Congressional District 48 is consuming a lot of the political oxygen in San Diego County, and it is getting ample national attention, too. The Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, or DCCC is in San Diego ahead of the elections and sat down with NBC 7 Political Reporter Joey Safchik for a comprehensive conversation about Midterm strategy.
A transcript of that interview is below.
Safchik: It was redrawn to give Democrats an edge, but seizing Congressional District 48 is far from a sure bet. It’s a close race, close enough that the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, or DCCC, is in town to help push Democrat Marty Von Wilbert past the finish line. Let’s get a peek behind the curtain at the questions guiding the campaign that could give San Diego an all-blue congressional delegation, U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene is here with us now. Thank you for being here.
DelBene: Absolutely. Thanks for having me.
Safchik: How high is this race on your list of priorities?
DelBene: You know, this is one of the top seats that we have in the country. We only need to flip net three more seats to take back the majority in the House. And we could do that right here in California. So the path to majority runs through California. We have great candidates running across the country, but a great candidate right here in Marni von Wilpert. So excited, and excited that we’ll be able to take back one of those seats in California. 48.
Safchik: How confident are you that you’ll be able to flip the seat?
DelBene: I am confident, but I also take nothing for granted. And I know Marni takes nothing for granted, too. This is about making sure that the voices of the voters in the 48th district are heard. And so it’s being out on the ground, talking to people, talking about the issues that matter, and talking about the type of member of Congress that Marni will be. And she has been doing a great job out listening to people. Families are struggling all across the country. They’re struggling right here in San Diego County with costs going up, housing, food, health care, child care, energy costs, gas prices skyrocketing and directly as a result of policies put in place by the President and Republicans in Congress. And people are feeling that and they want someone who actually live up to their title. Our title is representative. And who’s going to go to Congress to represent them, not be a rubber stamp for the administration. Marni is exactly that person.
Safchik: What have you seen from von Wilpert that demonstrates to you that she’s ready to make the leap from City Hall to the Capitol?
DelBene: Well, she, first of all, has an incredible background, a background in public service, fighting for communities, fighting as a prosecutor, fighting to stand up to opioid manufacturers against people who are doing price gouging and standing up for workers. She has a long history of public service. But, you know, also on the San Diego City Council standing up for her community. So it is important to her and then kind of what’s driven her forward is serving her community. And so she’s the perfect type of candidate right now. Someone who is on the ground kind of is independent minded and focused on wanting to serve her community. We need more people like that in Washington, DC.
Safchik: Even though this district was gerrymandered under Prop 50, it only leans blue. Right. It’s not a given that this seat is going to flip. Why do you think this has become such a competitive race?
DelBene: You know, the people across the country have soured on this administration. Republicans in Congress, what they have done costs skyrocketing, families struggling, and they don’t care. They don’t even talk about the issues that families are facing. You know, Trump has called affordability a hoax. And Republicans in Congress have become just a rubber stamp for the administration, not a voice for their communities. So across the country, people are yearning for folks to stand up for them. And that’s why in the swing districts all across the country, Democrats have been running ahead, because when we have great candidates talking about the issues that matter and most importantly, the American people are on our side. They’re tired of what they’ve seen across the board. The focus on the wealthy and the well-connected is just a blatant disregard for the struggles families are going through. And they want folks to stand up for them. So that’s why we’re running ahead across the country and absolutely why we’re going to win in California 48.
Safchik: When you’re advising these candidates, what do you tell them about how much of their messaging should be repudiating the Trump administration and how much should be proposing novel policy?
DelBene: Well, first of all, all of these districts are different. They’re all unique. There are no cookie cutter candidates or cookie cutter districts in the House. So remember, we kind of have pieces of states across the country, and they’re all unique districts. And that’s why this really is about candidates running their campaigns, talking about the issues on the ground and what they would do. But clearly, affordability is a number one issue across the country because families are struggling because of tariffs, becDause of Republican policies to slash health care. Obviously, the war in Iran driving up gas prices all across the country, families are struggling. And that absolutely is the top issue. And I think Marni has been very clear about how this has been a priority and how fighting for families and fighting for them has been part of her DNA throughout her career. And so she really has a great record to bring to the table and a strong voice to bring back to Washington, DC.
Safchik: Democrats often take some heat for not having a persuasive enough message when it comes to the economy and affordability. How are you going to prove that wrong this cycle?
