Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Republican Valadao, Democrats Min and Whitesides Win US House Races in California
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 1 week ago on
November 13, 2024

Republican Rep. David Valadao of Kings County defeats Bakersfield's Rudy Salas in the 22nd District race, notching an important victory for the GOP in its battle to retain control of Congress. (GV Wire File)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

LOS ANGELES — 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 a fundraising pitch.

Salas, considered a moderate, called Valadao a Trump follower posing as a centrist. He previously lost to Valadao in 2022.

Whitesides Unseats GOP’s Garcia

Also Tuesday, The Associated Press called another California race, for Democrat George Whitesides, a former NASA chief of staff who had the support of national Democrats. He won a tough race to unseat Republican incumbent Rep. Mike Garcia in California’s 27th Congressional District.

Garcia conceded Monday, saying he had congratulated Whitesides and would ensure a smooth handoff. Whitesides said in a statement that he had spoken with Garcia and thanked him for his service to the district and the nation. He said he would fight in Congress for good jobs and lower household costs.

Whitesides, who is also a former CEO of Virgin Galactic, said during the campaign that he would use his business experience to solve problems. He spotlighted Garcia’s opposition to abortion rights, calling him an extremist.

The last Republican congressman anchored in heavily Democratic Los Angeles County, Garcia, a former Navy pilot who flew over 30 combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, had displayed a surprising ability to beat the odds in a district with an 11-point Democratic registration edge.

The once-conservative 27th District runs through suburbs and high desert north of Los Angeles. Garcia, a supporter of former President Donald Trump with a conservative voting record, first won election campaigning against California’s liberal-leaning government: “I don’t want my country to turn into what my state has become,” he said at the time.

Baugh, a Republican, Concedes to Min

Republican Scott Baugh has conceded in his race against Democrat Dave Min in a Southern California U.S. House district, ending his bid to seize the seat being vacated by Democratic Rep. Katie Porter.

The Associated Press has not yet declared a winner because thousands of ballots have not yet been counted.

In a post on the social media platform X Tuesday night, Baugh said “despite running a strong campaign … that effort is going to come up a little short.”

The 47th District in Orange County, southeast of Los Angeles, was a top target for national Republicans looking to protect and possibly expand the party’s narrow majority in the chamber.

California is known as a liberal protectorate — Democrats hold every statewide office, dominate the Legislature and congressional delegation and outnumber registered Republicans by a staggering 2-1 ratio. Still, Republicans retain pockets of political clout in the Southern California suburbs and vast rural stretches including the Central Valley.

In Southern California’s 49th District, which straddles San Diego and Orange counties, Democratic Rep. Mike Levin beat back a challenge from Republican Matt Gunderson.

 

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

With or Without Lockridge, Can Bulldogs Get Out of Their Own Way to Become Bowl Eligible?

DON'T MISS

Classes for Cannabis? UC Merced Extension Launching Weed Workforce Training

DON'T MISS

This Kitty Seeks a Quiet Home to Call Her Own

DON'T MISS

‘Woke’ Terminology Not Commonly Used by Americans: YouGov Survey

DON'T MISS

FBI Arrested a Man Who’s Been Charged With Planning an Attack on the New York Stock Exchange

DON'T MISS

Shoppers Flock to Clovis for Vallarta’s Grand Opening

DON'T MISS

Thousands of University of California Workers Go on 2-Day Strike Over Wages, Staff Shortages

DON'T MISS

Madera County Shooting Strikes K-9, Investigation Ongoing

DON'T MISS

Republicans on House Ethics Reject for Now Releasing Report on Matt Gaetz

DON'T MISS

Demography Drives Destiny and Right Now California Is Losing

UP NEXT

Classes for Cannabis? UC Merced Extension Launching Weed Workforce Training

UP NEXT

This Kitty Seeks a Quiet Home to Call Her Own

UP NEXT

‘Woke’ Terminology Not Commonly Used by Americans: YouGov Survey

UP NEXT

FBI Arrested a Man Who’s Been Charged With Planning an Attack on the New York Stock Exchange

UP NEXT

Shoppers Flock to Clovis for Vallarta’s Grand Opening

UP NEXT

Thousands of University of California Workers Go on 2-Day Strike Over Wages, Staff Shortages

UP NEXT

Madera County Shooting Strikes K-9, Investigation Ongoing

UP NEXT

Republicans on House Ethics Reject for Now Releasing Report on Matt Gaetz

UP NEXT

Hate Your Instagram Feed? New Reset Feature Enhances User Control

UP NEXT

Senate to Vote on Sanders’ Resolution to Block Arms Sales to Israel

‘Woke’ Terminology Not Commonly Used by Americans: YouGov Survey

1 hour ago

FBI Arrested a Man Who’s Been Charged With Planning an Attack on the New York Stock Exchange

12 hours ago

Shoppers Flock to Clovis for Vallarta’s Grand Opening

12 hours ago

Thousands of University of California Workers Go on 2-Day Strike Over Wages, Staff Shortages

12 hours ago

Madera County Shooting Strikes K-9, Investigation Ongoing

13 hours ago

Republicans on House Ethics Reject for Now Releasing Report on Matt Gaetz

13 hours ago

Demography Drives Destiny and Right Now California Is Losing

13 hours ago

Hate Your Instagram Feed? New Reset Feature Enhances User Control

14 hours ago

Senate to Vote on Sanders’ Resolution to Block Arms Sales to Israel

14 hours ago

Defining Deviancy Down. And Down. And Down.

15 hours ago

With or Without Lockridge, Can Bulldogs Get Out of Their Own Way to Become Bowl Eligible?

Steven Sanchez Sports The team that gave Fresno State the most problems this season wasn’t Michigan, Hawai’i, UNLV, or even Air...

36 minutes ago

36 minutes ago

With or Without Lockridge, Can Bulldogs Get Out of Their Own Way to Become Bowl Eligible?

48 minutes ago

Classes for Cannabis? UC Merced Extension Launching Weed Workforce Training

1 hour ago

This Kitty Seeks a Quiet Home to Call Her Own

1 hour ago

‘Woke’ Terminology Not Commonly Used by Americans: YouGov Survey

12 hours ago

FBI Arrested a Man Who’s Been Charged With Planning an Attack on the New York Stock Exchange

Vallarta Supermarkets in Clovis. November 20, 2024. (GV Wire/Jahz Tello)
12 hours ago

Shoppers Flock to Clovis for Vallarta’s Grand Opening

12 hours ago

Thousands of University of California Workers Go on 2-Day Strike Over Wages, Staff Shortages

A suspect and a Madera County Sheriff’s K-9 were injured in an officer-involved shooting during a hit-and-run investigation in Oakhurst. (GV Wire File)
13 hours ago

Madera County Shooting Strikes K-9, Investigation Ongoing

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend