Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) has advanced to the general election for California's 22nd Congressional District following the primary election held on Tuesday. As of early Wednesday morning, with approximately 54% of the votes counted, Valadao received 44.5% of the vote, totaling 17,763 votes, according to the Associated Press. He will face either Randy Villegas or Jasmeet Bains, both Democrats, who are competing for the second spot to advance to the general election. Villegas currently has 29.8% of the votes with 11,894 votes, while Bains has 25.6% with 10,222 votes.
The top two candidates, regardless of party affiliation, will move on to the general election. Valadao, a moderate Republican first elected in 2012, has faced challenges in a district where Democrats hold a significant voter registration advantage. He previously lost his seat in 2018 but regained it in 2020. Valadao has criticized mid-decade redistricting efforts led by Governor Gavin Newsom, calling them 'despicable.' He expressed his concerns about Newsom's focus on political issues rather than governance.
Both Villegas and Bains are children of immigrants, with Bains being a physician and the first South Asian woman elected to the California legislature. Villegas has received endorsements from prominent progressive figures, including Senator Bernie Sanders, and has run a grassroots campaign focused on local issues such as rising living costs and healthcare funding.