DelBene: Well, I think we’ve been talking to folks across the country and our number one focus, we have been laser focused on the economy and affordability. And people are hearing that, absolutely. We have to undo the damage that’s been done, with tariffs, the damage being done by slashing Medicaid, by taking away the tax credits, for folks who buy their health care and the Affordable Care Act. I mean, families across the country are struggling because of that. But we also know we need to stop the damage from being done and move forward. We need to make progress to make sure our focus is on making sure families across the country are not just barely getting by, but can thrive. And that is the focus of our policy, whether it be the economy and economic opportunity, health care, and absolutely doing our jobs as a member of Congress to stand up to the corruption that we are seeing, to make sure that we have a government that is working for the people.
Safchik: If von Wilpert wins, San Diego will likely no longer have any Republican speaking for it in Congress, and that really runs contrary to how a lot of people perceive us. So will the interests of the hundreds of thousands of Republicans in this region fall on deaf ears?
DelBene: You know, folks like Marni who are running this swing district, cross country, they have crossover appeal. People are voting for them because they believe that they are going to be strong, trustworthy representatives for their entire communities. And, and that’s what matters. Do you want a representative who is going to represent their community, go back, represent their entire community? You know, when I first ran for office, I also ran very much in a swing district, a 5050 district. And it’s the opportunity to listen to people with all differing points of view. But, understanding that and understanding kind of how IT policies impact people in different ways makes you a better legislator. And I think those great legislators are absolutely what we need in Congress.
Safchik: What does common ground look like on the economy?
DelBene: Common ground means listening across sectors to people in different communities, understanding how decisions made in DC have impacted communities, understanding the policies that we can put in place that help our communities where we need to make investments. Listening is a key part of this job because listening you learn, what really can have a great impact. And then taking those ideas to Washington, DC and building support for those ideas, building coalitions. Right. Nothing passes with one person alone. It’s about building the votes and the support to make sure we get policies through the House and through the Senate. And that’s the opportunity we have right here in California, 48, to have a great representative who’s a listener, who’s going to bring ideas right from here to DC and help pass policies that will help uplift communities here in San Diego County.
Safchik: Why is there national attention on this race? Why are you here?
DelBene: Why am I here? Because the path to the majority runs through swing districts across the country. In fact, you know, as the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, we are that campaign arm for House Democrats. Our focus is on these purple districts all across the country. Not, you know, these are the districts that can change. The majority can change who has the gavels and can allow us to actually get policies moving that help workers across the country that uplift our communities. So this absolutely is one of those districts, Republican district, this is an opportunity to flip a district, have a representative Congress who’s going to stand up for them and make sure that we have the gavels to move those policies forward.
Safchik: What are the stakes of this election?
DelBene: The stakes are incredibly high, and I think people feel that across the country. And you see that when you talk to folks across the country. We have seen the corruption from this administration, the disregard for the damage they have done to communities all across the country. And Congress is an independent branch. It is not a subservient branch of government to the executive branch. It is a co-equal branch. And we need a Congress that is going to stand up. So having representatives who understand that, who are going to stand up to have the House of Representatives, the people’s House, serve the people, not be kind of an arm of the White House. It is critically important, is critically important to our communities, and it’s critically important to our democracy. And so the American people are with us all across the country. That’s why I’m confident that we’re going to take back the majority that you have seen Republicans, they know they are losing. And so instead of understanding why they’ve lost the hearts and minds of the American people, they’ve decided that their job is to rig the system. And it started with their attempts to gerrymander across the country without a vote, without people having a voice. California people stood up. People had a voice. They decided what the path forward was going to be. The people of Texas didn’t get a vote. The people of Florida didn’t get a vote. They didn’t get a say. And so, we see them continue to attack campaign finance, attack voting rights. It’s not about making sure that people get to pick their elected officials. It’s about Republicans wanting to pick their voters. And so there is a lot at stake in this election. The American people know that. And that’s why we’ve seen strong voices across the country. And frankly, Democrats have been winning since November of 2024. We’ve been winning in special elections across the country by about 13 points.
Safchik: Are you expecting a blue wave?
DelBene: I expect that we are going to win across the country. Like I said, we need to net three more seats to take back the majority. We want a strong governing majority, but we have opportunities right here in California, in Arizona, in Iowa, Pennsylvania, even places that they redistricted, supposedly to help them pick up seats. We have opportunities to pick up seats in Texas and Florida, all because we have great candidates running and the American people agree they want, they want strong representatives, and they’re with us.
Safchik: What can Americans expect if Democrats win back the House?
DelBene: They can expect to make sure that we have a House that’s working for the people.
Safchik: Is it going to be years of investigations, or is there going to be policy to make life cheaper?
