Third time the charm for Salas? Filing points to hopes for 2026
Neither candidate responded to requests for comment Friday, but Democratic-aligned campaigning targeting Valadao's seat started last month.
At a Democratic town-hall meeting in Bakersfield Thursday, party officials talked about the importance of flipping California's 22nd District in 2026, now held by Valadao, but state party chairman Rusty Hicks declined to name a candidate when speaking with The Californian.
Salas was present at Thursday's meeting but did not give any public remarks.
The primary election for the 22nd District isn't until June 2026 and candidate filing with the state doesn't actually open until December. But filing with the FEC does allow candidates to begin fundraising.
The top two vote-getting candidates will move on to the general election in November 2026, regardless of party affiliation.
California's 22nd district is one of the most competitive in the country and campaigns for both parties bring in significant out-of-state support.
According to FEC data, Salas' campaign spent $2.9 million in 2022 and $6.3 million in 2024. Valadao's campaign spent $3.8 million in 2022 and $4.9 million in 2024.
Valadao has held his seat since 2014, with the exception of 2019-21, when he was ousted for a term by Democrat T.J. Cox.
One of the groups helping to organize a pressure campaign on Valadao's seat, the Fight for Our Health coalition, is also targeting two other California Republican districts, those of Reps. Young Kim of Anaheim Hills and Ken Calvert of Corona.
Republicans hold a razor-thin majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats are hoping to flip red districts in blue California to help take back the House in 2026.
On Thursday, Los Angeles-area Rep. Jimmy Gomez visited Bakersfield, the first of two town hall events by California Democrats to build support for 2026.
On Sunday, Santa Clara Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna will hold a town-hall event at 11:30 a.m. Sunday at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Community Center before going on to visit Young and Calvert's districts as well.
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