Two Democrats Battling to Unseat Longtime Central Valley Congressman | KQED

Villegas says he will not accept campaign contributions from corporate PACs and frames his candidacy as committed to communities rather than corporate interests. Dr. Jasmeet Bains, a California state Assemblymember and family doctor, seeks the Democratic nomination for District 22 and presents her medical background as relevant to Congress. She cites her voting record supporting abortion rights and public school funding while also describing instances where she opposed Democratic positions, including redistricting and efforts to restrict oil industry profits. She says she listens to constituents, including voters who supported President Trump. Both candidates criticize Valadao for a 2025 vote to slash Medicaid funding despite high Medicaid enrollment in his district. California also addresses plastic pollution by requiring manufacturers to reduce and manage plastic packaging, with baseline data due June 1 and full recyclability or compostability targeted by 2032.

"“I'm proud to be the only candidate in this race that has never touched a corporate PAC check, and I never will, because I want to be committed to our communities and not corporate interests,” he said."

"“It's time we elect the physician to Congress,” she said. In Sacramento, Bains has voted for Democratic priorities like access to abortion rights and public school funding. But she also bucked her party on some prominent issues, including by voting against Democratic redistricting and a legislative effort to restrict oil industry profits."

"“The people that represent the Valley understand the importance of standing up for the Valley, not their party,” she said. One thing she and Villegas have in common is that they both scold Valadao for his 2025 vote to slash Medicaid funding through the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill, even though his district has one of the highest Medicaid enrollments in the country."

"Since the midcentury, the production of plastics has increased hundreds of times. It's found in remote arctic wildlife and babies' poop. Production is expected to triple in the next 25 years. California is trying to halt the trend. A state bill passed in 2022 makes manufacturers responsible for reducing and cleaning up the plastic they use, including ensuring all of their packaging is recyclable or compostable by 2032. June 1st is a deadline for producers to submit baseline data about their use."

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