As of November 6, Democratic incumbent Mike Levin is leading his Republican challenger Matt Gunderson by less than one percent in California’s 49th Congressional District.
Levin currently has a 51 percent to 49 percent lead over Gunderson, with a margin of 5,100 votes and 70 percent of ballots counted.
During the March primary, Levin received 51 percent of the vote while Gunderson had 25.7 percent, although he faced competition from three other Republican candidates.
Levin has been serving the district since 2019 and represents most of San Diego’s North County and southeast Orange County following the 2020 redistricting.
Issues
Levin has shown support for expanding abortion access and criticized the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade. He is also a proponent of the Green New Deal legislation and voted in favor of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and a ban on certain types of firearms.
Gunderson, a car dealership owner, has emphasized the economy and high cost of living as key issues. He has promised to support lower taxes, border security, and crime reduction. While he believes abortion should be rare, he opposes federal restrictions and advocates for access to fertility treatments like IVF.
49th Congressional District Election History
In 2016, Republican Darrell Issa narrowly defeated Democratic challenger Douglas Applegate in the district. This led to the 49th Congressional District being a major battleground in the 2018 election, where Levin ultimately defeated Republican Diane Harley to claim Issa’s former seat.
The district includes northern coastal areas of San Diego County and parts of southern Orange County, along with Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
