Calvert Extends Lead Over Kim in Redrawn 40th District Race

Rep. Ken Calvert expanded his lead over Rep. Young Kim on Tuesday evening as the final tally for the reconfigured 40th congressional district continued to emerge. Data compiled by the California Secretary of State’s Office for Riverside and Orange counties placed Calvert at 54 percent of the vote against Kim’s 46 percent. The figures represent the latest snapshot in a tightly contested race between the two Republicans who advanced from a six-candidate primary field in June.

The district boundaries changed due to Proposition 50, a measure approved by voters in a November 2025 special election. The proposition amended the state constitution to allow the Legislature to redraw congressional maps, overriding the independent commission that had set lines following the 2020 Census. In Riverside County, every congressional district shifted its shape under the new rules. The 40th district now includes eastern Orange County, Temescal Valley, most of Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, and Menifee.

The campaign between Calvert and Kim has been marked by sharp exchanges and mutual accusations. Calvert, who has served in Congress since the mid-1990s, criticized Kim for accepting campaign donations from an individual the FBI later identified as a Chinese foreign agent. In a television advertisement, Calvert argued that Kim fell into a trap by associating with the man. He noted in campaign literature that she returned the funds only after media scrutiny intensified, stating that she did not return the money because it was the right thing to do.

Kim responded by characterizing Calvert as a do-nothing incumbent. She pointed to a 2015 bribery scheme involving Chinese nationals that led his campaign to return funds. Kim also suggested Calvert engaged in questionable ethics by directing taxpayer-funded projects near his own rental properties. She further highlighted an FBI probe of Ontario City Councilman Alan Wapner, who resigned as president of the Ontario International Airport Authority in August amid allegations of improprieties in grant management. Reports indicate Calvert and Wapner worked together to secure federal money.

Earlier in September, Calvert flagged Kim for failing to disclose $100,000 in income her husband received from a nonprofit organization, a requirement under federal law. Calvert used this point to argue that Kim could not be trusted to act correctly. Kim countered by emphasizing her platform as a pro-taxpayer candidate focused on working families. She said she is working to lower the cost of gas, groceries, and utilities to help families make ends meet.

Calvert has leaned on his more than 30 years of experience in Washington, D.C. He cited his efforts to support small business owners, secure funding for Inland Empire transportation projects, and restrict illegal immigration. The race follows a pattern of political maneuvering in the state, with Proposition 50 supporters arguing the redistricting was necessary to counter similar moves in Texas that aimed to expand Republican control ahead of the midterms. Opponents had labeled the measure a political ploy similar to gerrymandering.

The two candidates remain the front-runners in a district that blends urban areas of Orange County with suburban and rural communities in Riverside County. The election outcome will determine which representative continues to serve this region in the U.S. House of Representatives.