Multiple Democrats, including 2016 candidate Doug Applegate and environmental attorney Mike Levin, launched campaigns for California's 49th district. Given the close margin of victory over Applegate in 2016, the election was expected to be highly competitive. For months, Issa's Vista, CA office was the site of weekly protests where hundreds of people gathered as pushback against President Trump and his agenda and actions. One rally in May saw 800 people show up to protest the House vote to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (OCA). On January 10, 2018, Issa announced that he would not run for re-election.