Latest news with #JasmeetBains
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
As 2026 pool for CD-22 heats up, Democrat Asm. Dr. Jasmeet Bains touts endorsements
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 to unseat incumbent Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford). The Bains for Congress campaign announced the congresswoman-hopeful has received dozens of notable endorsements, just days after throwing her hat in the ring. One credible name, Kern Democratic State Senator Melissa Hurtado — a fellow moderate Democrat and close political ally. SEIU California endorses Asm. Dr. Jasmeet Bains in congressional run for CD-22 The campaign also said numerous city leaders from Arvin, Shafter, Delano, McFarland and Wasco are backing Bains in her fight to unseat Valadao, following his vote for Republicans' 'Big, Beautiful Bill.' Bains, a family doctor, has pushed her agenda to focus on health care, arguing that by voting for the budget bill, the sitting congressman voted for cuts to federal assistance programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. At the state level, California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, State Treasurer Fiona Ma and State Controller Malia Cohen are behind Bains. California congressmembers have also announced their endorsements. Especially noteworthy is the endorsement by Democratic Congressman Adam Gray, who beat incumbent Republican Rep. John Duarte in the 2024 election by just 187 votes, flipping a purple district. Gray's 13th Congressional District is just as contentious and swing of a district as Valadao's 22nd Congressional District has been, without fail, in each election cycle. SEIU California – a group of local unions of those in health care and public service jobs – as well as IBEW Local 428, a labor union in Bakersfield have endorsed Bains as well. Support for Democratic candidates in pivotal CD-22 race takes shape Democratic infighting has presented itself, as candidates approach the June primary. Fellow Democrat Randy Villegas announced his candidacy for CD-22 in April. Villegas, a school board trustee in Visalia, is known as the more progressive candidate in the race, compared to Bains, who's made a name for herself as a more moderate Democrat in the California Legislature. On Monday, Villegas received the endorsement of a progressive Democratic organization Working Families Party (WFP), further differentiating his campaign and platform from that of Bains'. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Villegas stated he's collected over 4,000 individual donations amounting to over $250,000 of campaign cash. Bains stated she's has raised over $175,000 since her launch. 'This early show of grassroots support is a powerful affirmation of our message: families across the Central Valley want real leadership on health care affordability and a representative with the courage to act,' Bains stated in a press release. It still remains to be seen how Democrats will perform in June, and if any splitting of the blue vote between the two could allow for Valadao to advance to the November general election, taking him one step closer to another term on Capitol Hill. Click here for the full candidate profile of Jasmeet Bains. Click here for the full interview with Jasmeet Bains. Click here for the full candidate profile of Randy Villegas. Click here for the full interview with Randy Villegas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Support for Democratic candidates in pivotal CD-22 race takes shape
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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kern County's 2026 primary candidates: One-on-one interview with AD-35 hopeful Andrae Gonzales
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The 2026 Election is already underway, as candidates throw their names in the ring for local, state and federal offices. Wednesday morning, Bakersfield Ward 2 City Councilmember Andrae Gonzales announced his run for California's 35th Assembly District. 17 Political Reporter Jenny Huh sat down with Gonzales for a candidate profile. It's a political domino effect or ladder, if you will. Gonzales announced Thursday morning he's running to replace Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains in the 35th Assembly District, who, one day prior, announced she's running for Congress. 'My goal is to know the district as well as I know Ward 2, and to be as involved, as engaged as I can,' said Gonzales. The 43-year-old has represented Bakersfield's Ward 2 since 2016, prior to that serving as a board trustee on the Bakersfield City School District. An east Bakersfield native and current Eastchester resident, the Democrat is eyeing the step up to Sacramento, saying the state must do more for cities. 'We know and I know that Sacramento can do so much more to help us address some of the most chronic pressing issues that are facing our neighborhoods for too long,' Gonzales said. 