A GOP candidate in a California congressional race took a shot at his primary challenger's loyalty to Trump and MAGA credentials with a new attack ad.
Rep. Ken Calvert called fellow California congressional Republican Rep. Young Kim a "Trump-traitor" and a "RINO," or Republican in name only, in an ad for his primary campaign that blasts Kim's campaign material promoting her as "100 percent pro-Trump."
"Young Kim voted to censure and condemn Trump," the attack ad's dramatic narration goes, before featuring a soundbite of Trump referring to her as "backstabbing RINO."
Calvert and Kim are running for California's 40th Congressional District, one of the last GOP-controlled House seats in the state after redistricting.
Calvert's attack ad quotes Kim saying, "I don't work for President Trump" and shows pictures of her smiling and applauding with former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as it accuses her of "joining liberals to betray" Trump.
Axios congressional reporter Andrew Solender described the new ad as adding "drama" to the race.
Some ~drama~ in the California GOP delegation: Rep. Ken Calvert airing an attack ad blasting Rep. Young Kim as a "backstabbing RINO" and "Trump-Traitor"
The two House Republicans are both running in #CA40, one of California's few remaining GOP districts after redistricting. pic.twitter.com/LKVm9Xwnwc
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) April 25, 2026
