Levin to Face Gunderson in San Diego County’s Lone Competitive House Race

The 49th Congressional District seat held by Rep. Mike Levin is the lone U.S. House race in San Diego County considered competitive in Tuesday’s election.

Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, is among the 40 Democrats targeted by the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House Republicans’ political arm. He is facing Matt Gunderson, the owner of three car dealerships in Mission Viejo in the district stretching from Del Mar to Laguna Niguel.

Levin is seeking a fourth term with the slogan, “Commitment to our community,” touting the more than $1 billion in federal funds he has secured for the district.

In what he calls “an agenda for our future,” Levin has pledged to:

—  “to use every tool at his disposal to promote competition, produce goods here in America, and lower costs for families”;

—  continue supporting elimination of the cap on the state and local tax deduction;

— increase the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, “implemented at a pace that allows employers to adapt their business plans”;

— “increase funding for police in a way that helps them stay safe, do their jobs more effectively, and earn the trust of the communities they serve”;

— continue “to advocate for improved border infrastructure and more personnel”;

— expanding access to affordable health care, which includes protecting and strengthening Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, protecting those with pre-existing conditions, and lowering prescription drug costs;

— protect the planet for future generations; and

— fighting for more transparency and accountability in Washington.

Levin was an environmental attorney before being elected in 2018, defeating Republican State Board of Equalization Chair Diane Harkey, 56.4%- 43.6% to succeed Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, who chose not to run for re- election after representing the district for 18 years.

(Issa was returned to Congress in 2020 when he was elected to represent the then-50th District, succeeding Duncan D. Hunter, who had resigned after pleading guilty to a federal felony count for misusing $250,000 in campaign funds.)

Levin defeated former San Juan Capistrano Mayor Brian Maryott, 53.1%- 46.9% in 2020 and 52.6%-47.4% in 2022.

Gunderson has said he supports:

— term limits;

— repealing the gas tax hike, stopping the proposed mileage tax, and protecting the 1978 property tax reducing initiative Proposition 13;

— securing the border;

— protecting Social Security and Medicare;

— opposing any federal restrictions on abortion and fighting to protect fertility treatments;

— making certain “our communities are safer for everyone”;

— prohibiting biological boys who identify as trans girls from competing in youth girls’ sports; and

— giving treatment to people experiencing homelessness, banning tent cities and camping on sidewalks.

In San Diego County’s other congressional races:

— Issa, R-Bonsall, is facing former Santee City Councilman Stephen Houlahan, a Democrat, in the 48th District which covers a large swath of East County and portions of southern Riverside County.

Issa’s priorities include border security, Second Amendment protections and being anti-abortion.

Houlahan says border security is also an issue, but not without also addressing immigration reform. He also supports reinstating protections provided in the 1973 Supreme Court Roe v Wade decision and legislation that addresses climate change.

Issa defeated Houlahan, 60.4%-39.6%, in 2022.

— Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, is seeking his seventh term in the 50th District which includes San Diego’s coastal areas and extends north to San Marcos and Escondido.

Peters’ top priorities includes addressing climate impacts, the housing crisis and wastewater pollution crossing from Mexico into San Diego.

Republican candidate Peter Bono, a retired Navy technician, says he would pursue assistance for small business owners and legislation to close the southern border.

— Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-San Diego, is facing El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, a Republican, in the 51st District, which includes central portions of San Diego and parts of East County including El Cajon, La Mesa and Spring Valley.

The 35-year-old Jacobs is the youngest member of California’s House delegation. She said addressing the high costs of living in San Diego County is one of her major concerns and pursuing affordable access to housing and childcare are among her other priorities.

Wells says if elected, he would work to secure the border, shore up public safety concerns by addressing police staffing issues and would address homelessness by enforcing laws and treating addiction as opposed to housing.

— Rep. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, is being opposed by Republican Justin Lee, a business owner and military veteran in the 52nd District in southern San Diego County.

Vargas has been in the House since 2013 and says addressing cross- border wastewater pollution, immigration reform and the housing crisis are among his chief concerns.

Lee says border security, public safety and rising taxes are among his priorities.

–City News Service