Kim Varet Cements CA-40 Frontrunner Status With National Republicans Raising Alarm About Her Momentum

Tustin, CA – This week, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) raised the alarm over Esther Kim Varet’s candidacy momentum, hysterically warning that “Democrat Jasmine Crockett has crowned her chaos candidate”, in reaction to a May 29th post from Rep. Crockett which encouraged her half million X followers to “vote for real representation like @estherkimvaret! Show her some love & give her a follow!” This is the first NRCC communication this cycle attacking a CA-40 challenger candidate, recognizing Kim Varet’s status as the Democratic frontrunner in this closely watched critical red to blue race.

“The NRCC is right to be very scared of losing Radical Republican Young Kim’s seat to Esther Kim Varet,” said Campaign Manager Ajay Mohan. “MAGA Rep. Kim has taken every corrupt dollar she can, she has blatantly lied about her positions on Medicaid and SALT, and she has supported Donald Trump’s agenda of hurting CA-40’s middle class and small businesses. National and local Republicans all recognize that Esther Kim Varet is the candidate who can and will send Young Kim to retirement.” 

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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 3.2x.

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 and Coto de Caza, and parts of Brea and Corona.