{"id":2608913,"date":"2026-06-01T07:06:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T11:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-gop-incumbents-calvert-and-kim-go-to-war-over-loyalty-to-trump\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T07:09:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T11:09:46","slug":"california-gop-incumbents-calvert-and-kim-go-to-war-over-loyalty-to-trump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-gop-incumbents-calvert-and-kim-go-to-war-over-loyalty-to-trump\/","title":{"rendered":"California GOP incumbents Calvert and Kim go to war over loyalty to Trump"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornia-gop-incumbents-calvert-and-kim-go-to-war-over-loyalty-to-trump%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2608913&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In California\u2019s newly redrawn District 40, two Republican incumbents-Rep. Ken Calvert and rep. Young Kim-are facing a hard-fought intraparty primary shaped by loyalty to President Donald Trump and the state\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ftc-expands-its-power-to-penalize-powerful-companies\/\" title=\"FTC Expands Its Power to Penalize Powerful Companies\">shifting political landscape<\/a>. Both lawmakers, who were moved into the same district through redistricting, are portraying themselves as the truest MAGA ally while attacking the other\u2019s character, competence, and commitment to Trump.<\/p>\n<p>The contest is also occurring as democrats seek broader gains statewide after 2025\u2019s Proposition 50, which could further reduce GOP portrayal in a state that already sends a largely Democratic delegation to the U.S.House. District 40, described as once more competitive but made reliably Republican through mapmaking, now features a rare incumbent-versus-incumbent showdown that could decide which Republican survives.<\/p>\n<p>Campaigning has turned personal and aggressive, with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >negative ads exchanging charges ranging<\/a> from alleged disloyalty to Trump to accusations about private behavior. Calvert, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/freshman-bernie-moreno-relishes-in-leap-to-ohios-senior-senator\/\" title=\"Freshman Bernie Moreno relishes in leap to Ohio...s senior senator\">longer-serving member<\/a> in the California GOP delegation, emphasizes his tenure, endorsements, and delivery of federal funding, while Kim argues Calvert\u2019s decades in office are no longer necessary and points to her legislative record and fundraising strength. Political analysts say the dynamics force both to differentiate despite sharing similar policy ideologies-especially on \u201celectability\u201d and Trump alignment. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-republican-flops-in-primary-after-free-beacon-unearths-anti-semitic-rant\/\" title=\"...ornia ...ublican Flops in Primary After Free Beacon Unearths Anti-Semitic Rant\">jungle primary system<\/a> further raises the stakes, as the top two vote-getters could include both Kim and Calvert again in November.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>RIVERSIDE, California \u2014 <\/strong>As Republicans in competitive races across the country recalibrate their relationship with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">President Donald Trump<\/a>, two <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"60\">Orange County<\/a> incumbents forced into the same district are staking their political survival on proving unwavering loyalty to the president.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The loser of the intraparty clash between <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4548200\/california-jungle-primary-rising-bipartisan-backlash\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4548200\/california-jungle-primary-rising-bipartisan-backlash\/\">Reps. Ken Calvert<\/a> (R-CA) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4482952\/ken-calvert-young-kim-incumbent-2026-primary-fight\/\">Young Kim<\/a> (R-CA) will likely become one of the Republican casualties of California voters\u2019 passage of Proposition 50, a 2025 ballot measure backed by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gavin-newsom\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1426\">Gov. Gavin Newsom <\/a>(D-CA) and state Democrats that aimed to further shrink GOP representation in an already <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/swing-district-iowa-dem-very-active-in-group-that-wants-to-abolish-ice-establish-sanctuary-cities\/\" title=\"Swing-District Iowa Dem \u2018Very Active... in Group That Wants to Abolish ICE, Establish Sanctuary Cities\">deep-blue state<\/a>. Democrats currently dominate California\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-of-representatives\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"93\">U.S. House delegation <\/a>43-9, and under district lines taking effect in the 2026 cycle, they could plausibly expand that advantage to 48 seats.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4584640\/progressive-democrat-adam-hamawy-scrutiny-terrorist-link\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Progressive Democratic House front-runner Adam Hamawy faces scrutiny over past terrorist association<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4588892\/jon-ossoff-trump-stephen-miller-small-men-atlanta\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Jon Ossoff calls Trump and Stephen Miller \u2018small men\u2019 at Atlanta rally<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4588822\/cory-booker-concerns-platner-scandal\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Sen. Cory Booker voices \u2018concerns\u2019 with Platner after latest scandal<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Southern California, Kim and Calvert are headed for a political collision. The fight centers on the newly configured District 40, a sprawling region southeast of Los Angeles that stretches across Orange County suburbs, parts of Riverside County, and mountain communities along the Santa Ana range. Once considered competitive territory, the district was transformed into safe Republican ground after Democratic mapmakers packed it with conservative voters siphoned from neighboring GOP seats.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The redistricting reshuffle pulled much of Calvert\u2019s former base from the 41st Congressional District into Kim\u2019s 40th District, creating a rare incumbent-versus-incumbent showdown in territory both lawmakers now claim as their political home turf.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race has turned personal and ugly, with each candidate questioning the other\u2019s competence and mental sharpness.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., speaks at a \u201cBarbeque, Beer and Ballots\u201d event organized by Reform California on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Corona, Calif. (AP Photo\/Caroline Brehman)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both candidates are also locked in a battle to prove who is more closely aligned with Trump and his political movement as he approaches the midpoint of his second term. Each has cast themselves as the true MAGA standard-bearer, while television ads blanketing the airwaves accuse the other of being insufficiently conservative, exaggerating ties to the president, and lacking genuine loyalty.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTrump-traitor Young Kim. A liberal and a liar,\u201d one of Calvert\u2019s ads says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kim pushed back, arguing Calvert is trying to redefine her because he has little to run on after decades in office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou would think he would be running on his own record, but if you don\u2019t have anything to show for it, you start early by attacking your opponent and smearing my record and my name,\u201d she said. \u201cI guess that\u2019s what happens when you\u2019re not proud of your own record.