Anaheim, CA – As first featured in this morning’s California Playbook, new polling shows California’s 40th Congressional District is a toss-up, with Young Kim leading among key general election voters and Ken Calvert facing significant vulnerabilities over his record.
The Public Opinion Strategies survey finds Kim and Calvert statistically tied, 34 percent to 35 percent, with 19 percent undecided and another 10 percent currently planning to skip the contest. View the full polling memo HERE.
“This race has shaped up to be a choice between an effective leader in Young Kim who has delivered results in less than three terms in Congress, and Ken Calvert, whose nearly 40-year political career in DC has been plagued by corruption controversies and FBI investigations,” said Young Kim for Congress spokesman Chris Pack. “Calvert incessantly complains about Washington and everything it fails to get done, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he’s had nearly four decades to do something about it. After nearly 40 years in politics, Ken Calvert hasn’t fixed Washington. He’s become Washington.”
The numbers show the general election electorate moving in Kim’s direction. Kim leads 37-31 among voters who skipped the primary, 35-27 among No Party Preference voters, and 38-29 among voters who say the cost of living is their top issue.
Calvert’s record presents significant vulnerabilities. A message highlighting his corruption controversies and financial dealings that triggered multiple FBI investigations made 82 percent of voters less likely to support him, including 69 percent much less likely. Messages on his support for a 30 percent national sales tax and his record on Social Security and Medicare also moved overwhelming majorities against him.
On the other hand, Young Kim has a record of fighting to lower taxes and healthcare costs on Californians while working to clean up corruption in Washington and ban members of Congress from trading stocks. This contrast is top of mind for voters and puts Young Kim in a commanding position in the race.
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