Democrats Back Randy Villegas With $8 Million in CA-22 as Progressives Test Valadao
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 7
Democrats Back Randy Villegas With $8 Million in CA-22 as Progressives Test Valadao
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 7
Summary
$8 million-plus in planned House Majority PAC ads has turned Randy Villegas into Democrats’ latest bid to unseat Rep. David Valadao in California’s toss-up 22nd District.
Villegas reached the general election by beating a DCCC-backed primary rival, forcing party leaders to embrace one of only three Democrats this cycle who won despite the committee’s opposition.
Valadao remains a top target because of his 2025 vote for the One Big Beautiful Bill, which cut about $1 trillion from Medicaid and food aid; 64% of district residents use Medicaid and 26% receive food assistance.
Republicans still see Villegas as vulnerable over his unapologetically progressive platform, and the Congressional Leadership Fund also plans to spend nearly $8 million to defend Valadao.
The race will test whether a progressive message can flip a heavily Latino district that Democrats dominate in registration but Trump carried in 2024 and Valadao won by 7 points.