Riker Maintains Fundraising Lead in CA-48 Race
Palm Springs, CA – Brandon Riker, an Obama organizer, small business owner, and trained economist, announced today that his campaign for Congress has built a commanding financial and grassroots advantage heading into the 2026 election year, raising more than $1.5 million through the end of Q4 2025 and holding over $1 million cash on hand.
Riker maintains more cash on hand than all of the Democratic candidates combined in the primary, highlighting broad support across the district and positioning the campaign to take on and win against MAGA incumbent Darrell Issa in the general election.
The campaign is powered by over 8,500 individual donors, 13,000+ total contributions, more than 100 community endorsements, and 650+ active volunteers, with supporters spanning every major city in the new CA-48, including Palm Springs, Hemet, and Temecula in Riverside County and Vista, Escondido, and San Marcos in San Diego County.
“This campaign is being built by the people who live and work here,” said Brandon Riker. “We’ve shown that you don’t need corporate PACs to compete – you need a message that speaks to affordability, opportunity, and accountability. Voters are tired of politicians who protect their own wealth while cutting health care and shutting down the government. I’m running to deliver a future people can actually afford.”
In addition to the campaign’s fundraising strength, Riker has earned more than 100 community endorsements, reflecting deep grassroots support across the district and beyond. Recent endorsements include ILWU Locals 13/63/94, Palm Desert City Councilmember Karina Quintanilla and Nashville Metro Councilmember-At-Large Olivia Hill, joining local leaders, small business owners, veterans, and community advocates who are backing Riker’s campaign to deliver real results for working families.
Together, this financial advantage and broad community support demonstrate that the Riker campaign has the resources, coalition, and momentum needed to win both the Democratic primary and defeat Darrell Issa in the general election, showing voters a clear, credible path to new leadership in CA-48.
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Brandon Riker is a fourth-generation Californian, small business owner, and trained economist. California’s new 48th District is a top Red-to-Blue target for Democrats after the passage of Proposition 50. With Riker’s early fundraising strength and a growing base of grassroots support, he is the leading candidate in the new 48th District.