David Valadao who essentially voted for the second impeachment of Donald Trump wins the re-election against Democratic state Assemblyman Rudy Salas. Valadao wins back a Congressional Seat in Central Valley comes as a relief for the Republicans.
Both David and Rudy have a background in farm work and Rudy emphasized the same while campaigning. David Valadao a politician and Dairy farmer surpassed Rudy.
Valadao the Republican representative of Central valley was first elected in 2012 and was the perpetual target of the Democrats. He is a moderate Republican who emphasized his support towards immigration reform as against the party. Despite of this the blue wave helped Democrats in 2018. This success was again taken back by Valadao in 2020 by winning back the seat.
This victory didn’t seem to have a long-term effect. Immediately on Jan 6 attack on the Capitol happened which he watched from his Hanford home as he was quarantined with COVID-19 led to Valadao, 45, being one of 10 House Republicans to vote for President Trump’s impeachment.
After control of the House tipped to Republicans last week, Valadao’s win and California’s two remaining congressional races are determining the size of the GOP’s majority.
The race for California’s 22nd Congressional District had long been considered a toss-up. Voters there had sided with Joe Biden over President Trump by 13 percentage points in 2020, making Valadao one of the most vulnerable GOP incumbents in the country.
McCarthy convinced Trump that Valadao was the only Republican who could keep the seat in California’s 22nd district. Trump stayed out of the race accordingly.
Of the 10, four opted to retire rather than run again. Four others, including Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, lost in the primary to a Trump-backed opponent. Valadao and Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington are the only two who will continue to serve in the House.
Two Republicans jumped into the congressional race, citing Valadao’s impeachment vote as their primary motivator. But while Trump endorsed challengers to all other pro-impeachment Republicans who were seeking re-elections, the former president was conspicuously silent in the lead-up to Valadao’s primary.
Democrats had long recruited Salas to run against Valadao as he was the first Latino to serve Bakersfield City Council. Salas, 45 had to contend as other Democrats in the country.
