Jim is not only a personal friend, he’s a true patriot, a Navy veteran, a successful businessman, and has… pic.twitter.com/IqJ5cqzqa0

— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) March 7, 2026

Fellow California Republican Kevin Kiley, drawn into an even more hostile district, has shockingly announced he’ll run as an independent in a desperate bid to survive the jungle primary.

Kiley was drawn out of his original 3rd district by new maps resulting from Proposition 50, which he has criticized as partisan gerrymandering by Gov. Gavin Newsom. He chose to run in the newly created, blue-leaning 6th District rather than challenge another Republican.

Democrats are celebrating this as a “victory,” but make no mistake: Prop 50 is pure hypocrisy.

While Newsom and his cronies cry about “fairness,” they’re engineering maps that shift Issa’s district from a 12-point GOP advantage to a four-point Democrat edge, all under the guise of responding to redistricting in other states.

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