California 22nd District Voter Guide: Valadao and Villegas on Health Care and Immigration
Two candidates are on the Nov. 3 ballot in California's 22nd Congressional District, according to the California Secretary of State's certified list of candidates: Republican Rep. David Valadao, listed as "Congressman/Dairy Farmer," and Democrat Randy Villegas, listed as "Teacher/Business Owner." Under California's top-two system, they advanced from the June primary. The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares where they stand on health care and immigration.
The district is in the southern San Joaquin Valley around Bakersfield. Valadao was reelected in 2024 with 53.4 percent of the vote, according to Wikipedia's summary of the results, and he has won six of the last seven elections there, NPR reported. California redrew its congressional map for 2026.
Why Health Care and Immigration Are Issues in California's 22nd District
The Cook Political Report rates the race a Toss Up on its House ratings page, updated Oct. 23, 2026. Inside Elections also rates it a Toss-up as of Oct. 1, while Sabato's Crystal Ball (July 16) and Decision Desk HQ (Sept. 25) lean toward a Democratic pickup, according to Wikipedia's ratings table. The only general-election poll listed there, a June survey by Tulchin Research, a Democratic firm, had Villegas at 48 percent and Valadao at 44 percent.
Health care is central to the race. Six in 10 residents of the district are covered by Medicaid, the highest enrollment of any Republican-held seat in the country, NPR reported on Oct. 21. Immigration is also a major issue in a farm district where many residents are immigrants or children of immigrants; both candidates describe themselves as sons of immigrants.
On health care, the TDFP video says Valadao favors market-based care, voted for Medicaid cuts and voted to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits. It says Villegas backs Medicare for All, dental and vision benefits, and price caps on medical procedures and prescription drugs.
On immigration, the video says Valadao voted for more ICE funding and backs a pathway to citizenship and permanent residency for Dreamers. It says Villegas backs secure borders and a path to citizenship, and opposes blanket deportations and added ICE funding.
David Valadao (Republican)
Valadao is a Central Valley dairy farmer and the son of immigrants, according to his campaign.
On health care, Valadao's campaign website says he "believes the best healthcare is a market-based approach to healthcare reform that provides individuals with competitive choices and addresses the needs of those unable to afford healthcare insurance," and that "it is David's priority to ensure your healthcare remains in the hands of you and your doctor, not the federal government." House records show he voted on July 3, 2025, for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the budget law that included Medicaid cuts, and on Jan. 8, 2026, for H.R. 1834, the bill that would extend Affordable Care Act tax credits. Asked by a KFF Health News reporter about constituents who could lose coverage, Valadao said, "I think you are distorting the truth," NPR reported.
On immigration, Valadao's July 2025 vote for the budget law also covered its new immigration enforcement funding. His campaign says he "supports a reasonable and responsible pathway to citizenship for those wishing to enter our country and those already here." In a statement on ICE operations in the Central Valley, he said: "I've supported commonsense solutions that secure our border, uphold the rule of law, and recognize the contributions of hardworking immigrants. That includes creating an earned pathway to legal status for individuals who have established roots in our communities." He added that "hardworking farmworkers who are simply going to work, providing for their families, and contributing to our agricultural economy should not have to live in fear."
Randy Villegas (Democrat)
Villegas, a Kern County educator and auto shop owner, is running for Congress for the first time. He describes himself as the son of immigrants from Mexico.
On health care, Villegas said in a KGET interview: "I want to fight for Medicare for All, to make sure that every single person, every working person across this Valley has access to healthcare." His campaign says he will "fight to cap the price of medical procedures and prescription drugs" and would expand Medicare to cover dental and vision care.
On immigration, Villegas's campaign website says: "The current policies of blanket detention and deportation are unconstitutional and un-American." It adds: "We need a working system that protects our communities while providing a path to citizenship so our undocumented neighbors, friends and coworkers aren't forced to live in the shadows." He has also said "we do need to have secure borders," and he told KGET he would oppose additional ICE funding.
Where to Follow the Candidates
David Valadao: @dgvaladao on X and valadaoforcongress.com. Randy Villegas: @Villegas_CA22 on X and villegasforcongress.com.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. California voters can check their registration and ballot status through the California Secretary of State at sos.ca.gov. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
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Sources: California Secretary of State, certified list of candidates, Nov. 3, 2026 general election: https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2026-general/cert-list-candidates.pdf ; Valadao for Congress, health care: https://valadaoforcongress.com/healthcare/ ; Valadao for Congress, immigration: https://valadaoforcongress.com/immigration/ ; Rep. David Valadao, statement on ICE operations: https://valadao.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4051 ; U.S. House Clerk, roll call 190 (July 3, 2025): https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025190 ; U.S. House Clerk, roll call 11 (Jan. 8, 2026): https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202611 ; Randy Villegas for Congress, immigration: https://www.villegasforcongress.com/issues/immigration-1 ; KGET, one-on-one with Randy Villegas: https://www.kget.com/news/politics/your-local-elections/the-race-for-district-22-a-one-on-one-with-randy-villegas/ ; NPR, A GOP congressman voted to cut Medicaid (Oct. 21, 2026): https://www.npr.org/2026/10/21/nx-s1-6000437/a-gop-congressman-voted-to-cut-medicaid-it-covers-62-of-his-district-can-he-win ; guides.vote, CA-22 voter guide: https://guides.vote/guide/2026-california-ca-22-us-house-voters-guide/ ; Cook Political Report House ratings: https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings ; Wikipedia, 2026 U.S. House elections in California: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_California_(districts_1%E2%80%9326)
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