Republican Rep. Ken Calvert has widened his lead over fellow Republican Rep. Young Kim in the race for California’s newly redrawn 40th Congressional District, according to the latest available election results.
Calvert has received 76,014 votes, or 54.4%, compared with Kim’s 63,733 votes, or 45.6%, according to The Ballot Book’s election results. The reported margin is 12,281 votes, with 139,747 ballots counted.
The latest figures available were updated Wednesday, Nov. 4. The results remain unofficial, and the race had not been marked as officially called in the results tracker reviewed for this update. Although all 558 precincts were listed as reporting, additional ballots may still be processed.
Calvert leads in Riverside and Orange counties
Calvert is ahead in both counties that make up the district.
In Orange County, Calvert received 36,738 votes, or 53.1%, compared with Kim’s 32,402 votes, or 46.9%.
In Riverside County, Calvert received 39,276 votes, or 55.6%, while Kim received 31,331 votes, or 44.4%, according to the county breakdown published by The Ballot Book.
The new district includes Murrieta and other Inland Empire communities, along with portions of eastern Orange County.
Two Republican incumbents compete for one seat
The election is unusual because both candidates currently serve in Congress.
Calvert, who represents the 41st Congressional District, was first elected in 1992 and is one of California’s longest-serving Republican members of Congress.
Kim currently represents the 40th Congressional District. She was first elected to the U.S. House in 2020 and previously served in the California State Assembly.
The two incumbents were placed in competition following the redrawing of California’s congressional boundaries under Proposition 50, which voters approved in November 2025.
The revised boundaries combined portions of the candidates’ previous districts, creating a direct contest between two Republican officeholders.
Redistricting reshaped the race
The new 40th District includes portions of Riverside and Orange counties, with communities stretching from eastern Orange County into the Inland Empire.
According to Ballotpedia, approximately 51% of the new district’s population was previously represented by Calvert, while about 35% was represented by Kim.
The district also has a strong Republican voting history. Based on the 2024 presidential election, the redrawn boundaries favor Republicans by a wider margin than the previous 40th District.
California’s top-two primary system sent the two candidates with the most votes in June to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.
Calvert finished first in the June primary with 75,811 votes, or 34.9%. Kim finished second with 44,818 votes, or 20.6%, according to Ballotpedia’s primary results.
Campaign focused on experience, affordability and Trump support
The campaign featured sharp exchanges between the two Republican incumbents.
Calvert emphasized his decades of congressional experience and his work on transportation funding, small-business issues and immigration enforcement.
Kim focused on affordability, economic issues and her record representing Orange County communities.
Both candidates sought to appeal to conservative voters and highlighted their support for President Donald Trump.
The contest became increasingly contentious as both campaigns challenged the other’s record and qualifications, according to Voice of OC.
What the election means for Murrieta
The outcome will determine who represents Murrieta and other communities in the newly configured 40th Congressional District when the next Congress begins in January 2027.
Federal issues affecting the region include transportation infrastructure, housing affordability, wildfire preparedness, public safety and economic development.
The race also illustrates the political consequences of California’s mid-decade redistricting, which changed congressional representation across several parts of the state.
Regardless of the outcome, one of the two incumbent members of Congress will lose their current seat as a result of the new district boundaries and the election.
When will the results be final?
Election officials in Riverside and Orange counties must complete their official canvasses before the state certifies the results.
The county certification deadline is Dec. 3, followed by the state’s scheduled certification on Dec. 11, according to the California election calendar.
Voters can follow updated figures through the California Secretary of State’s election results page and The Ballot Book’s CA-40 results tracker.
Editor’s note: Vote totals are unofficial and subject to change. The figures in this article reflect the latest available county breakdown located for this update, last updated Nov. 4.