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uCvLShzOzoA\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uCvLShzOzoA\">another ad<\/a>, Calvert calls Kim a RINO \u2014 Republican In Name Only \u2014 and claims she \u201cthreatened\u201d Trump, before throwing to a sound bite of her saying, \u201cI\u2019ll whip his butt.\u201d The clip is from a 2020 event where Kim praised Trump\u2019s leadership but said she wouldn\u2019t let her daughters date or marry someone like him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kim\u2019s campaign launched some pretty brutal ads of their own, including one that called Calvert \u201cswampy\u201d and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AndrewSolender\/status\/2055680250458124459\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AndrewSolender\/status\/2055680250458124459\">\u201csleazy,\u201d<\/a> and said he was \u201cbusted with a prostitute\u201d in his car in the 1990s. Calvert, who was never charged with a crime, admitted to having sex with the person because he was feeling \u201cintensely lonely.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cScrewing us, servicing himself, sabotaging Trump,\u201d the voice in the 30-second ad said. \u201cKen Calvert, what a sleazebag.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Calvert, 72, is the longest-serving Republican in California\u2019s congressional delegation. He has spent 33 years in Congress, survived two rounds of redistricting, and says he is not intimidated by another political fight, especially against Kim. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI was born there, I was raised there, and I started a business there,\u201d he told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cI\u2019ve lived there my entire life, and I\u2019ve represented a majority of the people there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also insists he is the candidate most similar to Trump.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m the only real, true Trump conservative,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve been endorsed twice by the president. I work with him, and not only that, I\u2019ve done more in bringing federal dollars back to California than any member of Congress, I think, in history.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FILE \u2013 Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., speaks at the Capitol in Washington, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Calvert, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee\u2019s defense subcommittee, has secured billions of dollars for defense and water infrastructure projects, including the Santa Ana River Mainstem Project, which provides flood protection across Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange counties.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Kim, 63, has made clear she has no intention of leaving Congress after nearly six years in office. Backed by strong fundraising, she argues it is time for Calvert\u2019s decadeslong tenure to end.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow many more decades does he need to get things done?\u201d Kim told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cThe reality is that Calvert has had enough time to prove himself, and after 30 years, he simply has not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kim, who serves on the House Financial Services Committee, argues longevity alone is not an accomplishment and points to her own legislative record: more than 180 bills passed by the House and more than 50 signed into law.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is only my third term, and it didn\u2019t take me 30 years to get things done,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California political analyst Jamie E. Wright told the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>it is not surprising the two incumbents have sharpened their attacks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen two incumbents run against each other from the same ideological position, they must find ways to differentiate themselves,\u201d she said. \u201cThis often involves challenging the opponent\u2019s effectiveness, loyalty, endurance, electability, or authenticity. Don\u2019t expect much debate over the broader conservative platform. Expect a debate over who is best positioned to keep the seat in Republican hands.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jeff Le, managing principal at 100 Mile Strategies and a former deputy Cabinet secretary to two-time Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, called the matchup \u201cone of the most intriguing congressional primaries in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhile their congressional records reveal a streak of bipartisanship and policy substance, their campaigns have focused heavily on aligning themselves more closely with the president\u2019s views on immigration and the rhetoric associated with the current commander in chief,\u201d he told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. \u201cDespite the president\u2019s weak numbers statewide, his approval rating remains strong among the Republican base, even in blue California.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4586666\/kevin-kiley-california-redistricting-defending-seat-primary\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4586666\">KEVIN KILEY\u2019S TWO-FRONT FIGHT: BATTLING CALIFORNIA REDISTRICTING WHILE DEFENDING HIS OWN SEAT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the race has largely revolved around Kim and Calvert, they are not the only ones on the ballot. Six other candidates \u2014 five Democrats and one independent \u2014 are also competing in the primary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California\u2019s jungle primary system advances the top two vote-getters to the general election regardless of party affiliation, raising the very real possibility that Kim and Calvert could face each other again in November. If that happens, voters in District 40 are likely in for an even more bruising and expensive race.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Riverside, California &#8211; Ken Calvert and Young Kim face an intra-GOP showdown, betting their political futures on proving loyalty to President Trump<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2646,"featured_media":2608914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/kim-calvert-e1780078608415.jpg?1780064221&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4045,6203,36857,80581],"class_list":["post-2608913","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-california","tag-gop","tag-incumbents","tag-trump-loyalty"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/kim-calvert-e1780078608415.jpg?1780064221&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608913","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2646"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2608913"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608913\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2608917,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608913\/revisions\/2608917"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2608914"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2608913"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2608913"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2608913"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}