UPDATE: 10 p.m.: No Real Contest For Four Of San Diego County's Congressional Incumbents
Republican Reps. Darrell Issa and Duncan Hunter and Democratic Reps. Juan Vargas and Susan Davis easily won re-election Tuesday.
For the Republicans, they had a lot to celebrate with the GOP also taking control of the Senate. Even so, Issa, who has been a harsh critic of Democratic President Barack Obama and his administration, told KUSI that some work may get done.
He said there could be some kind of immigration reform that gets through both houses. Issa also said: “We’re nor repealing Obamacare.”
UPDATE: 8:25 p.m.: Incumbents Winning Easily In 4 San Diego County Congressional Districts
It looks like Democratic Rep. Scott Peters is in for a long night to find out if he is re-elected, but the four other members of San Diego County's congressional delegation appear headed to easy victories. Here's the breakdown:
- Republican Rep. Darrell Issa has 62 percent of the vote to his challenger's 38 percent. (Corrected: First post only included San Diego County votes.)
- With 42 percent of the votes counted, Republican Rep. Darrell Hunter has 71 percent of the vote to his challenger's 29 percent.
- With 30 percent of the votes counted, Democratic Rep. Juan Vargas has 67 percent of the vote to his challenger's 33 percent.
- With 22 percent of the votes counted, Democratic Rep. Susan Davis has 57 percent of the vote to her challenger's 43 percent.
Original post:
While the race between Democratic Rep. Scott Peters and his Republican challenger Carl DeMaio has been getting all of the attention, voters in San Diego County's four other congressional districts will also cast ballots Tuesday.
The incumbents in each district, the 49th, 50th, 51st and 53rd, are expected to easily win re-election. Unlike the 52nd District, voter registration in all the other districts strongly favors either the Republican or the Democrat.
No public polling on any of the races has been released, and there have been very few debates or campaign events. In the 50th District, the two candidates participated in a debate in September.
49th District
This district spans the coast north of La Jolla through Dana Point, including Encinitas, Oceanside, Vista and Carlsbad. It is 40 percent Republican and 29 percent Democratic.
Incumbent: Republican Darrell Issa was first elected to Congress in 2001. Before that, he was CEO of Directed Electronics, which makes car alarms and remote starters.
Issa is chairman of the House's Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He also is a member of the House Judiciary Committee.
Challenger: Democrat Dave Peiser is founder of the online company Greenliness.com. He also served on the board of the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce from 2004 to 2008, according to his campaign website.
50th District
This district covers much of eastern San Diego County, including Alpine, Ramona, Escondido and San Marcos. It is 45 percent Republican and 26 percent Democratic.
Incumbent: Republican Duncan Hunter was first elected in 2008, succeeding his father, also Duncan Hunter, who spent 28 years in Congress.
Hunter served in the Marines from 2002 to 2005, including three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to his congressional biography.
Challenger: Democrat James Kimber was a senior chief hospital corpsman in the Navy and now works as a physician's assistant in neurological surgery. He spent 20 years in the Navy, from 1982 to 2002, according to his campaign website.
51st District
This district covers Imperial County and southern San Diego County, including National City, Chula Vista and El Centro. It is 48 percent Democratic and 20 percent Republican.
Incumbent: Democrat Juan Vargas was first elected in 2012, succeeding Bob Filner, who left office to briefly become San Diego's mayor.
Vargas serves on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on House Administration.
Challenger: Republican Stephen Meade served in the Army during World War II and then worked as a reporter for the Los Angeles Examiner, according to the Los Angeles Times.
53rd District
This district covers the northern portions of the city of San Diego, as well as El Cajon, La Mesa, Spring Valley and Lemon Grove. It is 41 percent Democratic and 27 percent Republican.
Incumbent: Democrat Susan Davis was first elected in 2000. Before that, she served in the California Assembly from 1994 to 2000.
Davis serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the Education and Workforce Committee and the Committee on House Administration.
Challenger: Republican Larry Wilske spent 30 years serving as a Navy SEAL and was the command master chief of SEAL Team 7.
He retired last year and was planning to start his own business before being recruited to run in the 53rd District.
