Calvert, Other Incumbents Lead in Redrawn Congressional Districts

RIVERSIDE (CNS) - Returns from the June 2 primary election showed
several candidates leading today in the six newly redrawn congressional
districts that include portions of Riverside County.
  

In the race for the reshaped 40th Congressional District, Rep. Ken
Calvert, R-Corona, was out front with 42%, according to election returns.
  

The incumbent, who has been in office since the 1990s, was pushed out
of his old 41st district, forced to compete directly with another incumbent,
Rep. Young Kim, R-Anaheim, who was second with 16%.
  

Along with Calvert and Kim, six other candidates are in the running,
though the two incumbents are favored. The bulk of the district's metropolitan
space is in Orange County. However, the eastern boundary juts into Riverside
County, encompassing the Temescal Valley, most of Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake
and Menifee.
  

Calvert's prior stomping ground of northwest Riverside County,
including Corona, Eastvale and Norco, was lumped into the 35th Congressional
District, where Rep. Norma Torres, D-Ontario, trailed Republican businessman
Mike Cargile. With votes still being counted, Cargile had 56%, compared to 43%
for Torres.
  

Most of the 35th district is in San Bernardino County.
  

The local race with the highest number of candidates -- and no
incumbent -- is in the newly established 48th congressional district, which
encompasses the Anza and Hemet valleys, the Southwest cities and some of the
mountain communities. There are 12 people listed on the ballot, only one of
which is an independent.
  

Returns showed Republican Jim Desmond leading the field with 36%,
followed by Democrat Marni von Wilpert at 19%.
  

Another congressional race that has no incumbent on the ballot is in
the newly set up 23rd district, an awkwardly defined space that overlays
several chunks of Riverside County, in the San Gorgonio Pass and in the Palo
Verde Valley around Blythe. The rest of the sizable district is situated in San
Bernardino County. Six candidates are listed -- three Democrats, one Republican
and two independents.
  

Returns showed Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte holding a commanding lead
in the 23rd Congressional District with 62%.
  

The 39th congressional district was adjusted only a little by Prop 50
and continues to include Riverside, Moreno Valley, Perris, some of the outlying
communities just west of Perris, as well as Lake Elsinore, and the freeway
communities north of Moreno Valley. Democrat Rep. Mark Takano, the incumbent,
was solidly in the lead against challenger and former Lake Elsinore Mayor Steve
Manos, a Republican, 56% to 44%.
  

Farther east, the 25th congressional district was realigned but
largely kept intact around the Coachella Valley. The incumbent, Rep. Raul Ruiz,
D-Coachella, galloped way ahead of his three opponents. The other candidates,
all Republicans, are Hemet Mayor Joe Males, business owner Ceci Truman and
electrical contractor Ronald Huffman.
  

The districts were reshaped, and in most cases renumbered, for the
election based on California Proposition 50, approved by a majority of voters
in the November 2025 special election. Prop 50 amended the state constitution
to permit the Legislature to re-define congressional districts' boundaries,
even though the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission had
already established them after the 2020 Census.
  

Prop 50 supporters argued it was necessary in response to Texas'
actions last year to redraw congressional districts with the reported intention
of expanding Republicans' control of seats in the Lone Star State, thereby
aiding President Trump in the midterm elections.
  

Prop 50 opponents countered the measure was a blatant political ploy
akin to ``gerrymandering.''
  

California's 52 congressional districts were modified. In Riverside
County, all of the districts have changed shape.
  

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