Greetings all. Excited to share with you today an interview recorded a few days ago with Randy Villegas, our impressive candidate running in the newly redrawn CA-22.
Here’s the DCCC’s short pitch graph for Randy:
The son of Mexican immigrants, Randy Villegas is a Central Valley native, auto repair shop owner, and educator who has spent his life fighting for his community. He attended Bakersfield public schools and grew up in a working-class family that relied on Medi-Cal and WIC to make ends meet – the same programs now under threat because of David Valadao’s votes to gut health care and SNAP. Through hard work and education, Randy worked his way out of poverty and went on to serve students and families on his local school board. Randy is a working-class leader fighting to ensure Valley families have the representation they deserve – someone who will work to lower costs, increase access to affordable health care and medicine, and ensure government works for working people, not special interests and billionaires. In this increasingly competitive Trump +2 seat, Valadao has made himself more vulnerable by turning his back on the Valley, gutting the very health care programs Randy grew up on, and putting party politics ahead of his constituents.
CA-22, the district represented by the MAGA incumbent David Valadao, was a targeted redraw under Prop 50 in the Central Valley. It's a boundary reshuffle not a new seat — David Valadao's district traded some southern Kern County turf for more Democratic-leaning ground toward Fresno/Madera. The shift nudged the district left, but it's still the reddest of the five new Prop 50 seats. Though Valadao has been tough to beat this is now a very winnable seat, and Randy is a very good candidate having won a tough primary in June. Here’s the new CA-22:
You can support Randy by contributing to our Winning the House - Second Wave Fund or by giving directly to his campaign. You can learn more about Randy by visiting his website, where you can also sign up to volunteer from wherever you are.
Here’s Randy talking about the race:
My opponent likes to cosplay as a moderate, but let's talk about his record. He was actually the decisive vote on this "big, ugly bill," which is going to cut Medicaid by billions of dollars and gut programs like WIC to give more tax breaks to billionaires — and he did this after signing several letters saying he wouldn't touch anything that affected Medicaid.
This is going to affect us here in the Central Valley more than anywhere else in the country. CA-22 actually has the most Medicaid recipients of any district in the country — two out of every three of our constituents rely on Medicaid. And despite that, Valadao voted to gut it. The most ironic part is that he has a government-subsidized health care plan as a member of Congress, one that we pay for – I think he needs to use that plan to schedule a physical and look for the spine he's been missing these last few years [Simon laughs].
But beyond that, people in my district already have folks who drive seven or eight hours to Tijuana to get cheaper dental care, cheaper health care, cheaper prescription drugs. That shouldn't be happening in the richest country in the history of the world, which is why in Congress I will fight for health care as a human right and be a co-sponsor of Medicare for All. Nobody should have to choose between rationing their medicine and paying for groceries. Nobody should have to choose between paying their mortgage or rent and seeing a doctor. And nobody should have to fight cancer and their congressman at the same time.
Here’s a strong new ad from the Villegas campaign:
Pleased to be able to bring another great candidate to you today, Randy Villegas, who will be, remarkably, the first Latino every elected to Congress from the Central Valley of California. Hit “like” so more will meet him, share our conversation with others, support Randy and his fellow Second Wavers, and keep working hard all. We have a country to save, and an elections like this one in CA-22 all across the country to win, together! - Simon
Yes, We Have Lots Of Other Great Candidates To Support!
Learn more about The New Battlefield Project Hopium has helped launch with the state Democratic parties across the country to protect our elections this fall and ensure a peaceful transfer of power in January.
Winning The House and Senate In 2026
Our Winning The House Campaign - Donate | $1,090,100 raised, $1,250,000 goal (new stretch goal) | Donate to all twelve of our initial wave of House challengers with a single contribution split twelve ways | Get to know Jamie Ager (NC-11), Christina Bohannan (IA-01), Paige Cognetti (PA-08), Rebecca Cooke (WI-03), Elaine Luria (VA-02), Sean McCann (MI-04), Jo Mendoza (AZ-06), Chaz Molder (TN-05), Jonathan Nez (AZ-02), Janelle Stelson (PA-10), Shannon Taylor (VA-01), and Sarah Trone Garriott (IA-03) by watching our recently recorded Hopium interviews.
Friends, if these twelve courageous candidates win, the House will flip, even with Callais and their rancid mid-decade redistricting. So eyes on the prize here everyone!
Winning The House - The Second Wave Fund - Donate | $295,100 raised, $500,000 goal - We’ve launched a second House fund, one supporting candidates who’ve emerged from late, recent primaries and need a bit more help.
