The redistricting dominoes are already falling — setting up a Republican-on-Republican fight for California’s 40th Congressional District in 2026.
Rep. Ken Calvert didn’t waste any time after California voters approved a redistricting measure to make his intentions known: He is running in the new district.
And Rep. Young Kim, who represents California’s current 40th Congressional District, followed soon thereafter with her own announcement. She, too, is running in the new district.
Speculation about whether Calvert, R-Corona, would make a bid for the 40th Congressional District had mounted in recent weeks. The new district, after all, includes more than 50% of the area he represents now.
“Californians in the newly drawn 40th District deserve a proven conservative they can trust and a fighter who has delivered results for Riverside and Orange County for decades,” Calvert said in his announcement.
“No one else comes close to my record of service to the new 40th,” he added. “I’ve lived here my entire life and already represent the majority of this district in Congress. I look forward to helping President Trump to deliver lower taxes, to bring down housing costs, secure our borders, make our streets safe and bring real results for the families of this district for years to come. Together, we will Make America Great Again.”
Kim’s campaign, meanwhile, said she is “one of the most prominent fundraisers in Congress and has a proven record of winning tough primary and general election races, most notably winning a seat Joe Biden won by 10.6% in 2020.”
Kim’s campaign boasts more than $4.7 million in cash in the bank. Calvert’s, meanwhile, has nearly $3 million.
Redistricting shifts California’s 40th Congressional District more eastward, losing Orange County’s Aliso Viejo and Lake Forest and picking up Menifee, Wildomar and parts of Corona — areas represented by Calvert.
Early returns in Orange and Riverside counties — which all have communities in the new 40th Congressional District — showed voters strongly supporting Proposition 50.
The election was a resounding win for California Democrats, who promoted the redistricting ballot measure as an effort to shore up five of the state’s House districts for the party as well as a counter to similar gerrymandering elsewhere in the country meant ot benefit Republicans.
Calvert is one of the Inland Empire’s longest-serving members of Congress and has consistently won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives despite Democrats’ best efforts — and millions of dollars spent — to unseat him.
Kim first won election to the House in 2020, becoming one of the first Korean American women ever to serve in Congress. Like Calvert, she has decried the redistricting efforts in California.
Back in August, before the special election was called, a spokesperson for Kim said she “plans to run for re-election and is focused on delivering results for her community as she stands up against Sacramento’s unconstitutional power grab.”
Meanwhile, California Republicans quickly sued on Wednesday morning in an effort to block Proposition 50’s implementation. Their attorneys alleged the ballot measure violates the 14th and 15th amendments by unconstitutionally gerrymandering congressional districts to favor one race.
As for other candidates who had already declared for the original 40th Congressional District, Democrat and attorney Lisa Ramirez said she is remaining in the race. So did Esther Kim Varet, another Democrat who said she was ready to take on Kim or Calvert in the race for California’s new 40th Congressional District.
Staff writers Jeff Horseman and Linh Tat contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.