Final Thursday, simply minutes after the Home of Representatives handed President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” to overtake federal taxes and well being care spending, the Nationwide Republican Marketing campaign Committee issued an announcement touting Rep. David Valadao’s vote for the controversial measure.
“In a major win for Californians, David Valadao just voted to pass landmark legislation that lowers taxes, boosts economic growth, strengthens essential benefits and restores law and order in California,” the NRCC declared.
“Congressman David Valadao is doing exactly what he promised: delivering real results, restoring fiscal sanity and fighting for California families,” NRCC spokesman Christian Martinez stated. “His vote is proof that strong leadership and commonsense still matter in Washington.”
A few hours later, Shield Our Care California, a well being care advocacy group with shut ties to Democratic Celebration leaders, introduced that it’ll air video advertisements criticizing Valadao and 9 different Republican congressional members for his or her votes.
“Representative David Valadao just voted for the largest health care cuts in history in order to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations, and we’re going to make sure that every single one of their constituents knows it,” stated Matthew Herdman, director of Shield Our Care California.
The advertisements are geared toward Valadao and different members of California’s Republican congressional delegation, together with Younger Kim and Ken Calvert, as a result of they’re thought-about to be probably the most susceptible incumbents as the 2 main events battle over management over the Home in subsequent yr’s elections.
Republicans have a paper-thin Home majority — as demonstrated by the 218-214 ultimate vote on Trump’s excessive precedence invoice — and Valadao, Kim and Calvert barely survived previous challenges. Valadao first received a congressional seat in 2012, misplaced it in 2018 and regained it in 2020. He efficiently fended off Democrat Rudy Salas in 2022 and 2024.
What occurs within the three focused districts subsequent yr might simply decide which social gathering will prevail, with doubtlessly main penalties for the ultimate two years of Trump’s presidency.
Valadao’s vote for the invoice is particularly noteworthy as a result of Democratic voters outnumber Republicans by 12 share factors within the San Joaquin Valley’s twenty second Congressional District, two-thirds of his constituents depend on Medi-Cal (California’s model of Medicaid) for his or her well being care, and he had repeatedly promised to not vote for any reductions in this system.
The Fresno Bee’s editorial web page rapidly excoriated him for seemingly abandoning that pledge beneath stress from Trump.
“At a height of 6-feet-4, Rep. David Valadao can cast a giant presence in Washington, D.C.,” The Bee’s editorial board wrote. “Unfortunately, he doesn’t measure up when it comes to looking out for the best interests of his community.”
The editorial continued, “The Congressional Finances Workplace, a nonpartisan company, estimated that the Senate model of the invoice, which was ultimately handed, reduces federal Medicaid spending by $1 trillion over 10 years and will increase the variety of uninsured individuals by 11.8 million.
“What happened to Valadao in five days to change his mind? For one thing, he visited the White House on Wednesday. His office didn’t provide details of that reunion, but Trump has used such meetings to pressure reluctant lawmakers to do his bidding over that of the people.”
Valadao insists that he obtained assurances from the White Home that the Medicaid cuts will “be structured in a way that benefits our providers and keeps our hospitals and communities running.”
Conscious of his precarious maintain on the seat, Valadao has repeatedly harassed his independence, even being considered one of solely 10 Republicans who voted to question Trump throughout his first presidential reign.
Nevertheless, Valadao’s vote for Trump’s invoice undermines that impartial picture and can nearly definitely be weaponized as Democrats strive once more to seize his seat subsequent yr.
Dan Walters is a CalMatters columnist.
