41st Congressional District: Calvert, Rollins set to face off in November general election

Republican Rep. Ken Calvert, the incumbent in California's newly drawn 41st Congressional District, and Democrat Will Rollins are set to face off in the general election, after easily outpacing the other three candidates in the primary race to represent the district.

With 100% of precincts reporting, Calvert led the five candidates, with 34,002 votes — or 43.6% — according to results posted by the California Secretary of State's office.

Rollins, who has won the endorsement of several Democratic members of Congress, came in second behind Calvert, with 27,733 votes, or 35.6%.

The only other Democrat on the ballot — engineer and entrepreneur Shrina Kurani — sits in third, with 11,616 votes, or 14.9%, while Republican John Michael Lucio and no party preference candidate Anna Nevenic came in fourth and fifth place respectively, each garnering fewer than 4,000 votes.

Election night vote counting is complete but results are not final, according to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters. Approximately 150,000 vote-by-mail and 2,000 provisional ballots still must be processed. Ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day also remain to be counted. The updated results are expected at 6 p.m.

The Secretary of State must certify results by July 15.

Calvert, a Republican who has represented pockets of the Inland Empire since 1993, is seeking reelection to a newly redrawn district which now includes several Coachella Valley cities — Palm Springs, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert and Indian Wells — along with Menifee, Norco and Corona in western Riverside County.

The top two finishers in the race — regardless of party — advance to a head-to-head matchup in the state's general election Nov. 8.

41st Congressional District: Candidates discuss views on inflation, Roe v. Wade, climate

In an emailed statement, Calvert said the results "send a clear message that voters in the 41st Congressional District want to move our country in a different direction from the constant state of crisis and inflation we have found ourselves under President Biden."

"Looking ahead to the November general election, voters will have a clear choice," Calvert said.

"I am a lifelong Riverside County resident with a proven track-record of delivering results for our region and someone who will vote to change the direction of our country," he continued. "Will Rollins is a radical newcomer to our community who supports more of the same failed Biden/Pelosi agenda."

Rollins, a former federal prosecutor who held a watch party at Birba in Palm Springs on Tuesday, told The Desert Sun that the results were "a great sign for November" and evidence that his message is resonating with voters.

"I don't think I would be neck and neck with (Calvert) if I weren't able to convince some of those Republicans to vote for me, plus no party preference voters," Rollins said in an interview.

Regarding Calvert calling him a "radical newcomer," Rollins said: "As someone who works in federal law enforcement to protect every person who lives in this congressional district for the last five years, I'm really disappointed that Congressman Calvert thinks people who protect our communities are radical newcomers."

During the campaign, the candidates focused on some of the country's biggest issues, including inflation, climate change and reproductive rights. Calvert has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration, arguing Democrats' economic policies have caused soaring prices nationwide.

His challengers, particularly Rollins and Kurani, have pointed to the incumbent congressman's votes, including his opposition to the American Rescue Plan, as well as his recent endorsement from former President Donald Trump, as evidence that the district needs a new representative.

Calvert maintains a fundraising advantage over the quartet of challengers, with roughly $1.21 million in his campaign committee's account as of late May — more than double that of any of his challengers.

However, Rollins — who has been endorsed by Democratic Rep. Raul Ruiz — outraised Calvert in their latest reports, gaining roughly $240,000 in contributions April and most of May, compared to $182,000 donated to Calvert's campaign. Kurani's campaign raised roughly $66,000 over the same period, while Nevenic and Lucio have not reported receiving contributions with the Federal Election Commission.

This is a developing story and will be updated. 

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Election results: 41st Congressional District pits 4 against Calvert