UPDATE: 2:20 p.m, Nov. 4, 2020
Rep. Mike Levin has kept the 49th Congressional District blue.
It flipped in 2018 from Republican to Democratic. There was a possibility it could flip again.
Levin, D-Dana Point, an environmental attorney, beat Republican Diane Harkey, a member of the state Board of Equalization, 54% to 46% in 2018.
That was after eight-term Republican Congressman Darrell Issa decided not to seek re-election. Issa narrowly defeated his Democratic opponent Doug Applegate in 2016.
Now Levin was running against Republican Brian Maryott, a San Juan Capistrano City Councilman with a background as a financial advisor.
There are slightly more registered Democratic voters — 38% — compared to Republican voters at 36% in the 49th District. That means more than a quarter are independents, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Party registration in the district could help incumbent Levin keep the seat blue. But Maryott said he could flip it back because voters want someone more "bipartisan," like him.
Levin says his top campaign issues are crushing the COVID-19 pandemic with advice from scientists and epidemiologists, affordable and equitable healthcare for residents, investing in jobs of the future by supporting technology and clean energy infrastructure, environmental protection, and veterans' rights.
Maryott said his top campaign issues are tax and economic policy, reducing government debt, and reopening small businesses impacted by the pandemic. He's also interested in coming up with an alternative to government-funded healthcare and supporting private industry. Additionally, he believes there should be a better approach to immigration reform and controlling borders.