DelBene: We absolutely. We’ve been talking all this time about how critically important it is that we address the affordability crisis that’s addressing the country. Job one is making sure that we help families across the board by policies we can put in place. You know, clearly tariffs have been a key driver of increased costs. And even getting worse now with these continued attacks on Canada driving up prices as well. So Congress is supposed to have a say, Congress can stand up and have a say. War powers. This is the job of Congress having a Congress that is not a rubber stamp for Trump but is actually doing this job. These are places where Congress can stand up right away. But yes, there should be accountability. Part of our job is oversight. And to make sure that, we are upholding our job of oversight over the administration is critically important and fundamental to what we do.
Safchik: Are you worried about federal interference in these midterm elections?
DelBene: You know, my mantra has been ready for anything because, they know they’re losing. They’re willing to throw anything out there. And you’ve seen that too. So we are working across the board to make sure that we are prepared for whatever they might throw at us. Clearly Trump has made comments about wanting to have an impact on elections or oversee elections. You know, even his ongoing attacks on vote by mail or kind of what ballots should go out or not. We have been fighting back all across, all across the cycle and will continue to fight back. And working with people across the country. Elections are locally run and making sure that election fix officials are in a strong place. We’re working across the board to make sure we’re ready for everything.
Safchik: Strategy wise, how do Democrats leverage some of the discontent over the war with Iran, over the economy, without making it look like they’re making political gains on the backs of American suffering?
DelBene: I think we just echo the voices of the American people, the American people across the board are the ones. They’re stories, in fact, just telling their stories, listening and telling the stories of what’s happening on the ground has been so important. We talk about the cuts, slashing health care. Yeah. I was throughout my district talking to folks about the impact right on the ground for families in our district, what was happening to them. And everyone has a story. When we talk about health care, everyone has a story. Everyone’s gone to the grocery store and seen prices go up. Everyone has been to a gas station. It’s the impact on gas prices. And so this is a story that people share. And knowing that people are understanding what they’re going through, understand that and are, bringing their voices forward is critically important. It’s critically important to move policies that help. But people understand authenticity. They understand if someone’s talking about the issues they know are happening, they know what’s happening with their bank account. So someone saying everything’s great when it’s not won’t fly, but when you’re actually talking about what they know to be true, that makes a huge difference. And that’s a huge part of what we’re doing. Uplifting the stories of the American people.
Safchik: When it comes to health care. How satisfied are you with what you’re hearing from candidates on your side of the aisle?
DelBene: Well, there is so much damage being done right now, so there is a lot of work to do, not only to undo undo what Republicans have done, but also to continue to move forward, because we still had a lot of progress that needed to be made to make sure that everyone in our country has affordable, quality health care in our rural communities and our urban communities. Much, much more progress that needed to be made. And Republicans have moved us backwards. We know hospitals, there are hospitals, special rural areas. They’re still at risk of closing three in San Diego County at risk of closing because of the policies Republicans have put in place. These are investments that are critically important to our communities. And everyone understands. Everyone understands the importance of health care for them, their families, and their communities. So, working to make sure we move policies forward to undo the damage that’s been done. Let’s be clear. Republicans across the board have created this problem. And even folks like Jim Desmond, who’s running here, have supported these policies put in place by the administration. I’ve stood up and said that they’re good policies. These are hurting families across the region. We need folks who are going to stand up, not to undo the damage, to make sure that we’re making investments that actually help uplift our communities. When we do that, not only do the communities do better, we also save money.
Safchik: Jim Desmond has a lot of name recognition that’s working for him. What does it tell us if Democrats are not able to flip this seat?
DelBene: We will flip the seat because we have a great candidate talking about the issues on the ground. And Jim Desmond is another rubber stamp for Donald Trump. He’s been clear. I would push you to try to find one issue where he says he differs from this administration, where he would stand up against them. You know, the war tariffs, the slashing health care, all of these things. Where would he stand up against that? I think you would struggle to find any place because he’s going to Congress to be yet another rubber stamp. The one thing that people across the country, in every corner of the country are rejecting, they’ve soured on these broken promises from Republicans. They want folks to stand up. And the more people get to know and hear about Marni, the more excited they are. That’s absolutely why she’s going to win.
Safchik: Only a couple weeks left to know, to introduce her, to continue to make sure that those people know her and recognize her. What is your final message to voters?
DelBene: You know, we’re past Labor Day. That’s kind of the place where all of the sudden people start to pay attention to the election. Some people pay attention all along, but I think a lot of the American public gets very engaged as they get past Labor Day. And, and so continuing to make sure that she is on the ground getting her message out, I know she’s up on the air. She’s been everywhere talking to folks. Jim Desmond has been nowhere to be seen. The more she talks to folks, the more excited people are. And I think she’s continuing to do that work every single day. And we’ll do that now, until Election Day. And I’m excited to welcome her in as a new member of Congress. Officially in January of next year.
Safchik: We’ll thank you so much for being here with us today.
DelBene: Absolutely. Thank you.