When Ammar Campa-Najjar (GRD ’26) began graduate school at Georgetown University this fall, he described it as “a dream come true.” In November, however, he plans to pause this dream to run for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Campa-Najjar filed to run as a Democrat in California’s 48th congressional district, which includes the area east of San Diego. If voters approve the redrawn maps in a Nov. 4 special election — which Campa-Najjar and policy analysts expect to happen — he will take a leave of absence from his studies at Georgetown, where he is pursuing a master’s degree in conflict resolution, to begin his congressional campaign.
Campa-Najjar said he believes he can relate to constituents’ concerns better than the Republican incumbent, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).
“I have a different way of doing things,” Campa-Najjar told The Hoya. “I think we need to fight for people. I think we need to build a government that works for working people.”
After state legislature efforts to redistrict Texas to favor Republican-held districts, Governor Gavin Newsom of California signed a similar effort Aug. 21. Mid-decade redistricting is unprecedented — it normally takes place every 10 years to account for changes in population — but not unconstitutional.
A San Diego County native, former U.S. Department of Labor official and U.S. Navy officer who ran unsuccessful congressional campaigns in 2018 and 2020, Campa-Najjar hopes his commitment to voters and focus on the economy and healthcare will deliver him to victory in 2026.
Campa-Najjar said that while he was ready to leave politics, he needed to take the chance to run against Issa.
“I got this call to serve, to come back and do something at a time when I think we need it,” Campa-Najjar said.
Issa did not respond to a request for comment.
Campa-Najjar said his belief in public service stemmed from watching former President Barack Obama deliver his 2004 speech to the Democratic National Convention that addressed community and unity in the United States.
“I remember growing up being this multi-ethnic kid, wondering if this country would ever embrace someone like me, a skinny, brown guy with a funny name,” Campa-Najjar said.
Obama endorsed Campa-Najjar in both his previous congressional runs.
California Democrats initially resisted Newsom’s calls to redistrict, but agreed to the plan after Texas passed its new map. While the plan currently enjoys support from a majority of California voters, many scholars have expressed concern that the redistricting fight will erode democratic norms and launch a broader battle across more states.
As Texas and California began threatening redistricting, Campa-Najjar said he received calls from congressmembers and local leaders urging him to run in 2026. He then traveled back to California to speak with voters, which ultimately convinced him to run.
The current California 48th district voted for President Donald Trump by a margin of 15 percentage points in 2024, according to an independent analysis. Under the redrawn map, the district favors Democrats by 3 percentage points.
Drew Lieberman, a pollster working on Campa-Najjar’s campaign, said the redrawn map places Campa-Najjar in a strong position to use his campaigning skills.
“He listens actively and attentively,” Lieberman told The Hoya. “He establishes a relationship with people very quickly.”
Carl Luna, a professor of political science at San Diego Mesa College, said Campa-Najjar may face accusations of being a “carpetbagger,” or returning to California from Washington, D.C., for political opportunity.
“He’s coming back because it’s an opportunity,” Luna told The Hoya. “And the question is: Is he running for his own ambition, or is he running because he really has strong roots in the community?”
In his 2018 and 2020 failed congressional runs, Campa-Najjar received more votes than statewide and national Democrats did in his district, which generally demonstrates greater support.
Campa-Najjar acknowledged his previous losses but said he is more prepared for this race because of them.
“We were able to punch way above our weight, and get people to come across the aisle and vote for me,” Campa-Najjar said. “That was a lot of hard work and making sure that we were connected to the real issues and not just getting stuck in the partisan gridlock.”
Luna said Campa-Najjar has the best chance of any Democrat in the district, but his campaign must extend beyond criticism of Trump.
“You have to have some message on Trump’s impact on California, but you also have to have some positive message on how you’re going to make life better for people in the newly constituted 48,” Luna said.
Malik Thornton, president of the San Diego Young Democrats, said Campa-Najjar understands the district well.
“Ammar ran one of the hottest races in the country in 2018 and in 2020, and so that experience is definitely helpful for the political field as well,” Thornton told The Hoya. “He knows how to build support and the issues that are important to people.”
Gianna Yerkes (MSB, SFS ’28), who lives in California’s 48th district, said Campa-Najjar should remember that voters in the area are upset with high prices that resulted from some of Trump’s policies, yet the district remains socially conservative.
“He is going to need to accept that the majority of people that he needs votes from are conservative, but I think he needs to know that they’re open to someone who’s going to at least hear them out and respect their more conservative values, policies and opinions,” Yerkes told The Hoya.
Until November, Campa-Najjar will remain at Georgetown, where he is also a teaching assistant for “The U.S. Political System,” an introductory class in the department of government that provides an overview of U.S. politics and governance.
Campa-Najjar said that while potentially leaving Georgetown was a difficult decision, he was proud to make it.
“I was very comfortable with Georgetown and the Navy, but I don’t think this is the time to be comfortable,” Campa-Najjar said. “I want to be able to say that we stepped up and we met these challenges head on, and we were able to fight to build a country and a democracy that’s even stronger than the one that we had before.”