Rep. Darrell Issa Retires, Endorses Successor in Newly Redrawn California District
Rep. Darrell Issa announced he will retire, saying serving in Congress has been "the honor of my life" and it is "the right time for a new chapter and new challenges," reversing his statement three months ago that "I can hold this seat. I'm not quitting." His departure — from a newly redrawn, voter‑approved 48th District reshaped to favor Democrats by a map spearheaded by Gov. Gavin Newsom — raises the stakes for GOP control of the House, and Issa endorsed San Diego County Supervisor James Desmond as his preferred successor.
📌 Key Facts
- Rep. Darrell Issa announced he will retire from Congress, saying "serving in Congress has been the honor of my life" and that it is "the right time for a new chapter and new challenges," reversing his statement three months earlier that "I can hold this seat. I'm not quitting on California...".
- Issa endorsed San Diego County Supervisor James Desmond as his preferred successor.
- California's 48th Congressional District was "drastically reshaped" by a voter‑approved House map in November that was drawn to favor Democrats and was spearheaded by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
- The report places Issa's announcement in a broader redistricting context: voters have already cast ballots under redrawn House maps in Texas and North Carolina at former President Trump's urging; boundaries remain unsettled in Missouri and Virginia; and Barack Obama publicly urged Virginians to support a Democratic redistricting push.
- The article reporting these developments was published March 7, 2026.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, the racial/ethnic composition of California's 48th Congressional District was 54.1% White (Non-Hispanic), 30.1% Hispanic (of any race), 6.5% Asian (Non-Hispanic), with smaller percentages for Black (about 3%) and other groups, based on a total population of approximately 760,000.
Congressional District 48, CA — Data USA
In California, party registration among likely voters varies by race/ethnicity: 73% of Black likely voters are registered Democrats (5% Republicans), 58% of Latino likely voters are Democrats (16% Republicans), 54% of Asian American likely voters are Democrats (19% Republicans), and 40% of White likely voters are Democrats (34% Republicans), based on 2020 data.
Race and Voting in California — Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC)
Voter turnout rates among adult citizens in California differ by race/ethnicity: 65% for Whites, 54% for Asian Americans, 54% for Black individuals, and 47% for Latinos, leading to Whites comprising 55% of likely voters despite being 41% of the adult population.
Race and Voting in California — Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC)
Immigrants made up 28% of California's population in 2024, with their numbers increasing by 8% (about 800,000) from 2010 to 2024, primarily from Latin America (49%) and Asia (41%), contributing to growth in Hispanic and Asian populations.
Immigrants in California — Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC)
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- This piece confirms Issa’s own phrasing that 'serving in Congress has been the honor of my life' and that it is 'the right time for a new chapter and new challenges.'
- It reiterates, with direct quote, his earlier insistence three months ago that 'I can hold this seat. I'm not quitting on California and neither should anyone else,' underscoring how abrupt the reversal is.
- It restates that the 48th District was 'drastically reshaped' by a voter‑approved House map in November to favor Democrats and that the map was spearheaded by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
- It notes that voters have already cast ballots in redrawn House districts in Texas and North Carolina at Trump’s urging, and that boundaries remain unsettled in Missouri and Virginia, with Obama publicly urging Virginians to support a Democratic redistricting push.
- It confirms again that Issa is endorsing San Diego County Supervisor James Desmond as his preferred successor.