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D Democratic · U.S. House 22, California · Nov 3, 2026

Randy
Villegas

Democratic challenger Randy Villegas, a professor and school board trustee, is running against incumbent Rep. David Valadao in CA-22.

Researched checked 6 d ago
sources
21
positions
9
endorsements
13
villegasforcongress.com ↗(opens in a new tab) X(opens in a new tab)TikTok(opens in a new tab)Facebook(opens in a new tab)Instagram(opens in a new tab)
Opponent David G. Valadao R Compare race →

Background

Randy Villegas is the Democratic candidate challenging incumbent Republican Rep. David Valadao in California's 22nd Congressional District in the November 3, 2026 general election. 1320 Raised in Bakersfield, he now calls Visalia home and serves as a Trustee Area 6 board member for Visalia Unified School District, having been appointed in December 2021 and subsequently elected in November 2022. 1713 He is also a tenure-track political science professor at College of the Sequoias and co-owns a Bakersfield auto repair shop with his father. 205

Villegas holds an associate's degree from Bakersfield College (2015), a bachelor's degree from CSU Bakersfield (2017), and a master's degree from UC Santa Cruz (2020), and is identified as a Ph.D. candidate in politics at UC Santa Cruz; his campaign states he became the first in his family to earn a Ph.D. 175 Before entering politics, he worked as a community organizer, journalist, research assistant, and marching-band and drumline coach. 5

Villegas launched his congressional campaign in April 2025, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) later invested in the race. 1316 He has received endorsements from organizations including the Human Rights Campaign PAC and Giffords Law Center. 158

At a glance

Party
Democratic
Running for
U.S. House · District 22, California
Election
Nov 3, 2026
Current office
Visalia Unified School District Trustee, Area 6; Political Science Professor, College of the Sequoias
Website
villegasforcongress.com(opens in a new tab)

Where they stand

Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.

Timeline

  1. Oct 12
    debate
    Villegas and Valadao clash again in Central Valley debate over gas prices and war in Iran

    Coverage dated October 12 described another clash between Villegas and Valadao, with gas prices and the war in Iran among the key issues debated.

    Valadao and Villegas Clash in Central Valley Debate over Gas Prices, War in Iran · Oct 12, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  2. Oct 9
    news
    Cook Political Report rates CA-22 a toss-up as Villegas and Valadao offer contrasting agendas

    GV Wire reported that Cook Political Report rated the CA-22 race a toss-up, reflecting the competitive nature of the contest between Villegas and Valadao heading into November.

    Villegas and Valadao Offer CA-22 Voters Distinctly Different Agendas · Oct 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  3. Oct 7
    endorsement
    AFGE, the largest federal employee union, endorses Villegas for CA-22

    The American Federation of Government Employees announced its endorsement of Villegas. Previously reported endorsements include Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ro Khanna, the Working Families Party, the National Education Association, and the California Teachers Association.

    Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses 2 Additional ... · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  4. Oct 6
    debate
    Villegas and Valadao clash in only scheduled CA-22 debate on economy, immigration, and water

    Villegas and Valadao met in a Nexstar-hosted televised debate in Bakersfield. They sparred over the economy, health care, immigration, water, foreign policy, and data-center development. Villegas called for humane immigration reform with a path to citizenship and accused Valadao of taking over $200,000 from big tech.

    David Valadao and Randy Villegas spar over economy ... · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  5. Oct 5
    news
    Sen. Bernie Sanders campaigns with Villegas in Bakersfield on 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour

    Sanders appeared alongside Villegas in Bakersfield on October 4–5 as part of his 'Fighting Oligarchy' tour. Villegas criticized Valadao's vote for the Republican budget bill, called for single-payer health care, a path to citizenship, and pledged not to accept corporate PAC money.

    Sen. Bernie Sanders campaigns for Randy Villegas in Bakersfield as CA-22 race intensifies · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  6. Oct 1
    news
    Inside Elections shifts CA-22 to toss-up as Villegas builds momentum, per DCCC

    The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced that Inside Elections moved the CA-22 rating toward Democrats, classifying the race as a toss-up. The announcement came from the DCCC and is not a poll.

    RATINGS CHANGE: Inside Elections Shifts CA-22 to Toss-Up as ... · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  7. Jun 15
    poll
    Tulchin Research poll shows Villegas leading Valadao 48–44 among likely CA-22 voters

    A Tulchin Research survey of 800 likely voters conducted June 15–21 found Villegas at 48% and Valadao at 44%. This is the only publicly listed head-to-head poll found in available sources and predates the October contest.

    Randy Villegas Polls: Polling Average and Latest Surveys · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
  8. Jun 2
    news
    Villegas advances to general election after finishing second in CA-22 top-two primary

    Villegas finished second in California's top-two primary with 32.36%, behind incumbent David Valadao (40.74%) and ahead of Democratic Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains (26.90%), advancing to the November general election.

