Marni von Wilpert

DSan Diego City Council member, District 5 (since 2020)

Advanced from the June 2, 2026 top-two primary, one of nine Democratic candidates who together took 51% of the primary vote.

Marni von Wilpert is the Democratic candidate for the open 48th District seat. She is a member of the San Diego City Council representing District 5 and previously worked as a labor attorney in the Obama administration and as a San Diego deputy city attorney.[1]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsExpand public health coverage

    Says she will fight to protect and expand the Affordable Care Act, restore ACA tax credits, and add a public option, while expanding Medicare's power to negotiate prescription drug prices.[2]

  • MixedExpand immigration enforcement and deportations

    Says she opposes ICE tactics she calls unconstitutional overreach while supporting measures that keep borders secure and provide legal pathways to citizenship for long-term residents and Dreamers.[2]

  • OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goods

    Says she will fight against what she calls Donald Trump's tariff war, which she says has made essential goods more expensive.[2]

In their words — priorities

  • Opposing ICE enforcement tactics she describes as overreach, while supporting border security and legal pathways to citizenship.[2]
  • Protecting the Affordable Care Act and Social Security, and expanding Medicare's power to negotiate drug prices.[2]
  • Banning members of Congress from stock trading and opposing the influence of corporate donors in politics.[2]

Background

  • Has served on the San Diego City Council representing District 5 since December 2020.[1]
  • Worked as a deputy city attorney for San Diego, where her campaign says she took on the opioid industry over harm caused to communities.[2]
  • Worked as a labor attorney in the Obama administration, according to her campaign; her father is an immigrant who served in the U.S. Army.[2]

Campaign money

Raised $2.2M · spent $1.3M · $825K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Also on the ballot for this seat: Jim Desmond · Compare side by side

Sources cited in this profile

  1. 1.Marni von Wilpert · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Marni von Wilpert campaign website, quoted on Ballotpedia · Marni von Wilpert for Congress (via Ballotpedia) Candidate's own words