Randy Villegas Wins CA-22 Debate, Holds David Valadao Accountable For Career of Selling Out Valley

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Randy Villegas Wins CA-22 Debate, Holds David Valadao Accountable For Career of Selling Out Valley Families

Bakersfield, CA – Following tonight’s debate in California’s 22nd Congressional District between Randy Villegas and David Valadao, Randy Villegas released the following statement:

“I’m a son of the Central Valley, and tonight I told our stories and made it clear that I’m going to finally fight to bring down costs, restore the healthcare Valadao ripped away, and protect our working families,” Randy Villegas said. “David Valadao went to Washington and forgot about the hardworking people of the Central Valley. Gas is more expensive than ever because of a war in Iran that Valadao has rubber stamped. Groceries cost more because of chaotic tariffs that Valado supports. Nearly 70,000 people in our district are about to lose their healthcare while rural hospitals are on track to lose millions because Valadao voted to give tax breaks to billionaires.

The Central Valley needs someone who will stand up for us. Valadao has caved and chosen to side with his party and his corporate and billionaire donors every single time. I’m ready to actually fight and deliver for our communities. Today we showed people that unlike David Valadao, the Central Valley is not for sale.”

Additional Background:

Valadao cast the deciding vote for the largest cut to Medicaid in history after repeatedly promising not to. His vote ripped away coverage from nearly 70,000 people in CA-22, the second highest Medicaid enrollment in the country, and the most of any House Republican.
Valadao’s vote threatened CA-22 hospitals now expecting to see more than $90 million in Medicaid revenue cuts.
Valadao backed the largest SNAP cuts in history, threatening food assistance for more than 60,000 households in his district with 1 in 4 families in CA-22 rely on food assistance every month.
Valadao has now voted nine separate times to protect price-spiking tariff policy raising costs and wreaking chaos on Central Valley farmers, families, and businesses.
Valadao has also rubber-stamped the war in Iran and dismissed its impacts, which have driven up costs for fuel, fertilizer, equipment, and transportation.