Support for Democratic candidates in pivotal CD-22 race takes shape

Yahoo

5 days ago

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The 2026 race for the California's 22nd Congressional District is heating up quickly. Last week, Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains (D-Delano) declared her candidacy.
Randy Villegas had already announced he was running for the seat held by Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford), but on Monday, Villegas got the endorsement of a progressive Democratic organization.
Villegas claims he's collected over 4,000 individual donations amounting to over $250,000 of campaign cash.
The Working Families Party, or WFP, officially endorsed Villegas on Monday. They held a press conference outside David Valadao's Bakersfield office.
'I am the only candidate in this race that is corporate free that is not accountable to any corporate special interests,' Villegas said. 'And I think that matters, Democrat or Republican.'
Villegas says the current representation for District 22 is inadequate for the needs of Central Valley residents.
'To say you are working on behalf of our farmworkers, our teachers, our police officers, our firefighters here in the district, and not billionaires in Washington, D.C,' he said.
Villegas is facing Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains in next June's congressional primary. Bains is considered the front runner in the race.
Neel Sannappa, an organizer for the Working Families Party, says Villegas is the candidate with the most grassroots values to compete with the incumbent Republican Congressman.
'We are a third party in the United States, but we are very strategic. A lot of the times, we will endorse Democrats or Independents, most of our endorsees here in California are Democrats. But, they are different. They are Democrats that don't take corporate money, that really advocate to bring politics back to the people, and that's why WFP endorsed Randy here today,' he said.
For voters, Villegas says his platform will offer more progressive solutions to Central Valley's problems, such as housing and the cost of power.
Voters like Johnny Olaguez say those issues and Villegas' lived experience in the Central Valley are what would make Villegas the best choice.
'What drew my attention was he said he was the son of a mechanic. My dad has a trucking company, right, so that's how I grew up as a mechanic as well. So, it's very personal to me,' Olaguez said.
'We need real people. People that represent our values, and the Valley as a whole, not interests of big corporations.'
While the Democrats are shaping up their options, Republicans must weigh who, if anyone, they want to run against fellow GOP incumbent Rep. David Valadao.
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