Democrat Randy Villegas wins California's 22nd District House seat

Democrat Randy Villegas, a community college professor, has won the race for California's 22nd congressional district in the US House of Representatives. He defeated Republican incumbent David Valadao, who had held the seat for six terms. After being redrawn under Proposition 50, California's ballot measure on new district boundaries, the district was regarded as the only genuine toss-up in the state, which makes the result significant in the contest for House seats.

Both candidates are natives of the Central Valley from immigrant families with working-class or agricultural ties, a background shared by many of their constituents. The district stretches from Bakersfield to just west of Fresno. Beyond those similarities, the two took sharply different approaches to winning. The district is one of the poorest in the country and was home to the state's most competitive election this year.

Healthcare and living costs

Residents said healthcare and rising costs were uppermost in their minds. According to KFF, the district has the second-highest rate and number of Medicaid enrollees of any congressional district. Medicaid is the federal health insurance programme. Residents are feeling the effect of cuts to it passed last year through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and this was one of Villegas's main arguments against Valadao, who cast one of the bill's decisive votes.

Campaign finance

Corporate funding was another important factor. Federal finance reports show Valadao finished with $1.7m in cash on hand. OpenSecrets reported that he received more than twice as much money from political action committees (Pacs) as the average House candidate.

Villegas pledged not to accept corporate campaign donations and ran a platform that repeatedly stressed the power of the working class. He was endorsed by prominent progressive figures including Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Dolores Huerta.

This story is being updated.