Key facts
- Villegas, a community college professor, unseated six-term Republican David Valadao in California's 22nd district.
- The district was redrawn under Proposition 50 and was considered California's only true toss-up.
- Valadao ended with $1.7 million in cash on hand, per federal finance reports.
- OpenSecrets reported Valadao received over twice as much from PACs as the average House candidate.
- Villegas vowed not to take corporate campaign donations and was endorsed by Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Dolores Huerta.
- The district has the second-highest rate and number of Medicaid enrollees of any congressional district, per KFF.
Democrat Randy Villegas, a community college professor, won the race for California's 22nd congressional district, unseating six-term Republican congressman David Valadao. The district was considered the only true toss-up in California after being redrawn under Proposition 50.
Valadao and Villegas are both Central Valley natives from immigrant families with working class or agricultural ties. The district stretches from Bakersfield to just west of Fresno and is one of the country's poorest congressional districts.
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. Villegas made the impact of cuts to the federal health insurance program, passed last year via the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a major talking point against Valadao, who cast one of the bill's decisive votes.
Corporate financing was another major factor. Valadao ended with $1.7 million in cash on hand, per federal finance reports, and OpenSecrets reported he received over twice as much money from PACs as the average House candidate. Villegas vowed not to take corporate campaign donations and emphasized the working class, earning endorsements from Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Dolores Huerta.