Calvert, Young Kim wage bitter fight for California's 40th District

Two Republican incumbents — 33-year veteran Ken Calvert and Congresswoman Young Kim — are fighting a bare-knuckle primary battle for California's 40th District seat, each claiming to be the truer ally of President Trump ahead of the June 3 vote, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

The race was forced by Prop. 50 redistricting, which folded Calvert's former 41st District into Kim's 40th. The matchup carries high stakes for Republicans: under California's top-two primary rules, a Democrat could advance to November if the two GOP incumbents divide the party vote.

The campaign turned sharply negative in recent weeks. A Calvert advertisement called his opponent "Trump-traitor Young Kim. A liberal and a liar," according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Kim responded to the attacks head-on. "You would think he would be running on his own record. But if you don't have anything to show for it, you start from very early on attacking your opponent, smearing my record, my name. I guess that's what they do when they are not proud of your record," she said.

Calvert, who chairs the House Defense Appropriations Committee, dismissed Kim's policy stances as recently adopted tactics. "Those are positions she's taken in the last few months in order to run against me. Look, I've been around for a long time. People know my positions on issues. I've been one of the leaders on stopping illegal immigration in the United States," he said.

The 33-year congressman also pointed to his institutional reach. "I'm at the height of my influence. I chair the Defense Appropriations Committee. I technically control over half the discretionary spending of the United States, all the military forces, all the intelligence operations of the United States. I also have been able to deliver more money back to California than any member of Congress in the history of California," Calvert said, according to the ABC7 report.

Kim framed longevity as a weakness rather than a credential. "It didn't take me 30 years to really identify the needs of my community, and really focus on securing the border, support our local law enforcement, and really change our country in the right direction. I work very closely with President Trump," she said.

Both candidates said they believe the redrawn 40th District leans Republican, though Trump faces national headwinds from the Iran war and rising consumer prices. A Democrat reaching the November ballot remains a live possibility if Republican turnout fractures between the two incumbents, ABC7 reported.

California's top-two primary rules mean the two highest vote-getters advance to November regardless of party, leaving the door open for a Democrat if Calvert and Kim cannot consolidate Republican turnout by June 3.