    15 Races Where Democratic Socialists Can Reshape California Politics · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Endorsements

  • Working Families Party, United Auto Workers, National Education Association, United Farm Workers, and Latino Victory Fund organization
    Reported endorsements; sources do not establish a specific announcement date for each. villegasforcongress.com
  • Reps. Ro Khanna, Linda Sánchez, Robert Garcia, Greg Casar, and Maxwell Frost; Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria; Bakersfield Vice Mayor Manpreet Kaur; labor leader Dolores Huerta official
    Reported supporters listed by the campaign and local reporting; no specific announcement date established for each. villegasforcongress.com
  • American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) union
    The union announced its endorsement of Villegas for CA-22. afge.org · Oct 7, 2026
  • SEIU California union
    The campaign announced the endorsement, noting SEIU California represents SEIU local unions across the state, including in the Central Valley. villegasforcongress.com · Sep 14, 2026
  • Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Adam Schiff, Sen. Alex Padilla, Rep. Pete Aguilar, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren official
    Villegas's campaign announced the endorsements following the primary. villegasforcongress.com · Jun 10, 2026
  • Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez official
    Villegas's campaign announced her endorsement for CA-22. villegasforcongress.com · May 15, 2026
  • The Sacramento Bee's California editorial board newspaper
    The board endorsed Villegas in the CA-22 primary, calling him an underdog. sacbee.com · May 3, 2026
  • La Raza Indivisible organization
    According to Villegas's campaign. villegasforcongress.com · Apr 21, 2026
  • National Nurses United, California Teachers Association, and End Citizens United organization
    Listed by Villegas's campaign among his endorsements. villegasforcongress.com · Apr 16, 2026
  • Food & Water Action, Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, Oil Change Action, GrayPAC, and Climate Hawks Vote organization
    The groups announced a joint endorsement of Villegas for CA-22. foodandwateraction.org · Apr 9, 2026
  • 15 California elected officials and 10 community leaders official
    According to the campaign; announcement does not list their names. villegasforcongress.com · Jan 8, 2026
  • Sen. Bernie Sanders official
    Sanders said, "I am proud to endorse Randy Villegas because we need more working-class people in Congress who are not beholden to the corporations and special interests that have rigged our political system in favor of the billionaires." nbcnews.com · Nov 17, 2025
  • Former Rep. Tony Cárdenas and 15 California elected officials official
    Villegas's campaign announced the endorsements; the announcement does not name the 15 officials. villegasforcongress.com · May 6, 2025

Campaign finance

Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.

Raised
$2.65M
Spent
$2.07M
Cash on hand
$572K

As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6CA22190(opens in a new tab)

Sources 21

  1. [1] Valadao and Villegas Clash in Central Valley Debate over Gas Prices, War in Iran(opens in a new tab) Oct 12, 2026
  2. [2] Randy Villegas (D) – CA-22 House 2026 | Smarter.Vote(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
  3. [3] Villegas and Valadao Offer CA-22 Voters Distinctly Different Agendas(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
  4. [4] Meet The Candidates - Randy Villegas - iHeart(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
  5. [5] 15 Races Where Democratic Socialists Can Reshape California Politics(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
  6. [6] David Valadao and Randy Villegas spar over economy ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
  7. [7] Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses 2 Additional ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
  8. [8] Valadao and Villegas clash in Central Valley debate over gas prices, war in Iran(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
  9. [9] Sen. Bernie Sanders campaigns for Randy Villegas in ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
  10. [10] Sen. Bernie Sanders campaigns for Randy Villegas in Bakersfield as CA-22 race intensifies(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
  11. [11] Be a Clean Water Voter: 2026 California Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
  12. [12] Randy Villegas Polls: Polling Average and Latest Surveys(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
  13. [13] RATINGS CHANGE: Inside Elections Shifts CA-22 to Toss-Up as ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
  14. [14] SEIU California Announces Support For Randy Villegas In ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 14, 2026
  15. [15] not corporate PACs or special interests. As the cost of groceries, gas ...(opens in a new tab) Jul 17, 2026
  16. [16] Randy Villegas - Giffords Law Center(opens in a new tab) Jun 24, 2026
  17. [17] Randy Villegas' Statement on DCCC's Red to Blue Program(opens in a new tab) May 4, 2026
  18. [18] We endorse an underdog for California's 22nd Congressional District(opens in a new tab) May 3, 2026
  19. [19] National Environmental Groups Endorse Randy Villegas for CA-22(opens in a new tab) Apr 9, 2026
  20. [20] Bernie Sanders endorses Randy Villegas, wading into a Democratic ...(opens in a new tab) Nov 17, 2025
  21. [21] News(opens in a new tab) Apr 14, 2025
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