Republican Rep. David Valadao is defending his vote for the Republicans' One Big Beautiful Bill Act in a Central Valley, California, race that could help decide who controls the House. He faces Democrat Randy Villegas on Nov. 3. 1
The law is expected to cut Medicaid spending by more than $900 billion through 2034, according to KFF Health News. It tightens eligibility rules and reduces federal money to states. About 6 in 10 constituents in the district are enrolled in Medicaid. 1
What Valadao says
In an Oct. 6 televised debate, Valadao said "there are no actual cuts" to Medicaid. He said he was among the negotiators who secured the law's work requirements. Those require certain adults to prove they are working or doing job training or volunteering. 1
It’s not an actual cut
At a campaign event, Valadao repeatedly declined to answer KFF Health News' questions about his vote and its effect on constituents' coverage. He said, "I think you are distorting the truth." 1
From Channel GOPOssoff ties Collins' Medicaid vote to closed maternity unitJon Ossoff · 9.9K plays · captioned, with the source named
What Democrats and constituents say
Villegas, a political science professor backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, supports Medicare for All, a single government health plan. He says the vote will take away health care from Valley families. Many working-age adults may not meet the new work rules and twice-a-year eligibility checks, which start after the midterms. 1
The system that we have now, we pay twice as much as other countries across the world, despite the fact that we have worse healthcare outcomes
The Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank, estimates that about 60,000 more residents of the district could lose coverage by 2034. That counts the law and the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act plans. Researchers estimate more than 2 million Californians statewide could lose coverage, and the state could lose about $30 billion a year. 1
NBC News reported in 2025 that the district has the highest share of Medicaid recipients and food stamp households of any House district held by a Republican. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects the law will leave 10 million more people uninsured by 2034. 2
At the time, Valadao said: "I voted for this bill because it does preserve the Medicaid program for its intended recipients." NBC reported he had said days before final passage that he could not support the Senate version, then voted for it unchanged. 2
The politics
Democrats have outnumbered Republicans in registration here by double digits since 2012, yet Valadao has won six of seven elections. He lost in 2018, when Democrats targeted his votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act. California redrew its congressional map last year, and his seat now leans more toward Democrats. 1
Republicans and Democrats have each booked more than $16 million in ads in the district through Election Day, according to AdImpact. A September KFF poll found voters trust Democrats over Republicans on health care costs by 2 to 1. 1
That matters because the voters Valadao must win back are the ones the law touches. Seslie Maese, a registered Republican who is undecided, said he "went back on his pledge" is what she has heard, and called a politician who says one thing and does another a deal-breaker. 1
The Record
- NBC News reports Valadao cast a critical vote for the tax and spending law after saying he could not support the Senate version 2
- Valadao attends a $1,000-a-ticket fundraiser with House Speaker Mike Johnson in Bakersfield 1
- In a televised debate, Valadao says "there are no actual cuts" to Medicaid 1
- Valadao faces Villegas in the general election 1
Sources
- KFF Health News, “GOP Congressman in California Swing-District Race Defends Vote for Medicaid Cuts” (2026-10-23). kffhealthnews.org/elections/valadao-villegas-california-22nd
- NBC News, “Valadao backlash in swing district after voting for Medicaid cuts” (2025-07-26). nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/david-valadao-backlash-sw
Found an error? Tell the newsroom. Corrections are noted at the top of the story.
