ICYMI: Randy Villegas Goes On Small Business Tour

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, September 18, 2026
Contact: press@villegasforcongress.com

ICYMI: Randy Villegas Goes On Small Business Tour Focused On Lowering Costs and Making Life More Affordable

Bakersfield, CA– Randy Villegas, candidate for Congress in CA-22, kicked off Latino Heritage Month this week with a tour of Latino owned small businesses to talk about how in Congress he’ll be laser focused on lowering costs and making life more affordable. Randy, co-owner of his family’s auto shop, has made connecting with other small business owners to talk about the issues they face is a top priority. 

At each stop he was joined by Luis A. Miranda Jr, philanthropist, author, producer, activist, and father of award-winning songwriter, actor, producer and director Lin-Manuel Miranda (the creator of HAMILTON). 

You can find additional photos here. 

During the tour, Randy visited a local ice cream shop, a barber shop, and a local convenience store to talk with their owners about the issues that are most impacting their businesses. Each small business owner talked about the issues most important to them, including how tariffs and higher costs are impacting their business, and how Trump and Valadao’s immigration raids have led to lower foot traffic.

“Small businesses contribute to making sure we have a vibrant community and local economy here in the Central Valley,” Randy Villegas said. “As the co-owner of a family run small business, I know firsthand how much hard work goes into keeping a small business running. David Valadao has supported Trump’s chaotic tariffs that have made things more expensive, a war in Iran that’s driven up the cost of fuel impacting deliveries, and immigration policies that have scared off customers. In Congress, my focus will always be on bringing down costs for working people, not giving tax breaks to billionaires or large corporations.”

Additional Background: Miranda Jr., a board member and former chairperson of the Latino Victory Project which seeks to build political power within the Latino community, will be in the 22nd district Central Valley in a must-win race for Democrats’ hopes to retake the majority in November. The tour of small businesses comes as Latinos, who make up a majority of voters in the district, have shown Republican gains among Latino swing voters is diminishing.