Marni von Wilpert
D · U.S. House, CA-48 · Tier 1/2
Tier 1/2, between “Firmly pro-Israel” and “Mainstream pro-Israel”
San Diego councilmember who finished second in the June top-two primary, behind Republican Jim Desmond, and advances to a competitive November race for the open Issa seat. A firm pro-Israel Democrat with no criticism of Israel’s conduct on record — none even of Netanyahu: a StandWithUs speaker who voted for the IHRA antisemitism definition on the council, invokes the Poway synagogue attack, and pledges to strengthen the US-Israel relationship — heavily backed by DMFI, whose PAC spent $2,000,000 in the primary on television ads attacking von Wilpert’s Democratic rival Ammar Campa-Najjar.
A 1/2, on a thin record: one council vote and two statements. On the San Diego City Council she voted in March 2026 for the IHRA definition of antisemitism, one of eight Ayes on a resolution Stephen Whitburn sponsored. Accepting DMFI PAC’s endorsement, she pledged to “strengthen the historic U.S.-Israel relationship” and to fight for a two-state solution delivering “safety, peace and dignity to Israelis, Palestinians, and the entire Middle East” — the only words about Palestinians in her record. In a March 2026 statement to Jewish Insider she said she “strongly” supports “Israel’s right to exist as a secure, Jewish democratic state and defend itself from the real threats it faces.” StandWithUs lists her as a speaker, and DMFI PAC spent $2,000,000 in the primary on television ads against her rival, Ammar Campa-Najjar. That is alignment and outside support rather than leadership: she has written no Israel measure and leads no pro-Israel effort, and her record holds no criticism of Israeli conduct, or even of Netanyahu. Counter-case: a 1 if the StandWithUs affiliation and a record with no daylight at all are read together as a brand.
Open the full card, with votes, money and every source, on elect26 →
elect26 places 2026 midterm candidates on a six-tier spectrum, from 1 (most pro-Israel) to 6 (most critical of Israel).