Ken Calvert defeats Young Kim in California's Congressional District 40, NBC News projects
In California’s 40th Congressional District, longtime Republican Ken Calvert, who is Trump-aligned, defeated fellow Republican Young Kim as NBC News projected an 83% vote count showing Calvert at ~53% to Kim’s ~47%. The race followed redistricting that moved Calvert from the former 41st to the newly drawn 40th, pitting two incumbents against each other amid a broader shift away from Trump during the campaign. Both candidates moderated or downplayed Trump ties at varying points as affordability emerged as a key issue nationwide, contributing to a tighter intra-party contest. The result reinforces Calvert’s ability to leverage federal funding credibility and a durable incumbency, with the outlook centering on how district dynamics and national sentiment will shape future votes.
Dive Deeper:
Ken Calvert, backed by President Trump, won the California 40th District race with about 53% of the vote to Young Kim's roughly 47%, based on 83% of expected ballots counted.
The 40th District spans parts of eastern Orange County and the Inland Empire, created after California redraws that favored Democrats; Calvert shifted from the former 41st District to run in the new 40th.
Kim had positioned herself as a moderate Trump-aligned candidate during the primary, attempting to secure conservative support, while Calvert emphasized his long congressional record and ability to secure federal funding.
Both candidates publicly softened Trump associations in the final stretch as affordability and other issues gained prominence, with Kim removing Trump references from her site and Calvert moderating his messaging on the president.
In the June primary, Calvert led with about a third of the vote (roughly 35%), while Kim trailed with around 20%, setting up a competitive general election in a newly configured district.
Calvert’s stance on social issues diverged from some conservatives (opposing open LGBTQ service in the military but voting for the Respect for Marriage Act), reflecting a broader moderate-to-conservative profile.
The outcome suggests momentum for Calvert given his record and funding achievements, while the district’s evolving demographics and national political sentiment will influence subsequent elections.