Valadao loses House seat in district where six in 10 residents have Medicaid

Rep. David Valadao, a Republican from California's Central Valley, lost his bid for re-election in the 22nd District. The Associated Press called the race for Democrat Randy Villegas early on Wednesday, Nov. 4, the day after Election Day ².

In the latest California results cited that evening, Villegas had 66 percent of the vote, or 54,337 ballots, to Valadao's 34 percent, or 27,480 ². Those totals are not final, and the margin could change as more ballots are counted. Official results are to be certified Dec. 11 ².

A district built on Medicaid

Medicaid is the government health program for low-income people, and it also helps pay for nursing home care for many older Americans. About six in 10 residents of Valadao's district are on it, the highest share of any Republican-held House seat in the country ³.

An estimated 60,000 people in the district are expected to lose coverage under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the 2025 law Valadao voted for ³. Much of that law's federal health spending cuts fall on Medicaid ³.

From Channel GOPEl-Sayed: Medicaid cuts timed for after midtermsAbdul El-Sayed · 190 plays · captioned, with the source named

In an October interview, Valadao was asked what he would tell residents who could lose coverage. He did not answer directly ³.

I think you are distorting the truth.

Villegas made reversing the law's changes a top priority ².

I want to make sure we're doing everything we can to stop those cuts.

What else was going on

Medicaid was not the only factor. California redrew its voter maps, and Valadao had been seen as a toss-up in a seat each party had booked more than $16 million in ads to fight over ³. Valadao was first elected in 2012, lost in 2018 and was re-elected in 2020 ⁴.

His loss is part of a wider Democratic wave. Decision Desk HQ, an election forecaster, projects Democrats will hold 259 House seats and Republicans 176, the biggest Democratic majority since the 1990s. That count includes 18 races still unprojected ¹.

Valadao's campaign did not respond to requests for comment and had issued no statement since before polls closed on Election Day, according to the report ².

Why it matters

That matters because it shows what happened when a Republican in a district full of Medicaid enrollees stood by a vote to cut the program. Voters there had a clear stake. Families, including older relatives who depend on Medicaid for long-term care, can feel these changes directly.

What happens next is up to Congress. Villegas will join a House Democratic majority that has talked about reversing the cuts, though Republicans still control the Senate until January and the White House ¹.

The Record

1. Nov 6, 2012Valadao was first elected to Congress; he lost in 2018 and won the seat back in 2020 ⁴.
2. Oct 21, 2026Valadao told an interviewer 'I think you are distorting the truth' when asked about residents losing coverage ³.
3. Nov 4, 2026AP called California's 22nd District for Democrat Randy Villegas; later counts showed him ahead 66% to 34% ².

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<h2>Valadao loses House seat in district where six in 10 residents have Medicaid</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Kitchen-Table Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/valadao-loses-house-seat-in-district-where-six-in-10-residents-have-medicaid">The GOP Files</a> on Monday, November 9, 2026.</em></p> <p>Rep. David Valadao, a Republican from California&#39;s Central Valley, lost his bid for re-election in the 22nd District. The Associated Press called the race for Democrat Randy Villegas early on Wednesday, Nov. 4, the day after Election Day .</p> <p>In the latest California results cited that evening, Villegas had 66 percent of the vote, or 54,337 ballots, to Valadao&#39;s 34 percent, or 27,480 . Those totals are not final, and the margin could change as more ballots are counted. Official results are to be certified Dec. 11 .</p> <h2>A district built on Medicaid</h2> <p>Medicaid is the government health program for low-income people, and it also helps pay for nursing home care for many older Americans. About six in 10 residents of Valadao&#39;s district are on it, the highest share of any Republican-held House seat in the country .</p> <p>An estimated 60,000 people in the district are expected to lose coverage under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the 2025 law Valadao voted for . Much of that law&#39;s federal health spending cuts fall on Medicaid .</p> <p>In an October interview, Valadao was asked what he would tell residents who could lose coverage. He did not answer directly .</p> <blockquote><p>I think you are distorting the truth.</p><p>&mdash; David Valadao, U.S. Representative (R-Calif.), defeated incumbent</p></blockquote> <p>Villegas made reversing the law&#39;s changes a top priority .</p> <blockquote><p>I want to make sure we&#39;re doing everything we can to stop those cuts.</p><p>&mdash; Randy Villegas, Democrat, winner of California&#39;s 22nd District</p></blockquote> <h2>What else was going on</h2> <p>Medicaid was not the only factor. California redrew its voter maps, and Valadao had been seen as a toss-up in a seat each party had booked more than $16 million in ads to fight over . Valadao was first elected in 2012, lost in 2018 and was re-elected in 2020 .</p> <p>His loss is part of a wider Democratic wave. Decision Desk HQ, an election forecaster, projects Democrats will hold 259 House seats and Republicans 176, the biggest Democratic majority since the 1990s. That count includes 18 races still unprojected .</p> <p>Valadao&#39;s campaign did not respond to requests for comment and had issued no statement since before polls closed on Election Day, according to the report .</p> <h2>Why it matters</h2> <p>That matters because it shows what happened when a Republican in a district full of Medicaid enrollees stood by a vote to cut the program. Voters there had a clear stake. Families, including older relatives who depend on Medicaid for long-term care, can feel these changes directly.</p> <p>What happens next is up to Congress. Villegas will join a House Democratic majority that has talked about reversing the cuts, though Republicans still control the Senate until January and the White House .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/valadao-loses-house-seat-in-district-where-six-in-10-residents-have-medicaid">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/valadao-loses-house-seat-in-district-where-six-in-10-residents-have-medicaid.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Hill, “Where all 18 unprojected House races stand” (2026-11-09). thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6209113-unprojected-house-midt
2. Yahoo News, “Ending a bitter campaign, AP declares Villegas winner in 22nd District” (2026-11-04). yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/ending-bitter-campaign-ap-d
3. WUNC (KFF Health News), “A GOP congressman voted to cut Medicaid. It covers 62% of his district. Can he win?” (2026-10-21). wunc.org/2026-10-21/a-gop-congressman-voted-to-cut-medicaid-
4. Ballotpedia News, “Randy Villegas (D) defeated incumbent David Valadao (R) in California's 22nd Congressional District” (2026-11-06). news.ballotpedia.org/2026/11/06/randy-villegas-d-defeated-in

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