LOS ANGELES (AP) — Republican Rep. David Valadao has won reelection in California’s 22nd Congressional District in the state's Central Valley farm belt, defeating Democrat Rudy Salas for the second time. Valadao is an anomaly — an elected Republican in a heavily Democratic district in a heavily Democratic state.
Democrats hold a 14-point registration edge in the district, but Valadao has kept a grip on the seat nonetheless. Valadao held the seat from 2013 until 2019, lost it for a term, then won it back in a 2020 rematch with Democrat T.J.
Cox. With control of the House on the line, Valadao's victory moved Republicans within two wins of retaining the gavel, with the tally 216-206 in favor of Republicans as counting continued in a sliver of races across the country. Several toss-up races remained in play in California that could determine which party controls the House next year.
National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Ben Petersen said in a statement that Central Valley voters “picked a farmer who works with both parties to lower inflation, bring water to the Valley and defend their safety.” In a region sometimes called America’s salad bowl for its vast agricultural production, Valadao stressed his efforts to secure more water for farmers and his willingness to work across the aisle, while painting Salas as a tax-and-spend Democrat. “David has ignored partisan bickering and demonstrated his commitment to local priorities,” his campaign said in.