'Kern County has got the short end of the stick. We have our older brothers, the Bay Area and in the L.A. Southern California area, our big brothers who seem to have a seat at the table and kind of nudge us out.' 17's Jenny Huh: 'How do you, amid all the other state legislators and senators that are working to do the same thing for their community, how do you prioritize Kern?' Andrae Gonzales: 'I grew up in a family with five siblings, and I know a thing or two about nudging my way in. I was a middle child.' On his priorities at the state level, Gonzales said, 'Number one is to grow and diversify our local economy. We know that we're facing so many challenges when it comes to with respect to our region and in good paying jobs.' Gonzales has long focused on issues like homelessness, housing affordability and support for small local businesses, all of which he says his 'Downtown Ward' feels especially hard. 'The issues compound themselves, everything from chronic poverty to disinvestment in some of our oldest neighborhoods to homelessness, to a decline in the downtown area and a lack of investment over a period of 30, 40 years,' the assemblymember hopeful explained. AD-35 is a seat Gonzales has eyed before, in the 2024 cycle, though he ultimately bowed out. 'This opportunity with Dr. Bains running for Congress has opened the seat up. And it's an open seat, I want to give it a shot,' Gonzales answered, when asked about his first go at the seat. The work has already started. 17 News joined Gonzales Wednesday evening in Delano, as he met with community leaders. Delano is the second largest city in kern but is also where the incumbent Bains' roots lie. Gonzales said when it comes to his ability to transition to state leadership, he hopes the proof is in the pudding. He highlighted various accomplishments at the city level, especially in helping hundreds of small businesses, including through the B3K Initiative, the Bakersfield College Launch Pad Initiative, and the Prosperity Neighborhood Initiative. Gonzales also highlighted his role in the launching of the Bakersfield community land trust, which offers affordable housing opportunities to those low to moderate income. He credited his late father, who served as a counselor at Bakersfield College — for his public servant mindset, which Gonzales said began at the young age of six. 'I am very serious about getting to work and just focusing on the issues and being very pragmatic and practical in getting things done for people,' Gonzales said. Click here for the full interview with Andrae Gonzales. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Eyeing an opening in the Assembly, Bakersfield Councilman Gonzales announces run for the 35th District
Bakersfield Ward 2 City Councilman Andrae Gonzales announced Thursday he intends to run for the soon-to-be-vacant 35th Assembly District seat. That seat is currently held by Dr. Jasmeet Bains, a Delano Democrat, who on Wednesday announced she would challenge U.S. Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, for his Congressional seat. Bains can't run for both Congress and the Assembly; therefore, regardless of the outcome of the 2026 election, she will no longer be serving in the Assembly. "I am running for State Assembly because I want to help make our communities affordable again, build housing, invest in our schools, and keep communities safe," Gonzales, a Democrat, said in a statement. "I was born and raised in Kern County, and I'm proud to call it home. I would be honored to fight for the future of our county in the State Assembly," he said. Gonzales' announcement came with more than 50 endorsements from current and former community leaders. Included in his list of endorsers are fellow Bakersfield City Council members Eric Aris, Manpreet Kaur and Bob Smith, and Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez. Gonzales was first elected to public office in 2010 when he served on the Bakersfield City School District Board of Education until 2016, when he was elected to the City Council. Since 2010, Gonzales has worked as CEO of local nonprofit Stewards, which helps manage finances for mentally disabled people deemed incapable of doing so on their own by the Social Security Administration. As a councilman, Gonzales is extremely active and has spearheaded a number of initiatives for the city, including the formation of the community land trust. In November, Gonzales was reelected to his Ward 2 council seat by roughly 20 percentage points; his term expires in 2028. Gonzales briefly ran for the 35th District seat in 2023 — challenging Bains — but suspended his campaign before the primary election. This story will be updated. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kern County's 2026 primary candidates: One-on-one interview with CD-22 hopeful Jasmeet Bains
