Quirk-Silva, who kicked Young Kim out of the Assembly, praises Kim Varet as “the best chance we have at flipping the House”

Tustin, CA – Today, CA-40 mom and small business owner Esther Kim Varet announced the endorsement of Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (AD-65), who represents Northern Orange County and surrounding communities. Quirk-Silva defeated Young Kim in 2016 when Orange County voters threw Young Kim out of Sacramento for her extreme ideological positions on women’s reproductive care, increasing taxes on working families, and personal corruption. 

“I’m proud to support Esther Kim Varet for Congress in CA-40,” said Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva. “As someone who has faced Young Kim multiple times - and defeated her - I know that Esther is the best chance we have at flipping the House, restoring sanity to our nation, and finally kicking Young Kim out of office for good. Let’s do this!”

Assemblymember Quirk-Silva’s endorsement comes on the heels of a stellar fundraising quarter for Kim Varet, who outraised the combined Democratic field by 2x, outraised the next closest Democrat by 3x, and retained more than 3x the cash on hand of the combined Democratic field in CA-40.

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California’s 40th is a Congressional District representing portions of Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County in Southern California. CA-40’s constituents voted for Joe Biden over Donald Trump in 2020. House Majority PAC lists CA-40 as a top target, the DCCC lists CA-40 as a “District in Play”, and the Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index (PVI) ranks the district as one of the 10 most vulnerable House seats with a Republican incumbent in the nation. Esther Kim Varet raised over $1 million in Q1 2025, outpacing the combined Democratic field by over 2.5x.

Incumbent Republican Young Kim’s support for MAGA policies, including a federal ban on abortion even in cases of rape and incest, support of the GOP budget bill that would strip 40,000+ of her constituents from Medicaid, blocking legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and rejection of common sense gun safety, have made Kim extremely vulnerable. In contrast, Esther Kim Varet will always vote to protect women’s right to choose, provide access to healthcare, lower prescription drug costs, and support responsible gun safety.

CA-40 includes the cities of Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills, Orange, Chino Hills, Tustin, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Laguna Hills, Laguna Woods, Villa Park, Lake Forest, the unincorporated communities of North Tustin, Coto de Caza, Silverado, Modjeska, and Trabuco, and parts of the cities of Brea and Corona.