Republican Rep. David Valadao of California’s 22nd District lost his reelection bid to progressive Democrat Randy Villegas on Wednesday, marking the final House Republican who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump to leave office. Villegas secured 66% of the vote compared to Valadao’s 34%, with 57% of ballots counted at the time of the race call.
The defeat comes amid California’s congressional redistricting, which redrew Valadao’s district to favor Democrats. Villegas, a political newcomer, defeated a moderate Democratic state assembly member in the June primary to advance to the general election. The race was one of the most closely watched contests in the nation, with House Speaker Mike Johnson campaigning for Valadao in September, calling it one of the “top three or four races in America” for Republicans aiming to retain the House majority.
Valadao, first elected in 2012, lost his seat in 2018 during a Democratic wave but regained it in 2020. He was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Only two remain in Congress: Valadao and Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington, who is retiring.
Immigration and District Redrawing Drive Outcome
Villegas’s campaign centered on progressive policies, including Medicare for All, addressing affordability, and halting weapons transfers to Israel. His opposition to ICE and criticism of Valadao’s stance on immigration resonated in the district, which is 70% Latino or Hispanic. Valadao defended the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant policies, including a statement he made in a debate where he said, “It is what it is,” when pressed on ICE raids in the Central Valley. Villegas argued that many of those detained lacked criminal records, a claim supported by research.
The district’s redrawing played a key role in the outcome. California’s congressional map was adjusted last year to favor Democrats, a move tied to a broader redistricting push in Texas. The change shifted the district’s political leanings, making it more competitive for Democrats. Villegas’s victory also reflects a broader debate within the Democratic Party over the electability of progressive candidates in swing districts.
Intraparty Democratic Divisions Highlighted
Villegas’s primary win over a moderate Democrat backed by party establishment figures underscored tensions within the Democratic Party. Establishment Democrats intervened in the Central Valley contest to support the moderate candidate, but Villegas’s grassroots campaign prevailed. Polls ahead of the midterms indicated that Trump’s approval ratings among Latino voters were declining, a factor that may have influenced the race.
The contest drew national attention due to its implications for Republican control of the House. Valadao’s loss leaves only two House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump still in Congress, raising questions about the political future of the party’s impeachment critics. Villegas’s win also signals a potential shift in the district’s political alignment, which had been dominated by conservatives for decades.