David Valadao

David Valadao
Born	David Goncalves Valadao 14 4, 1977
Birthplace	Hanford, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, dairy farmer
Known for	U.S. Representative for California's 22nd congressional district; one of ten House Republicans to vote for the second impeachment of Donald Trump
Education	College of the Sequoias
Children	3
Website	[[valadao.house.gov valadao.house.gov] Official site]

David Goncalves Valadao (born April 14, 1977) is an American politician and dairy farmer serving as the U.S. representative for California's 22nd congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Valadao has built a political career rooted in the agricultural communities of California's San Joaquin Valley, where he was born and raised on a dairy farm near Hanford. He first won election to the U.S. Congress in 2012, representing California's 21st congressional district, and served three consecutive terms before narrowly losing to Democrat TJ Cox in 2018. Valadao recaptured the seat in 2020, defeating Cox in a rematch, and has represented the redrawn 22nd district since 2023. Before entering Congress, Valadao served one term in the California State Assembly, representing the 30th district from 2010 to 2012. He gained national attention in January 2021 as one of only ten Republican members of the House to vote in favor of the second impeachment of President Donald Trump, and was subsequently one of only two of those ten to win renomination and reelection. Valadao also serves as Chair of the Republican Governance Group, a position he assumed in January 2025.

Early Life

David Goncalves Valadao was born on April 14, 1977, in Hanford, California, a small city in Kings County in the southern San Joaquin Valley. He is of Portuguese descent, and his family has deep roots in the agricultural economy of California's Central Valley. Valadao was raised on his family's dairy farm, where he began working at a young age, learning the business of dairy farming that would become central to both his professional and political identity.

The San Joaquin Valley, one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, shaped Valadao's worldview and later his policy priorities. Water access, agricultural regulation, and immigration policy — all issues of direct consequence to the Valley's farming communities — became recurring themes throughout his career. Growing up in a family that operated a working dairy, Valadao experienced firsthand the challenges facing Central Valley farmers, including volatile commodity prices, labor shortages, and chronic tensions over water allocation between agricultural, urban, and environmental interests.

Valadao's Portuguese heritage connects him to a significant community in California's Central Valley, where Portuguese-American families have long been prominent in the dairy industry. His background as a member of an immigrant family in a district with a large Latino population has been a recurring element of his political biography, particularly in a district where Democrats hold a substantial registration advantage.

Education

Valadao attended the College of the Sequoias, a community college in Visalia, located in neighboring Tulare County. After his time at College of the Sequoias, Valadao returned to the family dairy operation rather than pursuing a four-year degree, becoming a partner in the family's dairy business. His decision to enter the dairy industry full-time reflected both the family tradition and the economic opportunities available in the Valley's agricultural sector.

Career

Dairy Farming

Before entering politics, Valadao was a dairy farmer and an active participant in the agricultural community of the San Joaquin Valley. He became a partner in his family's dairy operation, which gave him direct experience with the regulatory and economic issues affecting California's dairy industry. His background in agriculture informed much of his later legislative work, particularly on water policy and the Endangered Species Act, issues of significant concern to Central Valley farmers who depend on reliable water deliveries through the state and federal water project systems.

California State Assembly (2010–2012)

Valadao's political career began with his election to the California State Assembly in 2010, when he won the seat representing the 30th Assembly district. He succeeded Danny Gilmore in the Assembly. The 30th district encompassed a largely agricultural region of the Central Valley, and Valadao's campaign emphasized his farming background and understanding of the district's economic base.

During his single term in the Assembly, Valadao focused on issues related to agriculture, water policy, and the regulatory environment facing Central Valley businesses. His tenure in Sacramento was relatively brief, as he soon set his sights on a seat in the U.S. Congress following the 2011 redistricting process, which created new congressional district boundaries in California. Valadao served in the Assembly until November 30, 2012, and was succeeded by Luis Alejo.

U.S. House of Representatives

2012 Election

Following the 2011 redistricting by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, the newly drawn 21st congressional district encompassed a large swath of the San Joaquin Valley, including parts of Kings, Kern, Tulare, and Fresno counties. The district had a heavily Latino population and a significant Democratic voter registration advantage, but the area's conservative leanings on social and agricultural issues made it potentially competitive for Republicans.

Valadao entered the race for the 21st district and won the general election in November 2012, succeeding Devin Nunes, who had represented the previous iteration of the district before shifting to the adjacent 22nd district. His victory was seen by some Republican strategists as a template for how the party could compete in heavily Latino districts by nominating candidates with personal connections to the community and its economic concerns.

2014 Reelection

In 2014, Valadao faced Democratic challenger Amanda Renteria in his first reelection bid. Several Republican figures in the western San Joaquin Valley had considered runs for the seat, but Valadao's incumbency advantage and fundraising strength helped consolidate Republican support behind him. Valadao won reelection comfortably, reinforcing his position in the district.

2016 Reelection

Valadao faced multiple challengers in the 2016 election cycle. Democrat Daniel Parra announced a challenge for the 21st district seat. Another potential candidate, Emilio Huerta, entered the race as well. Despite the challenges, Valadao won reelection for a third term, continuing to outperform Republican voter registration numbers in his district.

2018 Defeat

The 2018 midterm elections proved to be a difficult cycle for Republicans nationwide, and Valadao was not spared. In a race that was not called for weeks after Election Day due to the slow counting of mail-in and provisional ballots, Democrat TJ Cox defeated Valadao by a narrow margin. The loss ended Valadao's three-term tenure in Congress and was part of a broader "blue wave" in California that saw Democrats flip several Republican-held seats, particularly in the state's suburban and rural districts. Valadao's defeat was one of the most closely watched races of the cycle, given the district's demographic profile and competitive nature.