Our newly expanded list now features Rebecca Bennett (NJ-07), Bob Brooks (PA-07), Cait Conley (NY-17), Johnny Garcia (TX-35), Bob Harvie (PA-01), Dr. Richard Pan (CA-06), Denise Powell (NE-02), Bobby Pulido (TX-15), Manny Rutinel (CO-8), Dr. Amish Shah (AZ-01), Randy Villegas (CA-22), and Marni von Wilpert (CA-48).
A donation to the Second Wave Fund is split evenly among these twelve, and more as other worthy candidates emerge from their primaries. Our total above includes money we’ve raised for directly for each candidate. You can watch interviews with those who’ve interviewed so far here.
Winning The House - The Third Wave Fund - Donate | $13,700 raised, $500,000 goal | We’ve launched this new fund for candidates who have emerged even later from primaries and need a bit more help as we work to expand our map and go deeper into tough terrain. Our initial list - and it may grow - is Christina Hines (MI-10), Lindsay James (IA-02), Jake Johnson (MN-01), Jessica Killin (CO-5), Nancy Lacore (SC-01), and Brian Poindexter (OH-7).
Winning The Senate - $696,100 raised, $1,000,000 goal - Donate | This new fund splits a single donation to our six candidates must likely to flip a Senate seat this November - Sherrod Brown (OH), Roy Cooper (NC), Troy Jackson (ME), Mary Peltola (AK), James Talarico (TX), and Josh Turek (IA).
Our working total includes what we’ve raised for these six so far through direct donations to their campaigns. You can watch our interviews with each of these great candidates and/or contribute directly to any of them directly here.
Expanding The Map - Investing And Winning In Key Battleground And Expansion States
Winning Georgia - $31,500 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | This new fund splits a contribution three ways among Senator Jon Ossoff, gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms, and the Georgia Democratic Party
Winning Iowa - $32,500 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Our Winning Iowa fund splits a contribution three ways - to Josh Turek for Senate, to our gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand, and to the Iowa Democratic Party
Winning Maine - $81,100 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Our Winning Maine fund splits a contribution evenly among Troy Jackson for Senate, Hannah Pingree for Governor, and the Maine Democratic Party and its Chair Charlie Dingman
Winning Ohio - $189,100 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Our campaign splits contributions evenly among Sherrod Brown, the Acton-Pepper ticket, and the Ohio Democratic Party and its terrific Chair, Kathleen Clyde
Hopium’s Audacious Expansion Fund - $650,100 raised, $1,000,000 goal - Donate | Join our campaign that has helped expand our map by investing in the Democratic Parties of Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Maine, and Texas, all now central battlegrounds in the 2026 election | Contribute to all five state parties with one contribution split evenly among these five critical battlegrounds | Catch interviews with the five intrepid state chairs leading their troops into battle this year - will get you fired up!
A Few More Things To Do
Let’s work to make sure everyone you know is Voting Early this year. Learn more about how our political battlefield is changing and how we can best protect our elections this November and ensure a peaceful transfer of power in January. Bring our Resolutions Project to your community. Fight for Hopium’s Agenda and let’s also embrace Leader Jeffries’ new agenda, “Fighting For An Affordable America.” Become a paid subscriber to Hopium to help us grow this community of proud, plucky patriots.
In the spirit if informing and not inflaming I’ve set up a new page to help us learn more about the Democratic Socialists Of America (DSA). Additionally, my friend Halie Soifer, the very capable CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, has written a very thoughtful piece with recommendations for how Abdul El-Sayed can address the very real concerns about his candidacy in the Jewish community.
Please use the paid subscriber chat to self-report the good trouble you make each day.
Bio - Randy Villegas, Democratic Nominee in CA-22
Raised in Kern County, Randy grew up seeing both the promise and the challenges of the Central Valley. His parents instilled in him the values of hard work, perseverance, and giving back to the community.
Randy became the first in his family to earn a Ph.D., and he’s used his education to empower others—as a college professor, mentor, and community organizer. Whether in the classroom or out knocking doors, Randy has always believed in the power of people to make change.
Now, he’s running for California’s 2nd District.
Randy's running to fight for working families, protect our democracy, and bring accountable, people-first leadership to Washington. He’s challenging Republican David Valadao, who has consistently sided with corporate interests over the needs of our communities.
Randy’s campaign is rooted in the belief that everyone - no matter their ZIP code, SSN, or background - deserves a fair shot. With your support, we can build a better future for the Central Valley and beyond.
Learn more about Randy here.
