Veteran Rep. Darrell Issa Decides Not To Seek Reelection In New Democratic-leaning District, Sources Say

As nan deadline approaches to record to tally for office, seasoned Republican Rep. Darrell Issa has decided not to tally for reelection successful his newly-configured legislature territory successful San Diego and Riverside counties, according to 2 GOP strategists acquainted pinch his plans.

An Issa spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment, but nan congressman’s determination was confirmed by 2 seasoned Republican strategists who requested not to beryllium named because they were not authorized to speak astir Issa’s plans.

Issa, among nan wealthiest members of Congress, began telling group earlier this week that he would discontinue from Congress, those sources said. The Republican congressman is backing San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond to switch him, they said.

Desmond has been moving successful a neighboring legislature territory that straddles Orange and San Diego counties that is presently represented by Rep. Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano). Desmond withdrew from that title and revenge to tally successful Issa’s territory connected Thursday, according to nan San Diego County Registrar of Voters.

Desmond’s run did not respond to a petition for comment.

Issa, 72, has represented various San Diego-area districts successful Congress for much than 23 years. Issa’s erstwhile solidly Republican territory had been trending much mean successful caller years. Then, his territory was redrawn to favour Democrats successful nan Proposition 50 redistricting scheme voters passed successful November to antagonistic President Trump’s efforts to push GOP-led states to redraw their legislature lines to favour Republicans.

Democratic registered voters outnumber Republicans by much than 4 percent points successful nan caller district, which spans San Diego and Riverside counties and was reshaped to see wide communities specified arsenic Palm Springs, according to nan nonpartisan California Target Book. Issa’s existent legislature territory had a 12 percent constituent GOP separator successful elector registration successful 2024.

As soon arsenic nan caller districts were approved, speculation began swirling astir Issa‘s reeelection plans. Some of his supporters successful Texas urged him to move location to tally successful a GOP-friendly Dallas-area district, but he said successful December that he declined and would alternatively seek reelection successful California.

“I judge that nan group of San Diego County, who person elected maine truthful galore times, will, successful fact, sloppy of registration, ballot for me,” Issa told nan Fox connection successful San Diego connected Thursday. “This is my home, and I’m going to conflict for it.”

Several Democrats had already announced plans to situation Issa.

The precocious schoolhouse dropout and Army seasoned made his luck by purchasing a struggling electronics business successful 1980 and transforming it into nan Viper car siren system, pinch Issa’s sound informing imaginable thieves to “stand back.”