Congressional candidates discuss agriculture, healthcare

By Andrew Rice
The Center Square

Editor’s note: This is the part of a series of stories that are appearing this week on the June 2 primary in California. The stories include comments from candidates who agreed to interviews with The Center Square.

Residents of California’s newly redrawn 22nd Congressional District are considering issues such as healthcare and farming as the June 2 primary approaches.

The district, which is an agricultural area, has taken on a new makeup since the passage of Proposition 50, a measure that altered districts in the state and could potentially add more Democratic representation. Rep. David Valdadao, R-California, currently represents the district, which is centered in the southern San Joaquin Valley. Under the new map, Hispanic representation in the district increased to 74%.

Two Democrats are challenging Valadao’s incumbency: Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, a physician, and college professor Randy Villegas. Under California law, the top two vote getters, regardless of party affiliation, will move on to the Nov. 3 general election.

Villegas, a self-described progressive, has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats, and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-New York, in the competition against Bains and Valadao. Bains, on the other hand, received an endorsement from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, splitting hairs with party leaders as the primary nears.

“They would not be coming into this race if they believe that my opponent could win on her own,” Villegas told The Center Square. “We cannot win this election by trading one corrupt representative who sold out our communities for another.”

Valadao leads the fundraising pack with more than $2.9 million, according to most recent Federal Election Commission filings. Villegas follows with $1.3 million, and Bains has $1.1 million.

The Democratic Majority for Israel political action committee endorsed Bains and reported donating $1,000 to her campaign in March.

“Right now, what we’re seeing is national Democrats reverting back to these corrupt old ways to try and put their entire hand on the scale to influence an election, and that is just outright undemocratic,” Villegas said.

Bains did not respond to The Center Square’s multiple requests for an interview. She has focused her campaign on lowering healthcare costs and has boasted of her record lowering insulin costs in California.

“In Congress, she’ll fight to protect Medicare and Medicaid from devastating cuts, expand access to quality, affordable health care, and ensure seniors, working families and rural Californians can count on the care they deserve,” Bains’ website reads.

Bains introduced legislation to cap insulin costs at $35 per month. It was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October 2025.

Villegas slammed Valadao for his vote in favor of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025. He said the legislation led to dramatic Medicaid cuts throughout California.

“We bring healthcare costs down by fighting for a system of Medicare for all,” Villegas said. “Solutions are not going to come from people like my opponents, Jasmeet Bains and David Valadao, who take hundreds of thousands of dollars from big pharma.”

According to FEC filings, Valadao received $1,000 contribution from Medtronic Inc. PAC, a healthcare technology company.

Valadao did not respond to The Center Square’s multiple requests for an interview. He has called for further protections for the district’s water supply and farmers in his campaign.

“We need to ensure our farmers and ranchers have the tools they need to produce our food supply and that they continue to remain competitive internationally,” Valadao said.

In April, Valadao introduced legislation to reduce administrative barriers for farmers and ranchers to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

“By expanding access to fresh, locally-grown food for lower-income families and opening new markets for producers, we can both strengthen our agricultural economy and improve food access across the valley,” Valadao said.

Villegas called for implementing a “progressive tax structure.” He said he would support lifting the federal gas tax while the U.S. conflict in Iran continues to drive prices up, a measure President Donald Trump also supported.

“Over the long term, we’ve got to make sure that we are taxing billionaires and millionaires and making sure that they’re paying their fair share,” Villegas said.

Villegas called for more support of universal childcare for children under five years old. He also said California should have 0% interest rate policies on houses for homebuyers, similar to Mexico.

“These are not questions of whether we have the money to do these things,” Villegas said. “It’s a question of whether we have the political will and the political courage to fight for these policies, and that’s what our campaign is committed to do.”

Voting centers will be open May 23 to June 1 in Voter’s Choice Act counties and May 30 to June 1 elsewhere. Voters should check with their counties for further details.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 2, Election Day. For more information, go to the Secretary of State’s website, sos.ca.gov. Early election results will be published on the evening of June 2 at www.thecentersquare.com/california.