Michael Smolens: GOP representation is on the line in San Diego elections

The Republican Party’s hold on its lone San Diego congressional seat is at stake in Tuesday’s election.

But while the matchup between Republican Jim Desmond and Democrat Marni von Wilpert in the reconstituted 48th District is the marquee partisan race in the region, there are others.

Several local state legislative races and county and mayoral elections also feature the potential of a member of the other party flipping the seat.

With some exceptions, Republicans largely are trying to hold their ground while Democrats seek to add seats.

Unlike Congress and the Legislature, the city and county offices are officially nonpartisan. But party politics have long played an important role there as well, particularly when it comes to campaign organizing and funding.