Republican Congressman David Valadao is seeking another term to represent California ’s 22nd Congressional District, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Valadao secured his place after receiving 40.7% of the votes in California’s June primary, finishing ahead of his Democratic challengers Randy Villegas and Jasmeet Bains. healthcare, agriculture, economy and immigration have taken center stage in his campaign While he will be competing against Democratic nominee Randy Villegas. If re-elected, he would win a seventh term as an incumbent.
He has presented healthcare as another integral part of his campaign. He advocated for lowering healthcare costs, while maintaining access to care for various disadvantaged groups. He calls to strengthen rural hospitals and expand access to healthcare services in California’s Central Valley. Additionally, Valadao has backed certain public safety initiatives. This law requires dating apps to notify users who have interacted with someone removed from the platform for committing fraud activities. This bill aims to identify trade barriers like tariffs and strict labelling that can ultimately hinder trade practices. He argues that removing these trade barriers will help American farmers compete in international markets. He also called for creating more jobs in California’s Central Valley, as well as supporting the reduction of taxes and government regulations on small businesses. He has always stressed upon the importance of agriculture as it provides employment to many people in the region. Valadao backed the US action on Iran , arguing that Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons can pose a direct threat to global security. The resolution aimed to limit President Donald Trump’s authority to continue military action without congressional approval. Beyond the Iran conflict, Valadao has supported using artificial intelligence to make government services faster and more efficient.
Valadao began his political career in 2010 after winning a seat in the California State Assembly, where he served as vice-chair of the Agriculture Committee. In 2012, he was elected to the US House of Representatives in order to represent California’s 21st Congressional District. He served three terms but lost re-election in 2018. He returned to Congress after winning the 2020 election. A member of the House Appropriations Committee, he is one of the few Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump in 2021. In 2025, Valadao voted in favour of President Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation bill, arguing it would protect vulnerable beneficiaries and provide additional funding for rural hospitals. In October 2026, President Trump signed his bipartisan Romance Scam Prevention Act. He also co-sponsored the 988 Crisis Response Act, which aims to fund mobile mental health crisis teams and support 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call centres. In February 2026, he introduced the bipartisan Specialty Crops Reporting on Opportunities and Promotion Act with Democratic Representative Suzanne Bonamici. However, in 2026, Valadao voted against a resolution that called for US forces to withdraw from hostilities with Iran unless Congress authorized military action. In 2025, he reintroduced the Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act, which aims to help veterans receive their benefits faster by using technology. This bill was passed unanimously in September 2025.
Because california’s Central Valley depends heavily on agricultural exports, he went on to include issues like trade and tariffs in his campaign.
The decision drew opposition from Democrats and healthcare advocates, who warned that the changes could affect access to healthcare for low income families and rural communities. Valadao defended his vote, saying he had helped secure more funding for rural hospitals. However, protesters gathered outside his Bakersfield office to oppose the Medicaid cuts, while Democrats criticised his decision.
David Valadao faced criticism in 2025 after voting in favour of President Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation bill, which included cuts to Medicaid . He had an estimated net worth of -$17.5 million, according to a 2018 Los Angeles Times analysis. However, his 2020 financial disclosure reported no liabilities after the family farm went bankrupt. In 2026 , Valadao and Villegas raised $11.5 million for the race, with Valadao bringing nearly $6.1 million.
