GOP Congressman in California Swing-District Race Defends Vote for Medicaid Cuts
Democrats say the bill could strip coverage from about 60,000 district residents by 2034 as both parties pour more than $16 million into ads.
- Republican Rep. David Valadao faces a competitive reelection fight against Democrat Randy Villegas in California's 22nd Congressional District, where roughly 62 percent of residents rely on Medicaid.
- Valadao's support for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which seeks to trim more than $900 billion from Medicaid through 2034, has drawn significant criticism from constituents and progressive challengers.
- Ulises Hernandez, a Medicaid patient, protested outside Valadao's office after an eight-hour emergency room wait, saying Valadao "should be ashamed of himself" for backing the legislation.
- Reflecting the district's significance, Republicans and Democrats have each booked more than $16 million in campaign ads through Election Day, while Villegas champions "Medicare for All" and Valadao insists "there are no actual cuts."
- California's redrawn congressional map has made this seat more favorable for Democrats, intensifying the contest, while House Speaker Mike Johnson recently campaigned in the region without addressing the healthcare controversy.
12 Articles
12 Articles
In Medicaid-Dependent Central Valley, Cuts Pose Political Risk for Six-Term Congressman
Rep. David Valadao voted to slash Medicaid, giving Democratic challenger Randy Villegas an opening as voters focus on affordability and health care access. The post In Medicaid-Dependent Central Valley, Cuts Pose Political Risk for Six-Term Congressman appeared first on .
KFF Health News
GOP Congressman in California Swing-District Race Defends Vote for Medicaid Cuts
In a race that could help decide control of Congress, Republican U.S. Rep. David Valadao is trying to hold on to his swing-district seat. The congressman didn’t mention healthcare at a recent campaign rally in Bakersfield, but voters can't stop talking about it.
Medicaid cuts in CA-22 drive 2026 election for Rep. Valadao
In California's 22nd Congressional District, a region where roughly six in ten residents rely on Medicaid, the practical impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is becoming a defining factor in the 2026 midterm elections. The law, passed last year, is projected to reduce federal Medicaid spending by more than $900 billion through 2034. This reduction is driven by stricter eligibility rules, including work requirements and bi-annual eligibility …
'I'm livid': Medicaid patient who went through ER nightmare has message for GOP lawmaker
A Medicaid patient from Bakersfield, California, is blasting Republican Rep. David Valadao over the Medicaid cuts in the GOP’s tax law, KFF Health News reported in a story carried by NPR.Ulises Hernandez, 41, who has been on Medicaid his whole life, said he spent eight hours in an emergency room in September after a dental crown slipped down his throat during a procedure. He then went over two days without eating, he said.This wait wasn't direct…
A GOP congressman voted to cut Medicaid. It covers 62% of his district. Can he win?
Republican U.S. Rep. David Valadao is fighting for reelection in central California. Six in 10 residents of his district are covered by Medicaid, which he voted to cut last year.
GOP Congressman in California Swing-District Race Defends Vote for Medicaid Cuts - Health Care Today
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Ulises Hernandez has had health coverage through Medicaid for as long as he can remember. But he had never waited as long for care as he did in September after a dental crown slipped down his throat during a procedure. He spent eight hours in an emergency room waiting for care and [...]
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