Last November, Issa easily defeated his Democratic opponent, Ammar Campa-Najjar, by 8 percentage points in a race that saw the congressman accused of lobbing Islamaphobic attacks against Campa-Najjar. I am convinced we will come out on top in the primary,' said Rocha in a phone interview with the Bay Area Reporter Thursday. 'I am looking forward to talking to voters in this district about Issa's lack of leadership.
Also running are Democrat William Stephen Houlahan and former Escondido mayor Sam Abed, a Republican, with the top two vote-getters regardless of party in the June primary advancing to the November general election. Their 2022 contest is expected to be one of the most closely watched in the state next year. He is aiming to oust the Republican incumbent, Congressman Darrell Issa, from his suburban seat northeast of San Diego. Rocha, 35, who lives in Escondido with his dog Daytwa, officially launched his campaign July 7 for the Golden State's 50th Congressional District. Rocha would be the second out Democratic person of color elected to Congress from the state. A gay Latino veteran who fought the military's homophobic 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy and has ties to San Francisco is seeking to be elected to a Southern California congressional seat.
