A new poll shows a deadlocked race between Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, and Democrat Will Rollins in the costly and closely watched race for a congressional seat representing part of Riverside County. Another poll of 450 likely voters, conducted Sept. 5 through 12 by RMG Research Inc., had good news for Rollins. That poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.6%, shows Rollins leading Calvert 41% to 35%, with 21% of respondents undecided. In an emailed statement, Calvert spokesperson Calvin Moore said: “We’ve always known this was going to be a close race, which is why Congressman Calvert has been out talking to Riverside County voters and has raised the resources to build a robust campaign.” After voters rejected him in 2022, Rollins “has built his campaign on countless lies” about his prosecutorial record and “lying about where he lives,” Moore said, adding: “We’re confident voters will reject him again as they learn more about truth of his appalling record.” The latest polling shows that the district “is one of the most competitive on the map, and for good reason,” Ethan Axelrod, of Rollins’ polling team, said via text message. “Will Rollins is demonstrating a unique ability to appeal to no party preference and moderate Republicans who know that 32 years is long enough for Ken Calvert’s self-dealing, and it’s time for a change.” Calvert and Rollins are on the Nov. 5 general election ballot in California’s 41st Congressional District. The race’s outcome could help determine which party controls the House of Representatives for at least the next two years. The Inland Empire’s longest-serving congressmember, Calvert, who arrived on Capitol Hill during the Clinton administration, faces a tough reelection fight from Rollins, a former federal prosecutor who narrowly lost to Calvert two years ago. The district — Calimesa, Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore, Menifee, Norco, Wildomar, cities in the Coachella Valley and parts of Corona, Eastvale and Riverside — has an almost even split in voter registration, with the GOP holding a slight edge of roughly 3,500 voters in a district with more than 481,000 registered voters. The candidates have raised more than $12 million combined in campaign donations, making the race for the 41st one of the nation’s most expensive. That fundraising doesn’t include spending by political action committees and others aligned with both sides. A poll of California House races conducted Saturday, Sept. 14, to Saturday, Sept. 21, by the Center for Urban Politics and Policy at Cal State Long Beach, the University of Southern California and Cal Poly Pomona shows Calvert and Rollins tied at 41.6% apiece. View this document on Scribd Calvert moves ahead by 0.4 percentage points when undecided respondents are forced to choose between Calvert and Rollins. But Calvert is trailing GOP candidates at the top of the ticket like Donald Trump and California Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steve Garvey, the poll found. “Will Rollins is tied … with Calvert because Rollins has consolidated Democratic voters in (the 41st) and is peeling off a small but significant number of” voters who back Rollins and Garvey, read a report on the poll’s findings. Related links Will there be a Ken Calvert, Will Rollins debate in race for Inland House seat? Ken Calvert, Will Rollins contest is 7th most expensive House race in U.S. This Inland congressional district could help decide control of Congress Ken Calvert, Will Rollins could win or lose based on how they do in this area These 2 Inland legislative races are among California’s most competitive The race “is shaping up as a race of extremity and personal characteristics,” the report states. “When asked to provide a word or words about each candidate, the most common word describing Calvert was ‘corrupt’ (26.1% of likely voters) and the most common words describing Rollins were ‘liberal/too liberal’ (12.6% of likely voters) followed by ‘young’ and ‘fresh’ (11.2%).” The poll, which surveyed 539 likely voters and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2%, also found an enthusiasm gap between Calvert and Rollins, with voters who are very excited to cast a ballot preferring the Democrat.