INCUMBENT LEVIN HOLDS LEAD OVER GOP CHALLENGER
Voters flipped the district in favor of Democrats in 2018
In his bid to keep his seat in the 49th Congressional District, first-term Democratic Rep. Mike Levin took a lead Tuesday over Republican challenger Brian Maryott, according to early returns from the county registrar of voters.
Levin won the seat in 2018 when Democrats managed to flip the once-solid Republican district, which stretches from northern San Diego County to southern Orange County.
Demographic changes and disapproval of President Donald Trump fueled what political observers call a “blue wave,” which has favored Levin, a former environmental attorney.
According to voter registration data from San Diego and Orange counties, Democrats slightly outnumbered Republicans in the district for the first time ahead of the 2020 election.
A San Diego Union-Tribune/10News poll showed Levin with a comfortable lead over Maryott last month.
In his bid for office, Maryott cast Levin as “hard-left progressive” with socialist ideas. In a recent interview the Union-Tribune, the certified financial planner and former mayor of San Juan Capi
strano said his stance on issues was “more in tune (with the district) cumulatively” than Levin’s.
Levin, who backed the Green New Deal and impeachment proceedings against Trump, said he has tried to work across the aisle on local and national issues. A member of key environmental and veterans affairs committees, he has introduced several bipartisan bills on veterans issues — four of which were signed into law
month into his term, he created a task force to look at possible solutions to safely remove spent fuel from the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
On Tuesday night, Levin said he was pleased with the early results.
“I’ve tried to work across the aisle to deliver results,” he said in a brief interview. “I think the voters have recognized that.”
The seat opened up in 2018 after eight-term Republican incumbent Darrell Issa decided not to seek re-election.