SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — As Election Day nears, voters will soon get to choose who will represent San Diego County in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Five congressional districts make up the county, with several also covering parts of neighboring counties. Voters can find their congressional district by ZIP code at House.gov .

Early voting in the Nov. 5 Presidential General Election began on Monday, Oct. 7 and mail-in ballots should be arriving in California voters’ mailboxes this week.

Voters can mail in their ballots or vote in person at vote centers that will be open daily starting Saturday, Oct. 26.

What do congressional representatives do?

Congress, which is the federal government’s legislative branch, is split into two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Considered the “lower body,” the House is the larger of the two, with 435 members across all 50 states.

Representatives in the House represent local districts in Congress. Each congressmember advocates on behalf of their constituents in Washington, D.C. through things like developing and voting on bills to change federal law, as well as holding public hearings on important issues.

One of the key responsibilities enumerated to Congress that can be critical for advancing solutions to local issues at the federal level is the branch’s power over the purse — a duty considered to be a check on the other branches of government.

Other checks include the ability to approve presidential appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court and the ability for congress to impeach or remove officials, such as the president, from office when certain standards are met.

Outside the U.S. Capitol, congressional representatives can also serve important roles in the community through things like constituent services and local advocacy.

Who are the candidates?

Here are the candidates, listed by district and in alphabetical order .

District 48

District 48 is comprised of central and eastern San Diego County — including Santee, Poway, Escondido, Lakeside, Alpine, Escondido, Ramona, Valley Center, Bonsall and Fallbrook — as well as Temecula and Murrieta in Riverside County.

Stephen Houlahan

Stephen Houlahan is running for Congress in District 48, currently held by Republican Darrell Issa. The Democrat is a registered nurse.

Houlahan says he is pro-choice and pro-freedom, supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and supports Medicare and Medicaid funding. He also said he will stand up to Big Pharma to ensure Americans have access to the medication they need. Read more about his stance on issues on his website .

Houlahan’s endorsements include the California Democratic Party, Democrats of Southwest Riverside County, the Poway Democratic Club, San Diego Democrats for Equality, Escondido Democratic Club, the East County Democratic Club, Fallbrook Democratic Club, California Young Democrats, and CAHSD.

Houlahan was interviewed on the FOX 5 News on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

Darrell Issa

Incumbent Darrell Issa is running for re-election in District 48. The Republican is a retired Army veteran who founded and served as C.E.O. of Directed Electronics. Issa was first elected to Congress in 2000, serving as the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairman from 2011 to 2015.

Issa’s website states his campaign priorities include securing the border, fighting California’s Sanctuary State law, defunding Planned Parenthood, and the Second Amendment. You can read more about his stance on issues on his website .

Issa is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, former San Diego Supervisor Dianne Jacob, San Diego and Riverside counties’ deputy sheriff’s associations, and the Republican Party of Riverside County, among others .

A date has not yet been set for an interview with Issa on FOX 5/KUSI .

District 49

District 49 covers San Diego’s North County — Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista — and southern Orange County.

Matt Gunderson

Matt Gunderson is running for Congress to represent the 49th Congressional District. The Republican describes himself as a business owner, a father and community volunteer.

Gunderson says he wants to work to strengthen the economy, combat the high cost of living, lower taxes and protect Prop 13, secure the border, safeguard social security and Medicare, support veterans, protect reproductive rights, work to combat crime and more. Read more about Gunderson’s stance on issues on his website .

Gunderson is endorsed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Sen. Brian Jones and Sen. Janet Nguyen, among others .

Gunderson was interviewed on KUSI’s Good Morning San Diego on Wednesday, Oct. 2.

Mike Levin

Incumbent Mike Levin is running for re-election to represent District 49. The Democrat’s first term in Congress began in January 2019.

Levin has served on the House Natural Resources Committee and the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. He also serves on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and is the leading Democrat on the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity with jurisdiction over veterans housing and employment programs.

Levin supports lowering costs for families, an economy that works for everyone, fostering innovation and job creation, freedom from gun violence, protecting healthcare, and protecting our planet, among others. Read more about his stance on issues on his website .

