We endorse an underdog for California’s 22nd Congressional District | Opinion

California’s 22nd Congressional District has new boundaries since voters approved Proposition 50 in November, the ballot measure allowing state congressional districts to be redrawn to benefit more Democrats.

The 22nd now includes the cities of Huron and Riverdale, while continuing to cover portions of Tulare, Porterville, Wasco, and Bakersfield. It is home to some of the hardest-working people in California: farmers who keep America fed and nurses who work tirelessly to care for our communities.

These residents deserve a representative who not only understands their experiences, but is committed to honoring the dedication they show every day.

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For these reasons, the McClatchy Media’s California editorial board endorses Democrat Randy Villegas, a professor of Political Science at College of the Sequoias and a trustee for the Visalia Unified School District Board of Education.

A champion for low-wage workers

Villegas grew up in a working-class immigrant family, becoming the first in his family to attend college. He earned a Ph.D. in politics with a designated emphasis in Latin American and Latino Studies from UC Santa Cruz. He also received undergraduate degrees from California State University, Bakersfield.

His campaign is rooted in service over personal ambition. Villegas argues that his lived experience in one of the nation’s poorest districts uniquely qualifies him to fight for working families who have been let down by both parties.

The incumbent, Republican David Valadao, vowed he would not cut Medicaid in a Medicaid-dependent district. He effectively did so by casting his vote in support of H.R. 1, President Donald Trump’s controversial budget bill that slashes the social safety net while providing tax cuts to the wealthy.

It’s not surprising that Valadao did not participate in an endorsement interview with us. Nor did Democrat Jasmeet Bains.

Villegas is the embodiment of the Central Valley’s values. In contrast, Bains and Valadao represent a status quo shaped by complacency.

“I’m running for Congress not because I want to be something, but because I want to do something,” Villegas said. “I want to fight for our working families who’ve been left behind by politicians who are eager to sell them out to the highest bidder.”

At 30, Villegas reflects a growing generational divide within the Democratic Party. Like many young progressives, he is frustrated by the party’s lack of action on crucial issues such as universal healthcare and the war in Gaza.

Bains, a member of the California Assembly, was the only Democrat in the Legislature to vote no on sending Prop. 50 to state voters. She’s worse than a Democratic outsider; she’s out of touch with the party’s views. Villegas is not.

“When I get to Congress, I want to pass a bill to ban corporations from buying single-family homes, because our people should be allowed to buy those homes, not corporate interests,” Villegas said. “We also need to focus on building affordable housing. I do think the solutions have to be twofold.”

There is room for Villegas to deepen his expertise on certain policy issues, but he brings a fresh perspective. He believes in hard work and family. He has far more in common with his district than his opponents.

This story was originally published May 3, 2026 at 8:00 AM with the headline "We endorse an underdog for California’s 22nd Congressional District | Opinion."