Meet the Immigration Lawyer Running for Congress in California
"He’s not a watchdog—he’s a lapdog," said Democrat Curtis Morrison of his election opponent: Republican Rep. Darrell Issa
ESCONDIDO, California — Curtis Morrison, a longtime immigration lawyer and political activist, launched his campaign last Saturday to challenge Republican Rep. Darrell Issa in California’s 48th congressional district.
With deep roots in immigration reform and a history of sparring with political powerhouses, Morrison enters the race emphasizing experience, local ties, and what he calls a necessary reckoning with the realities of border life and government dysfunction.
In an interview with Migrant Insider, Morrison shared sharp critiques of Issa, a former tech CEO and one of Congress’s wealthiest members, and laid out his own vision for the district, which stretches from Riverside County, and includes most of San Diego County, down to the U.S.-Mexico border.
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Q: You announced your candidacy this month. What made you decide to run against Rep. Issa?
Morrison: I announced on March 8 in Escondido. Honestly, it’s because I’m tired of Darrell Issa pretending to represent us when he doesn’t even live in the district. His voter registration is at his mom’s house, and everyone knows he lives in Vista. He’s out of touch with what we’re facing down here—whether it’s wildfires, immigration, or just basic representation.
Q: Issa is known nationally for his role as a self-described “watchdog” in Congress. What’s your take on that?
Morrison: He’s not a watchdog—he’s a lapdog. He’s sponsored bills to put Trump’s face on money and nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize. Who is he watching out for? He’s more interested in retweeting Elon Musk than doing real oversight work. I take government accountability seriously. I stay up late reading OIG (Office of Inspector General) reports. That’s what real oversight looks like—not Twitter stunts.
Q: You’ve been outspoken about immigration policy. How does your experience shape your campaign?
Morrison: I’m 100% pro-immigrant. Whether someone is applying for a visa abroad, is a DACA recipient, or is seeking asylum at the border, they should be treated with dignity and respect. Right now, we put immigrant families through psychological hell. I’ve been in the trenches. I’ve worked directly with people navigating this bureaucracy, and that gives me the insight Congress desperately needs.
Immigration is a really weak issue for Issa. He doesn’t go deep on it, which is ironic because he comes from an immigrant family himself. He’s clearly been radicalized—he used to be more in touch with his roots. Now he’s just a rich old guy who forgot where he came from.
Q: What’s it like running in a district that’s so close to the border?
Morrison: Our district literally touches Mexico. It’s a border district. Issa has stood at the wall and said we’re being invaded. That’s a lie, and he knows it. It’s a disservice to our community and a disgrace to his office. The people in this district know better—we live the reality every day.
Q: What are some local issues you think are being ignored in Washington?
Morrison: Wildfires. There were two separate fires this winter that my husband and I watched develop right in front of our house. The firefighters were incredible, but this is our reality. This is one of the only places in the country where on the Fourth of July, you don’t hear fireworks—because people are terrified. And Issa? What’s he doing about that?
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Q: Some say it's tough to challenge Issa given his wealth and recognition. How do you plan to compete?
Morrison: It’s going to be difficult to raise a lot of money in this district. The Republicans have all the money. But I’m relying on small donors and grassroots support. On Saturday I launched my campaign and tried to register with ActBlue. By Tuesday, Issa was calling on the Treasury to investigate ActBlue. That’s not oversight—that’s intimidation. A member of Congress shouldn’t weaponize federal agencies to go after political opponents.
Q: You’ve had past run-ins with powerful politicians. How have those experiences shaped your path?
Morrison: Mitch McConnell once made an FBI referral on me that changed the course of my life. I recorded his campaign talking about targeting Ashley Judd, and he didn’t like that. The DOJ didn’t indict me, but the experience forced me to reevaluate my path. I left journalism and went to law school at 45. Now, I have legal tools I never had before, and I use them to help people. Ironically, I almost have to thank McConnell.
Q: What separates you from other Democrats in this race?
Morrison: I’m the only one who actually lives in the district. Albert Mora, the other Democrat running, doesn’t even live here. That matters. When the fires come, I’m here. When policies change at the border, I see the effect immediately. This isn’t theoretical for me—it’s real life.
Q: Final thoughts—what do you want voters to know?
Morrison: I think the American dream is really cool. It frustrates me that so many people aren’t getting the outcomes they deserve. I’m not running against Trump—I’m running against Issa. But Issa enables Trump. He refuses to think critically, refuses to lead. I’m stepping up because this district deserves better. We need someone who knows the people here, who’s seen the system from the inside, and who isn’t afraid to speak the truth. I think I’d be good at this job—and I know I’d be better than him.
California’s 48th District: The Landscape
California’s 48th congressional district spans most of San Diego County, which stretches from Riverside County down to the U.S.-Mexico border.. The district is majority white, with a significant population of conservative-leaning Latinos. It is considered safely Republican but has been shaped by the national debate over immigration and the regional effects of climate change, particularly wildfires.
Rep. Darrell Issa, 70, a former electronics executive worth over $200 million, served in Congress for nearly two decades before returning to office in 2021 after a brief exit. He has built a reputation as a staunch Trump ally and was once chairman of the House Oversight Committee, where he branded himself a “watchdog.”
But to Morrison, that image doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. “You don’t need a watchdog if the watchdog isn’t going to do the work,” he said.
Curtis Morrison is betting that voters in the 48th are ready for a new kind of representation—one grounded in experience, empathy, and the lived reality of life on the border. Whether that message can unseat one of the most entrenched Republicans in the state remains to be seen.
Follow Migrant Insider for updates to this election campaign.
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