About — Marni von Wilpert for Congress

Marni von Wilpert is a San Diego City Councilmember, lifelong public servant, and former prosecutor who flipped San Diego’s most conservative council district blue — and she’s ready to do it again in Congress.

Marni grew up in North San Diego County in a military family. Her father immigrated to the United States and served proudly in the Army, and her grandfather fought in WWII. Marni’s parents instilled in her a commitment to service, which has taken her around the world — from serving in the Peace Corps in Botswana during the AIDS epidemic, to founding a legal clinic to combat discrimination in the Deep South, to later serving in Congress as counsel on the House Education and Labor Committee, where she helped write the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act to strengthen workers’ rights.

Back home in San Diego County, Marni served as a civil prosecutor in the City Attorney’s Office, where she cracked down on price gouging during the pandemic, held polluters accountable for toxic dumping and prosecuted the opioid industry for the addiction and devastation they caused.

On City Council, Marni authored California’s first ban on untraceable ghost guns, launched affordable housing grants for teachers, raised wages, cut ambulance 911 response times, and opposed costly water and trash rate hikes to protect working families. She earned a reputation as a go-to taxpayer watchdog, fighting to save taxpayers millions and holding city contractors accountable for services they pledged to provide.

As chair of the Public Safety Committee, she’s also led the charge to keep communities safe – securing resources for first responders, protecting us from wildfires, advancing gun violence prevention, and expanding access to lifesaving opioid treatment.

Now, Marni is running for Congress to tackle the skyrocketing cost of living, protect reproductive freedom, defend LGBTQ rights, and make Washington work for working families — not just the wealthy few. With a proven record of service, results, and winning tough races, Marni is the battle-tested fighter needed to flip CA-48 and finally send Darrell Issa packing.

Marni von wilpert

A Lifetime of Public Service

On the City Council, as Deputy City Attorney, and as a Peace Corps volunteer, Marni has:

Banned the sale and possession of untraceable Ghost Guns with the ENUF Ordinance.
Banned the sale of flavored tobacco products to protect our kids from a lifetime of nicotine addiction.
Led the way to fund a new Conservatorship and Treatment Unit to help the city’s most vulnerable homeless individuals get off the street and back on their feet.
Secured funding for a third fire helicopter – improving emergency response times and protecting neighborhoods from devastating wildfires.
Fully funded the police as Chair of the Public Safety Committee, renovated the Northeastern Division Station, and created the first childcare center for officers in the nation.
Protected Reproductive Freedoms by co-authoring San Diego’s Reproductive Freedom Resolution in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
Delivered real progress on climate action with an updated zero-emissions Climate Action Plan, a citywide Styrofoam ban, and major investments in EV charging stations.
Supported immigrant and refugee communities by authoring a Resolution in Support of the Afghan Adjustment Act.
Led the redevelopment of the $3.8 billion Terminal 1 as a member of the Airport Authority Board and chair of the Airport Infrastructure Committee, positioning San Diego as a world-class destination and economic hub while creating good-paying union jobs.
Fought for fiscal responsibility and accountability in city government by opposing a flawed 101 Ash Street settlement and voting against the Water Authority’s rate hikes.
Provided oversight of the hundreds of millions of dollars in federal COVID recovery funding.
Prosecuted opioid manufacturers as Deputy City Attorney, holding them accountable for fueling the addiction crisis in San Diego communities.
Enforced consumer protection laws – Led efforts to stop price gouging during emergencies, ensuring San Diegans weren’t taken advantage of during crises.
Helped write the PRO Act as Counsel to the House Education and Labor Committee, providing the legal guidance to ensure the law would withstand judicial scrutiny.