In a rare electoral contest, two Republican incumbents are competing against each other for California’s newly redrawn 40th Congressional District, a seat encompassing parts of Orange and Riverside counties. The district, which includes areas such as Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Anaheim Hills, Woodcrest, Menifee, and Murrieta, is considered safely Republican but includes a significant number of Democratic and independent voters who could influence the outcome.

The candidates, Representative Ken Calvert of Corona and Representative Young Kim of Anaheim Hills, were placed in the same district following a redistricting process led by Democratic lawmakers. The changes aimed to maximize Democratic opportunities statewide after Texas enacted adjustments favoring Republicans. Despite the district’s Republican lean, its voting base is diverse. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, 33% of the district identify as conservatives, 27% as liberals, and 36% of independents lean Democratic.

Calvert, who has represented the area since 1992 and chairs the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, secured 35% of the vote in the June primary, while Kim, first elected in 2020, received 21%. Democrat Esther Kim-Varet garnered 17%, with other Democrats and an independent trailing behind. Calvert retained roughly half of his prior constituents through redistricting, whereas Kim retained about one-third.

Party leaders and political analysts note the unusual nature of a general election featuring two Republicans, a result of California’s “jungle primary” system that advances the top two vote-getters regardless of party affiliation. The Democratic Party in both Orange and Riverside counties has not endorsed any candidate in this race, with some local Democrats expressing dissatisfaction with the available choices. Orange County Democratic Party Chair Florice Hoffman described both Republicans unfavorably and declined to encourage Democratic voters to support either candidate.

Both Calvert and Kim have strong ties to former President Donald Trump, although their campaigns highlight differing narratives. Kim’s campaign emphasizes her collaborative approach and willingness to work across party lines, while Calvert’s team accuses her of being insufficiently loyal to conservative principles, citing her 2021 votes alongside Democrats on issues such as methane-emissions regulations and the censure of Trump following the January 6 Capitol attack. Kim’s campaign has sought to portray her as a pragmatic reformer supporting term limits and legislation to prohibit congressional stock trading.

Financially, Kim has outpaced Calvert with $10 million raised compared to his $7 million, and she has made efforts to moderate her campaign messaging by removing explicit “America First” and Trump branding prior to the primary. Calvert, backed by more than $6 million in support from groups like Americans 4 Security PAC—which has ties to defense-related technology firms—has stressed his consistency and decades-long conservative record.

Political observers comment that Kim’s appeal to independents and moderate voters might prove decisive, but the entrenched Republican base and Calvert’s longer tenure give the race an unpredictable dynamic as voters prepare for the November general election.