On Election Day, candidates backed by DeMaio’s Reform California performed well without the party’s endorsement, a sign of the growing influence of the renegade movement to the right of the California party. Despite that, Bruce-Lane beat out San Marcos City Councilmember Ed Musgrove and will face former Democratic San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott in November. As California Republicans brace for a challenging midterm election, they must navigate a reality in which DeMaio’s rabble-rousing politics prevail over pragmatic conservatism. San Diego Senate RaceBruce-Lane’s candidacy in Senate District 40 was a top concern for local Republicans. Political campaign mailers distributed to San Diego voters by Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, in San Diego on May 22, 2026.