San Diego’s House candidates are running atypically conventional campaigns

Democrat Marni von Wilpert and Republican Jim Desmond are sticking to conventional centrist platforms in the closely watched San Diego House race.

The insurgent left has come in all forms in California and across the country this cycle.

But a different story is playing out in the open 48th Congressional District, which straddles San Diego and Riverside counties.

Democrat Marni von Wilpert, a San Diego city councilmember, is running as a true blue establishment type in one of California’s most competitive House races. She faces Republican Jim Desmond, who is running as a budget-hawk style conservative.

Case in point: Former Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris stumped for von Wilpert last month, while Democrats elsewhere have been fearful she’d turn off swing voters still bitter about the previous election.