'Losing Sucks': Rollins Concedes, Fails To Flip RivCo Blue

RIVERSIDE, CA — Many hours after Republican incumbent of the 41st Congressional District Ken Calvert was declared the winner, his Democratic opponent conceded.

Rep. Calvert (R-Corona) first declared victory on Monday, taking to social media to thank his supporters. But Rollins' campaign team insisted it was too early for Calvert to celebrate the results since tens of thousands of ballots were still rolling in. By Wednesday afternoon, the Associated Press had called the race for Calvert.

Still, Rollins' campaign told Patch they wanted to wait for more votes to trickle in on Wednesday night. Rollins conceded that evening in a video announcement posted to X.

"I'm going to be honest, losing sucks, especially after campaigning back-to-back for nearly three years, but I will never regret running," Rollins said.

On Thursday morning, Calvert was the clear victor, leading with 8,123 votes.

Rollins, of Palm Springs, had hoped to flip his home county blue. While he came close, with 48.7% of voter approval, he ultimately failed in an election that saw Californians leaning right in many races, including the presidential bid, according to the latest returns.

"Way too many of us sit on the couch and complain about politics or the way campaigns are run without ever getting off the sidelines and actually stepping into the arena ourselves. And I get it, that was me until I was 37 years old," Rollins said. "As I said on Election night, doing work as an American isn't just about showing up at your job, it's about showing up for your country."

Rollins, a former prosecutor, has battled Calvert twice and failed both times. He often called his opponent an extremist. But on Wednesday, he wished Calvert luck and encouraged the Inland Empire to come together for the Thanksgiving holiday and make peace, despite the results of a contentious election.

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"Having grown up with Republicans and Democrats, I'm going to be grateful for my family and friends no matter who they voted for this election and you should be too," Rollins continued, adding, "Ken Calvert and I disagree about a lot. We have our divisions, as you saw in those attack ads. But loving your neighbor and your fellow Americans should never depend on whether they voted for Kamala Harris or Donald Trump or Will Rollins or Ken Calvert or the red team versus the blue."

READ MORE: Calvert Wins Reelection To 41st District; Rollins Yet To Concede

Calvert was congratulated on Wednesday by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, who posted a congratulatory message on social media. The National Republican Congressional Committee, the House Republicans' campaign arm, also issued a statement congratulating him, saying Calvert "will continue delivering proven results for families in Riverside County, from working to lower inflation to keeping their neighborhoods safe and secure."

Calvert will serve a 17th term, making him the longest-serving Republican in the California congressional delegation.

"I’m honored that Riverside County voters have once again placed their trust in me to continue delivering results for them in Washington," Calvert said on social media Monday. "This is a hard-fought victory that shows voters want someone who will put results over partisan politics."

The 41st Congressional District is diverse and encompasses a vast swath of Riverside County. It includes the cities of Corona, Norco, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Canyon Lake, Menifee, Calimesa, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, Indian Wells, and portions of Eastvale and Riverside. The district also includes the unincorporated areas of El Sobrante, Woodcrest, Temescal Valley, Lakeview, Nuevo, Homeland, Winchester, Cherry Valley, Anza, Pine Cove and Idyllwild.