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The 2026 Election is already underway, as candidates throw their names in the ring for local, state and federal offices. Wednesday morning, Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains announced her run for California's 22nd Congressional District. 17 Political Reporter Jenny Huh sat down with Bains for a candidate profile. CD-22 is one of the most contentious house races nationwide, each election cycle, without fail. The big question for 2026 — will Bains be the Democratic candidate? 'This is about being a doctor who's taking her oath to the highest level to protect her community,' said Bains of her decision to throw her hat in the ring. The assemblywoman — just re-elected to her second term in California's 35th Assembly District — is now eyeing the title of congresswoman. 17's Jenny Huh: 'Did you feel like 2026 was really your year to run, just given that health care, your expertise is front and center?' Asm. Dr. Jasmeet Bains: 'I never signed up for this to be a career politician. I'm a doctor. Things lined up in a way that this community needs their doctor. When I first got elected and I brought in about $10 million for the fentanyl task force, one of the things we did with it was open up a detox option for people on Medicaid,' Bains recalled. Speculation of Bains' congressional run began with Congress considering President Donald Trump's Big Beautiful Bill. On the chopping block — billions in funding to health care programs like Medicaid. And in the hot seat — David Valadao, who ultimately voted with his party in passing the bill. 'The beginning of this year, a lot of people were asking me, are you going to run? Are you going to run? And I waited. I waited to see if he would do the right thing and put the I mean, we all have seen David Valadao do that before,' Bains said. Like, she noted, when he was one of 10 House Republicans that voted to impeach Trump. 'When you vote to impeach Trump? That brought nothing back to the district. That didn't put food on the table. That was politics.' Jara standoff: Police feared county supervisor's husband wanted officers to shoot him Bains went as far as to say when Valadao faced off against 2018 Democratic challenger TJ Cox and lost, she had actually voted for the congressman. Cox, after just a term, was charged with fraud. The 40-year-old Bains is a family doctor at the Delano branch of Adventist Health. During the week, Bains is in session in Sacramento. During the weekend, she's back in the district at her clinic. 'I'm a doctor, and this community saw a doctor that put the people over politics over and over and over again,' Bains said. 'I have bucked my own party.' Most notably, Bains in her first term was the lone Democrat to vote against Gov. Gavin Newsom's bill to prevent price-gouging by oil companies and was temporarily stripped of a committee assignment. Recently, in the two special legislative sessions addressing the state's gas prices, she was the only Democrat to oppose both measures, though the bills eventually passed. 'Kern County has been bullied by both sides. It's been bullied by the Republicans and bullied by the Democrats. We need someone that's going to stand up for the Valley,' Bains said. 'Running for Congress, especially in a race like this. It's not easy. You know how ugly it's going to get. I'm going to get beat up from both sides.' CD-22 has a history of being one of the most expensive, contested congressional races nationwide, with the House majority running right through it. It's described as a moderate district — majority Latino, leans Democrat, yet a Republican has been reelected time and time again. 17's Jenny Huh: 'Do you feel like voter turnout is really the problem or has it, quite frankly, just been weak candidates, weak messaging about your party? Asm. Dr. Jasmeet Bains: 'That's a really good question. And it's both. Yes, we have some of the worst voter turnout in the state here, right here. But at the same time, what is it that gets voters to turn out?' Again, it's health care, Bains underscored. She also pointed out that her people have, historically, shown up when it matters. She cited the labor rights movement founded in Delano and the national impact it carried. It all depends on a 'community believing in someone,' she said. 'Instead of doing more to strengthen health care, we cut it by a trillion dollars?' Bains said. 'I stutter saying that because through my eyes as a doctor, I and every doctor in this community, every health care worker, every nurse, every person that's on the frontlines of health care in this community sees what's about to happen.' She also noted a direct impact of the bill when it comes to her work at the state capitol. 'My biggest dream for this community was my UC, the Kern medical school,' Bains said. 'Well within the Big Beautiful Bill is a tax on endowment funds that Congressman David Valadao voted for.' Bains said as the bill made its way through Congress, it was actually her patients that asked her to do something, amid looming health care cuts. Her work about being a party loyalist because the issue of health care will only get worse, the congresswoman hopeful said. The daughter of immigrants from India, Bains was born in Cleveland but grew up in Delano. She's fluent in English, Spanish, Punjabi. She was the first South Asian woman elected to the California Legislature and first Sikh American in California state office. Bains cannot run for CD-22 and reelection to her AD-35 simultaneously. So, she's taking the risk of being out of office, if she did not advance past the June primary or emerge victorious in November. If that's the case, Bains said, she can be found, 'Right back in that clinic in Delano providing care.' Also in the candidate pool is fellow Democrat Randy Villegas — viewed as the more progressive candidate. Click here for the full interview with Jasmeet Bains. Click here for the full interview with Randy Villegas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
