Republican Rep. Darrell Issa announced he was ending his planned re-election bid in a Friday night post on X.
Issa had initially elected to run for his seat after Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California successfully pushed for a new congressional map that seeks to eliminate as many as five seats currently held by Republicans before changing his mind, according to the AP. In the post, Issa said that while he was confident he could win in the re-drawn district, he’d chosen to focus on “new challenges.”
Statement by Congressman Darrell Issa
Today I’m announcing my enthusiastic endorsement of Supervisor Jim Desmond for Congress – to represent California’s new 48th district.
Jim is not only a personal friend, he’s a true patriot, a Navy veteran, a successful businessman, and has… pic.twitter.com/IqJ5cqzqa0
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) March 7, 2026
“After a quarter-century in Congress — and before that, a quarter-century in business — it’s the right time for a new chapter and new challenges,” Issa posted.
Republicans currently hold a narrow 218-214 majority in the House of Representatives, and face a difficult road to retaining their majority in the body.
Issa, a businessman who holds 37 patents according to his official biography, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2000, serving nine terms before he initially retired from Congress. He returned to Congress after challenging Republican Rep. Duncan D. Hunter of California in 2020 after Hunter was indicted on charges related to the misuse of campaign funds, ultimately serving three more terms.
Issa chaired the House Oversight Committee from 2011-2015, investigating Operation Fast and Furious, an operation by the Obama administration that ultimately allowed hundreds of modern semi-automatic rifles to fall into the hands of Mexican drug cartels. After then-Attorney General Eric Holder refused to produce subpoenaed documents pertaining to Operation Fast and Furious in 2012, the House of Representatives voted to put Holder in contempt of Congress.
Issa was also involved in investigating the deaths of 13 United States military personnel who were killed in an Aug. 26, 2021 bombing as American forces were evacuating from Kabul. He hosted an August 2023 forum where families of the fallen servicemen ripped the Biden administration over the attack.
In his statement announcing the end of his reelection bid, Issa endorsed San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond to succeed him.
“I’m announcing my enthusiastic endorsement of Supervisor Jim Desmond for Congress – to represent California’s new 48th district,” Issa said. “Jim is not only a personal friend, he’s a true patriot, a Navy veteran, a successful businessman, and has a 20-year record of public service. He understands this community, was born and raised here, and will make a terrific Congressman.”
(Featured Image Media Credit: Screen Capture/CSPAN)
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