Democrat Randy Villegas defeats Rep. David Valadao in redrawn California 22nd District

Democrat Randy Villegas, a community college professor, defeated six-term Republican Rep. David Valadao in California's 22nd Congressional District, with the race called on Wednesday afternoon. The Washington Examiner reported Villegas leading 66% to 34% at 1:17 p.m., with 57% of the vote counted. The district, which runs from Bakersfield to just west of Fresno, was redrawn after California voters approved Proposition 50 last year. The Cook Political Report moved the race from "lean Republican" to "toss-up" in November, and it was seen as the state's only true toss-up. Valadao, first elected to Congress in 2013, lost once before, in 2018, and had represented the 22nd District since 2023. He was the last Republican in Congress who voted to impeach President Donald Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Villegas, 31, beat a moderate Democratic assembly member in the June primary. He ran on Medicare for All, affordability, rejecting corporate donations and opposing ICE in a district that is 70% Latino or Hispanic. The district has the second-highest number and rate of Medicaid enrollees of any district, according to KFF. Valadao cast one of the decisive votes for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cut Medicaid. In a separate race, Rep. Kevin Kiley, an independent who left the Republican Party over gerrymandering, was projected to lose in the 6th District to Democrat Richard Pan by nearly 15 points.

The Washington Examiner, the right-leaning outlet here, leads with Valadao's place in Trump-impeachment history and the vote tally. It lists other Republicans who voted to impeach, including Dan Newhouse and Liz Cheney, and frames the loss through redistricting and the Cook and DCCC ratings. The Guardian, on the left, leads with Villegas's progressive credentials and the Medicaid cuts. It stresses the district's poverty, the Medicaid enrollment figures, Valadao's decisive vote on the bill and the $1.7m he had in cash on hand. Both sides agree on the result and on Proposition 50's role. The Intercept adds a distinct angle on ICE and Latino voters, quoting Valadao's "It is what it is" debate remark. The Hill separately covers Kiley's defeat.