Levin is endorsed by the California Democratic Party, San Diego Democratic Party and AFL-CIO – San Diego Labor Federation, among others .

Levin will be interviewed on the FOX 5 News on Wednesday, Oct. 16 .

District 50

District 50 includes Coronado, San Marcos, Escondido and coastal San Diego.

Peter Bono

Peter J. Bono is a retired Navy technician running for Congress in District 50 as a Republican.

He supports term limits for local officials, free childcare facilities for working families in need and reducing government spending. Read more about his stance on issues on his website .

Bono is endorsed by the California Republican Party.

A date has not yet been set for an interview with Bono on FOX 5/KUSI .

Scott Peters

Incumbent Scott Peters is running for re-election in District 50. The Democrat has been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013.

Before being elected to Congress, Peters served as chair of the San Diego Unified Port District, and spent two terms on the San Diego City Council, where he was the council’s first-ever president. His background is in environmental law.

Peters supports providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, allowing women to make their own health care decisions, and protecting Medicare and Social Security. Read where he stands on other issues on his website .

Peters is endorsed by Rep. Juan Vargas, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Senator Toni Atkins, San Diego County Democratic Party, American Nurses Association, American Federation of Government Employees, National Education Association, and many more .

Peters will be interviewed on the FOX 5 News on Friday, Oct. 25 .

District 51

District 51 includes much of the northern and eastern parts of the city of San Diego, as well as all of El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove, as well as Spring Valley and La Presa.

Sara Jacobs

Incumbent Sara Jacobs is seeking reelection to Congress in District 51. First elected in 2020, the Democrat is currently running for her third term.

Jacobs sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where she is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa, and also on the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee’s Quality of Life Panel.

Jacobs supports addressing “the epidemic of gun violence,” fighting for affordable housing and reproductive care. Read more about Jacobs’ platform on her website .

Jacobs is endorsed by Sen. Alex Padilla, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the California Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the California Labor Federation, and the California Teachers Association, among others.

Jacobs was interviewed on the FOX 5 News on Tuesday, Oct. 1 .

Bill Wells

Bill Wells is the current mayor of El Cajon, running for Congress in District 51. The Republican served previously on the El Cajon City Council before being elected as mayor in 2013. Wells describes his background as a mental health professional with 30 years of experience as a Doctor of Clinical Psychology and a Registered Nurse. He is also a musician who has raised funds through benefit concerts for causes like the East County Transitional Living Center and the Home of Guiding Hands.

During his time as mayor, Wells says he has taken a stand against the Housing First and Defund the Police movements, and has supported keeping businesses open when they faced closures during the pandemic. Read more about where Wells stands on his website .

Wells is endorsed by the California Republican Party, the Republican Party of San Diego County, El Cajon Police Officers Association, Deputy Sheriffs Association of San Diego County and Rep. Darrell Issa, among others .

Wells was interviewed on the FOX 5 News on Friday, Oct. 4 .

District 52

District 52 includes San Diego’s South Bay, including Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, National City and Otay Mesa.

Juan Vargas

Incumbent Juan Vargas is running for re-election to Congress in District 52 for what would be his seventh term in Congress.

Previously, the Democrat served in the California State Assembly, State Senate and on the San Diego City Council.

Vargas says he supports protecting women’s reproductive rights, passing gun reform and safeguarding social security and Medicare.

Vargas is endorsed by the California Democratic Party, the California Labor Federation and California Young Democrats, among others.

A date has not yet been set for an interview with Vargas on FOX 5/KUSI .

Justin Lee

Justin Lee is a self-described business owner. The Republican is running for election to the U.S. House to represent California’s 52nd Congressional District .

Lee, who does not have a campaign website, told the San Diego Union-Tribune earlier this year he is running for office to enact change and that he wants to prioritize safety by combating predators, drugs and crime, and that he will work to protect people from being trafficked when entering the country, along with addressing rising taxes and utility costs. He also noted he supports restrictions on abortions.

Lee has not received any public endorsements.

A date has not yet been set for an interview with Lee on FOX 5/KUSI .

The last day to cast a ballot in the 2024 Presidential General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 5. All vote centers, ballot drop boxes and the Registrar’s office will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

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