Democrat Randy Villegas, a community college professor with major progressive endorsements, has won the race for California’s 22nd congressional district. He unseats the six-term, incumbent Republican congressman, David Valadao, in a district that was considered the only true toss-up across the state of California after being redrawn under Proposition 50.Valadao and Villegas are both Central Valley natives from immigrant families with working class or agricultural ties, roots that reflect many of the constituents in California’s 22nd district, which stretches from Bakersfield to just west of Fresno.But similarities between the two seemingly end there.
They took starkly different approaches to winning in what is one of the country’s poorest congressional districts, and was, this year, home to the state’s most competitive election.Residents said healthcare and rising costs were top of mind. The district has the second-highest rate and number of Medicaid enrollees of any congressional district, per KFF.
The impact constituents are feeling from cuts to the federal health insurance program, passed last year via the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, was one of Villegas’s major talking points against Valadao, who cast one of the bill’s decisive votes.Corporate financing was another major factor in this election. Valadao ended with $1.7m in cash on hand, per federal finance reports.
OpenSecrets reported he has received over twice as much money from Pacs than the average House candidate.Villegas, on the other hand, vowed not to take corporate campaign donations, running a platform that repeatedly emphasized the power of the working class. That earned him the endorsement of major progressive figures like Bernie Sanders, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Dolores Huerta.More details soon …