Announcement Reflects Momentum Behind Challenger Candidate Esther Kim Varet

Tustin, CA – Today, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, a closely watched and highly respected election forecaster, released their 2026 House race ratings, upgrading CA-40 from their 2024 “Likely Republican” rating to “Lean Republican”. This updated forecast reflects a serious threat to Republican incumbent Young Kim, and points to the momentum building behind CA-40 Democratic challenger candidate Esther Kim Varet in recent weeks:

• Esther Kim Varet last week reported over $1 million in Q1 funding, more than three times the amount of any other CA-40 challenger candidates

• The DCCC this week identified CA-40 as a 2026 “District In Play”, and announced a new nominee fund for CA-40

• The Cook Political Report this week upgraded their Partisan Voter Index (PVI) from R+2 to R+1, upgraded CA-40 from Likely to Lean Republican, and listed Young Kim as one of the 10 most vulnerable Republican House incumbents by PVI
  

“Extremist Republican Young Kim just today helped pass the voter suppression ‘SAVE Act’ – because she and her MAGA colleagues are scared of their own constituents, as they should be. All forecasts for the 2026 election now rate her as more vulnerable than ever before,” said Campaign Manager Ajay Mohan. “Esther Kim Varet is the only candidate doing the necessary work to flip this critical seat, win back the House majority, and finally put a stop to the recklessness of the Trump-Musk administration.”

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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.

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.