Fresno area Rep. David Valadao holds Trump to his word about not cutting Medicaid | Opinion

Republican Congressmember David Valadao has withstood more than $9.3 million spent by his Democratic opponent the last two election cycles to survive in a heavily Latino (73.2%) district where Democrats enjoy a 5-plus registration edge.

His 2024 victory assured Republicans control of the House, but it’s a slim advantage with 220 seats (currently 219 until Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz’s seat is filled). That means the GOP can only afford to lose one member to pass legislation.

The Hanford dairy operator could cement his hold on the 22nd Congressional District if he defies his party and holds firm against a House budget resolution that seeks to make substantial cuts to Medicaid and other safety-net programs for poor Americans. The House GOP is considering an $880 billion cut to Medicaid over 10 years that can be used to deliver a $4.5 trillion tax cut over the next decade to benefit the rich.

President Donald Trump, speaking to FOX news host Sean Hannity earlier this week, said Medicaid cuts won’t be needed. “Medicare, Medicaid, none of that stuff is going to be touched,” he said. “We won’t have to.”

Just one day later, however, Trump expressed support for the Republican plan to slash Medicaid.

Valadao, in comments made Thursday, is holding Trump to his word about not cutting Medicaid. “I think that goes against what he’s said and has been saying to members, both privately and publicly,” he told Politico on Thursday.

“Until I know exactly what’s going to be in (the budget resolution), or what this is going to look like or at least have some pretty good idea, I’m really concerned with this,” he told The Hill. “But it sounds like the president and myself and others are on the same page, we don’t want to touch Medicaid. We want to make sure that we’re all on the same page. If he’s on the same page as me, that makes me feel a little bit better about it.”

Valadao was among eight Republicans who wrote a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson urging the GOP not to make those cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, nor to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Pell grants.

“Slashing Medicaid would have serious consequences, particularly in rural and predominantly Hispanic communities where hospitals and nursing homes are already struggling to keep their doors open,” the lawmakers and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus wrote.

Sixty-seven percent of residents in Valadao’s district — which includes most of Kings County and parts of Kern and Tulare Counties — rely on Medicaid. Valadao’s neighboring colleagues, Reps. Jim Costa and Adam Gray, both Democrats, also represent districts with high Medicaid recipient rates, at 64% and 59%, respectively. That’s more than 1.5 million residents who rely on Medicaid in these ag-rich districts.

California’s Medi-Cal program gets its primary funding from Medicaid, so the GOP’s proposed cuts would have a drastic impact on the state.

“I don’t know where they’re going to get the cuts,” Valadao told Politico. “Obviously, Medicaid and SNAP are ones that I’m very much watching.”

We encourage Valadao to stay firm against proposed cuts to Medicaid that would upend access to health care for the 22nd District and neighboring districts that have some of the country’s highest poverty rates.

Valadao has bucked Trump before

Valadao is not a yes man for Trump.

The 47-year-old was one of 10 Republicans who supported Trump’s second impeachment. In a televised debate during his 2024 campaign, Valadao refused to say who he would vote for in the presidential race.

“Any mention of who I’m voting for is gonna be perceived as an endorsement, and so I’ve chosen to run my race, focus on the 22nd Congressional District and not get involved in the presidential race,” he said.

Two of Valadao’s most recent bills involve health care, so he is aware of how big a role the issue plays in his district. One bill addresses healthcare workforce shortages in rural and underserved communities. The other would establish a permanent advisory committee within the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow for direct and regular communication with the secretary on behalf of disabled veterans.

Those are noble bills that deserve support. Much like the need to keep Medicaid intact.

This story was originally published February 20, 2025 at 11:22 AM.