Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar is defending a campaign memo that his Democratic primary opponent, Marni von Wilpert, slammed for containing “divisive, hateful rhetoric” targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
Campa-Najjar and von Wilpert are both vying for the chance to take on Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) in California’s 48th District. While the seat is a top red-to-blue flip opportunity, the primary infighting between Campa-Najjar and von Wilpert is complicating matters.
On Tuesday, the Advocate reported on a memo compiled by Campa-Najjar’s team and distributed privately to stakeholders who were considering supporting his campaign. One section in the seven-page document argues that von Wilpert doesn’t have a path to victory, saying von Wilpert is in “the same vein” as three previous Democratic candidates who had an “inability to reach voters beyond Palm Springs.”
Von Wilpert is LGBTQ+, as are the three Democrats named in the memo: Will Rollins, Christy Holstege and Lisa Middleton.
Von Wilpert told the Advocate that “the last thing we need in a Democratic primary is this kind of divisive rhetoric that questions whether LGBTQ+ candidates are worthy and can win.”
In an interview, Campa-Najjar said the memo wasn’t intended to imply that an LGBTQ+ candidate couldn’t win.
“I’ve spoken to members of LGBTQ community, and I asked them about this memo and if it was offensive to them. Those that I talked to said they understood the point I was making was about geography, not demography,” Campa-Najjar said. “If anybody was offended by it, I want them to know that was not my intention.”
The Campa-Najjar campaign also released an entirely new memo rebutting von Wilpert’s accusations.
Campa-Najjar pointed to the fact that Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) — one of the highest-ranking LGBTQ+ officials in the House — recently endorsed him.
“Democrats aren’t going to be fooled: strong LGBTQ candidates like Marni can win everywhere and Ammar Campa-Najjar can’t win anywhere,” Dan Rottenstreich, a consultant for von Wilpert, said in a statement.
The candidates. Campa-Najjar mounted two unsuccessful House bids in 2018 and 2020. Von Wilpert is a San Diego city councilmember first elected to the position in 2020.
The California congressional delegation is split between the two contenders, but more members are supporting Campa-Najjar. Wilpert is backed by Reps. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.) and Julia Brownley (D-Calif.). Campa-Najjar has 11 California House Democrats in his column, including House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu.
