Valadao vs. Salas is one of nation’s hottest races. Here’s The Bee’s endorsement

One of the nation’s most watched congressional races in the November election is here in the San Joaquin Valley.

Republican David Valadao, the incumbent from Hanford now representing the 21st District, is seeking re-election to the newly drawn 22nd Congressional District. The number may have changed, but the challenge facing Valadao remains as it always has been for him: How to win in a district where Democrats have the upper hand in party registration over the GOP.

Taking up the Democrats’ mantle is perhaps the strongest candidate Valadao has yet faced: Rudy Salas. An Assemblymember from Bakersfield, Salas has the experience and name recognition most of Valadao’s previous challengers lacked.

While there are key similarities between the candidates — for example, both back the oil industry in Kern County and oppose Gov. Newsom’s mandate for all-electric new vehicles sales by 2035 — Valadao’s recent record in Congress shows his unwillingness to use the powers of government to help raise up those who are struggling.

Salas, while moderate by Democratic standards, would be more amenable to back programs to assist others, thus elevating the region’s prospects.

And the two have major differences on abortion. Valadao opposes it in most cases; Salas believes women should have the right to choose for themselves.

The Bee Editorial Board recommends Salas for Congressional District 22 as the candidate who can better address the needs of its citizens.

Tight race

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has designated the 22nd District race as one of its top “Red to Blue” races in the nation — the goal being to flip it from Republican to Democrat.

The GOP must get only five seats in the House of Representatives to gain the majority. Keeping the 22nd aids that goal. Conversely, Democrats hope to neutralize Republican gains by winning seats such as the 22nd.

Voter registration shows the potential: Of registered voters in the new 22nd District, 43.25% are Democrats, with 26% Republican. No party preference voters come in at 23%.

This played out in the 2020 election. Then, voters in what is the new 22nd chose Democrat Joe Biden over incumbent Republican Donald Trump, 55.3% to 42.3%.

Valadao has overcome the odds before. The only blemish on his stretch of service came in 2018, when he lost to Democrat TJ Cox in Trump’s midterm. Two years later Valadao snatched the seat back from Cox.

Upon his return in January 2021, Valadao was immediately confronted with a challenge: whether to impeach Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Valadao took a courageous stand as one of only 10 Republicans in the House to vote for impeachment. Valadao said that Trump incited the riot that occurred at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

“His inciting rhetoric was un-American, abhorrent, and absolutely an impeachable offense,” Valadao said then. “It’s time to put country over politics.”

Valadao record

In other ways, however, Valadao voted along with his GOP colleagues against a host of Democratic-sponsored bills, all which passed. Here is a summary on key bills as outlined by Ballotpedia.org, with Valadao voting no:

▪ American Rescue Plan Act, which provides economic assistance in response to the COVID pandemic. “Key features of the bill included funding for a national vaccination program and response, funding to safely reopen schools, distribution of $1,400 per person in relief payments, and extended unemployment benefits.”

▪ For the People Act: This elections and ethics bill expands “voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting). It (would also limit) removing voters from voter rolls.”

▪ Equity Act: Prohibits discrimination “on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system.”

▪ Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: It provides funding “for new infrastructure projects and reauthorizations, Amtrak maintenance and development, bridge repair, replacement, and rehabilitation, clean drinking water, high-speed internet, and clean energy transmission and power infrastructure upgrades.”

Key differences on abortion

The Bee Editorial Board asked the candidates this question: If legislation is proposed to make abortion illegal nationally, would you support that?

Valadao said he is pro-life, but that there should be exceptions, such as whether the life of a mother is in danger with a pregnancy, or when pregnancies occur as the result of rape or incest.

Salas said he is one of the co-sponsors of California’s Proposition 1, which seeks to enshrine the right of women to reproductive services such as abortion into the state Constitution. He said getting an abortion should be a woman’s decision alone, made in concert with her family and physician.

Salas for Congress

A member of the Assembly since 2012, Salas’ voting record in Sacramento is ranked as “moderate left” by the CalMatters legislator tracker.

He told The Bee Editorial Board he would have supported the infrastructure bill for its public works emphasis, particularly on fixing aging Valley water systems that farmers rely on. He also seeks to make health care more affordable. Valadao said he could not back the bill because of what he views as red-tape requirements.

Valadao was part of a Republican effort in 2017 to repeal Obamacare’s health coverage for low-income people with a GOP-backed plan; it ultimately got changed in the Senate and failed to advance.

National politics handicappers rate this race as a toss-up. If it is anything like the last two elections, the results won’t be known for weeks.

The Bee Editorial Board respects Valadao as a Republican who is not under Trump’s sway. But he too often remains tied to the party line, which is not going to benefit the people of the 22nd District.

Salas is more in tune with using government for good, and he should become the 22nd District’s new representative.

This story was originally published October 13, 2022 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Valadao vs. Salas is one of nation’s hottest races. Here’s The Bee’s endorsement."