Calvert Declares Victory In Bitter Contest For Reshaped 40th Congressional District

RIVERSIDE, CA — Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, Friday was preparing for his 18th term in Congress after declaring victory in his heated contest against Rep. Young Kim, R- Anaheim, for the reshaped 40th congressional district.

"Thank you, Riverside and Orange Counties," Calvert said in a statement Thursday night. "Election officials are still counting ballots, but the outcome of this race is clear. We won. This is home. I've lived my entire life here, and there is no greater honor than serving my neighbors and our communities in Congress."

The latest tabulation of election returns from Riverside and Orange counties Friday showed Calvert maintaining the lead he established on election night, garnering 54% of the vote, compared to Kim's 46%.

Real-Time Election Results 2026: Congressional District 40

"Now it's time to get back to work on making life more affordable, keeping our communities safe and standing up to the madness of the new socialist majorities in Congress, who are determined to raise taxes, open our borders and impose failed California policies on the nation."

Kim had not released a statement as of Friday morning.

The two Republicans survived an eight-candidate field in the June primary. From then on, they were locked in a bitter war of words, accusations and counter-attacks.

The most recent example was Calvert's television advertisement lambasting Kim for taking campaign donations from an individual later identified by the FBI as a Chinese foreign agent. The commercial says Kim "fell into Beijing's trap" by associating with the man.

The congresswoman ultimately returned the money she'd received from him.

"She didn't return the money because it was the right thing to do, but because she got caught and the media started asking questions about her ties," the congressman said.

Kim hit back, portraying Calvert as a "do-nothing" representative since beginning his congressional career in 1993.

RELATED: Ken Calvert: Voters Chose A 'Proven, Consistent Leader' To Represent Them

The congresswoman further implied Calvert had engaged in questionably ethical behavior by "steering ... taxpayer-funded projects to within miles of his own rental properties."

Calvert in September flagged his opponent for failure to disclose in campaign filings "$100,000 in income her husband received from a nonprofit organization, as required under federal law."

Kim countered that Calvert's business associations cast him in a poor light, pointing to an FBI probe of Ontario City Councilman Alan Wapner, who in August resigned from his position as president of the Ontario International Airport Authority amid allegations of improprieties in the management of taxpayer-funded grants.

Calvert and Wapner reportedly worked in concert to secure the federal money.

The South Korea-born Kim touted her candidacy as pro-taxpayer, focused on "working families who are struggling to make ends meet."

Calvert highlighted his three-plus decades in Washington, D.C., as an example of unwavering dedication to furthering the interests of small business owners, securing funds for major transportation projects across the Inland Empire and trying to stanch the influx of illegal immigrants.

RELATED: Calvert, Kim In Bitter Contest Over Congressional Seat In Redrawn District

Calvert was thrust from his old 41st district because of California Proposition 50, approved by a majority of voters in the November 2025 special election. Prop 50 amended the state constitution to permit the Legislature to re-define congressional districts' boundaries, even though the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission had already established them after the 2020 Census.

The 40th district over which Calvert and Kim battled encompasses metropolitan space in eastern Orange County, as well as the Temescal Valley, most of Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake and Menifee in Riverside County.

City News Service