Jasmeet Bains made it official Wednesday morning, challenging Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, for Congress.

And you can well expect Medi-Cal to be one of the biggest issues in the campaign.

Bains, D-Delano — a two-term Assemblymember representing Kern County in Sacramento — is a doctor, making health care front and center. She is considered a moderate Democrat who has supported oil interests in the past.

“David Valadao doesn’t work for us — he works for the donors and D.C. insiders who drive up drug prices and fund his campaigns as families here are rationing care,” Bains said in a news release. “In the middle of an affordability crisis in the Central Valley, while our communities struggle to afford care, food, or clean water, Valadao just voted to gut Medi-Cal that provides 68% of the affordable healthcare in our community, jack up prescription drug prices, and cut off food assistance for thousands of hardworking folks. That’s not leadership — that’s betrayal.”

Bains entry comes week after social media posts targeting Valadao and his Medi-Cal vote.

Valadao and the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’

Valadao was one of the initial holdouts on voting for President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”

However, he eventually backed the controversial legislation, which passed the House on a 218-214 vote. All but two Republicans — Brian K. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Thomas Massie of Kentucky — voted in favor, giving it the majority needed to pass against unanimous Democratic opposition.

Democrats estimated that 90,000 residents each in Valadao’s and Rep. Jim Costa’s neighboring district could lose Medi-Cal (California’s version of Medicaid) and Medicare funding.

Congressional District 22 covers areas of Kern, Tulare and Kings counties, including parts of Bakersfield and Hanford.

Valadao continues to defy the election odds and is walking a tightrope in Washington. Despite the 40% to 28% Democratic voting advantage over Republicans in the South Valley seat, Valadao continues to win. He is running for his seventh nonconsecutive term.

Who Else is Running?

Bains becomes the fifth candidate to file in the race. Visalia Unified Trustee and College of the Sequoias professor Randy Villegas, D-Visalia, has been actively campaigning. He appeared at a Bakersfield rally in April with left-wing stalwarts Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont.

Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, is a former Assemblymember who lost to Valadao for Congress in 2022 and 2024.

Eric Garcia, D-Clovis, who ran in a 2022 special congressional election vacated by Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, has also filed.

Valadao raised more than $873,000 for the most recent quarter, with $1.4 million cash on hand. Villegas posted $231,315 raised, with $126,432 cash on hand.

DCCC, NRCC Eye CD 22

The district is a target for Democrats to flip, and Republicans to defend, with both party election arms getting involved.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is running digital ads against Valadao.

“David Valadao sealed his fate by betraying the Central Valley. He lied to his constituents, then turned around and voted to gut health care and food access for tens of thousands of working families — all to hand billionaires another tax break. That’s not leadership, it’s a spineless sellout voters will not forget. In 2026, they’ll hold Valadao accountable by flipping this seat,” DCCC spokesperson Anna Elasser said.

The National Republican Congressional Committee already jumped on Bains.

“Radical Democrat Jasmeet Bains will never represent the values of the Central Valley with her extreme record that sells out hardworking California families. She’s more focused on handing out taxpayer-funded home loans, welfare, and free healthcare to illegal immigrants than defending the very Californians footing the bill. Californians deserve better than a radical activist masquerading as their representative,” NRCC spokesman Christian Martinez said.

Other Fundraising Figures

First-term Congressmember Adam Gray, D-Merced, raised $720,625 for the quarter, with $781,283 cash on hand. He is running for re-election in Congressional District 13, which includes Merced, Madera and Fresno counties.

Businessman Vin Kruttiventi, R-Pleasanton, raised $31,993, with $111,564 cash on hand. He loaned his campaign $700,000. Republican Ceres Mayor Javier Lopez posted a modest $71,370 raised.

Democratic supporters are anticipating a tight race for Gray, as evidenced by recent TV ads in his support.

But, it was Lopez whom the DCCC issued a public statement about.

“As tens of thousands in CA-13 face losing their health care and food assistance, Javier Lopez’s silence is deafening and spineless. Central Valley families will never choose an unserious candidate who goes quiet as they are sold out to billionaires,” Elasser said.

Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, running for his 12th term, posted strong numbers at $256,440 raised for the quarter, and more than $400,000 cash on hand. Veteran and Clovis Veterans Memorial District CEO Lorenzo Rios, R-Clovis, just entered the race and did not post figures.

Congressmembers Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, and Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove, posted six-figure fundraising numbers. Neither has drawn a serious (or any) opponent for 2026.