Supervisor Jim Desmond and San Diego City Councilmember Marni Von Wilpert are set to advance to the November runoff in California’s redrawn 48th Congressional District after Ammar Campa-Najjar conceded the primary, according to East County Magazine.

East County Magazine reported Wednesday that Desmond had 41.6% of the votes counted, while Von Wilpert had 19.5%. Campa-Najjar, a Naval Reserve officer and educator who previously ran for Congress, was in third with 9.5% and said his political career was over.

The race is drawing attention because the seat is being vacated by Republican Darrell Issa and the district was reshaped under California’s new congressional map. East County Magazine reported that the district now includes inland and backcountry communities such as Escondido, Vista, Warner Springs, Santa Ysabel, Borrego Springs, Descanso and Pine Valley, along with portions of Oceanside, Riverside County and Palm Springs.

For Santee Pulse readers, the race matters as part of the broader East County political map even for residents outside the district lines. The winner will represent nearby inland communities that share many of the same wildfire, housing, transportation and border-policy issues that shape public debate across the region.

Vote counting is expected to continue, but the source reported the remaining ballots were not expected to erase the leads held by Desmond and Von Wilpert. The November matchup will now test whether the redrawn inland district remains Republican-held or moves toward Democrats.