2020 Comeback

Valadao mounted a comeback bid in 2020, challenging the incumbent Cox in a rematch. The race was again closely contested, but Valadao prevailed, defeating Cox and returning to Congress. His victory made him one of the few Republicans to recapture a seat lost in the 2018 wave. Valadao resumed his seat in the House on January 3, 2021.

Second Impeachment Vote

On January 13, 2021, just ten days after being sworn in for his new term, Valadao cast one of the most consequential votes of his career. He was one of ten Republican members of the House of Representatives who voted in favor of impeaching President Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol. The vote placed Valadao in a politically precarious position within his own party, as many Republican voters and party officials opposed the impeachment effort.

Of the ten House Republicans who voted for impeachment, most subsequently faced primary challenges, retired, or lost their seats. Valadao, however, survived his primary challenge and won reelection, making him one of only two of the ten — along with Dan Newhouse of Washington state — to be both renominated and reelected.

Redistricting and the 22nd District

Following the 2020 census and subsequent redistricting, Valadao's district was renumbered as California's 22nd congressional district. The redrawn district continued to encompass portions of the San Joaquin Valley, maintaining its heavily agricultural character and significant Latino population. Valadao began representing the 22nd district in January 2023.

2022 and 2024 Elections

Valadao faced Democratic challenger Rudy Salas, a member of the California State Assembly, in the 2022 general election for the newly numbered 22nd district. He won the contest and continued his service in Congress. In 2024, Valadao and Salas faced each other in a rematch, and Valadao again prevailed, securing another term representing the Central Valley.

Legislative Priorities

Water Policy

Throughout his congressional career, Valadao has made water policy a central legislative focus, reflecting the critical importance of water to the San Joaquin Valley's agricultural economy. The Central Valley relies heavily on water deliveries from the federal Central Valley Project and the State Water Project, and disputes over water allocation between agricultural users, urban areas, and environmental protections — particularly for species such as the Delta smelt — have been a persistent source of political conflict in California.

Valadao has been a vocal critic of aspects of the Endangered Species Act as it pertains to water management, arguing that environmental regulations have restricted water deliveries to Central Valley farms and communities. In September 2025, he joined a bipartisan congressional delegation focused on strengthening water infrastructure, reflecting his ongoing engagement with the issue across party lines.

Appropriations and Community Funding

Valadao has worked to direct federal funding to infrastructure and community projects in the Central Valley. In early 2026, he secured funding for infrastructure projects across the region through the Consolidated Appropriations Act. He also opened a portal for Fiscal Year 2027 Community Project Funding requests, enabling local governments and organizations in the 22nd district to apply for federal appropriations for community projects.

Healthcare and Medicaid

Valadao's 22nd congressional district has one of the highest rates of Medicaid (known as Medi-Cal in California) enrollment in the nation, with approximately 64% of constituents relying on the program. In February 2026, Valadao cast what was described as a decisive vote on budget reconciliation legislation that included reductions to Medicaid funding, drawing significant criticism from healthcare advocates and Democratic opponents. The vote was described by CalMatters as potentially significant for his political future, given the high dependence on Medicaid in his district.

In a related matter, Valadao secured a transition period for California's new Managed Care Organization (MCO) tax from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an action he characterized as protecting the state's healthcare funding structure.

Budget Reconciliation

In July 2025, Valadao released a statement following the House vote on budget reconciliation, signaling his engagement with the broader fiscal policy debates in Congress.

Republican Governance Group

In January 2025, Valadao became Chair of the Republican Governance Group, a caucus of moderate and centrist Republican members of the House. The position reflected his standing as a pragmatic Republican willing to work across party lines on certain issues, a reputation reinforced by his impeachment vote and his representation of a politically competitive district.

2026 Election Cycle

As of early 2026, Valadao is expected to face a competitive reelection challenge. California Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, a physician from Bakersfield, announced her candidacy for the 22nd district as a moderate Democrat in 2025. The Democratic primary has also drawn grassroots candidate Randy Villegas, creating an intraparty contest over strategy in one of California's most closely watched House races. Valadao's vote on Medicaid reductions has been identified as a potential vulnerability in the upcoming race.

Personal Life

Valadao resides in the Central Valley of California, where his family has been involved in the dairy industry for decades. He has three children. Valadao's Portuguese heritage has been a notable aspect of his personal identity and has connected him to the Portuguese-American farming community in the San Joaquin Valley.

Valadao has maintained close ties to the agricultural community throughout his political career, continuing to identify as a dairy farmer in addition to his role as a congressman. His personal and family connection to the land and the farming economy of the Central Valley has been a consistent element of his public identity.

Recognition

Valadao's most widely noted distinction in national politics is his status as one of only ten Republican members of the House to vote for the second impeachment of President Donald Trump in January 2021, and one of only two of those ten members to subsequently win both renomination and reelection. This distinction has drawn attention from political analysts and media commentators as a marker of his ability to navigate the complex political dynamics of a competitive district with a diverse electorate.

His victory in the 2012 election was characterized by the Hanford Sentinel as a potential "template for the GOP" in its efforts to compete in districts with large Latino populations, highlighting the national significance attributed to his initial congressional win.

Within the House Republican Conference, Valadao's election as Chair of the Republican Governance Group in 2025 reflected his position within the party's centrist wing and his reputation as a member willing to engage in bipartisan legislative efforts, particularly on issues such as water infrastructure and agricultural policy.

Legacy

David Valadao's career in Congress has been defined by his ability to win and hold a competitive seat in a district that favors Democrats on paper. Representing a district with a substantial Latino majority and significant Democratic voter registration advantage, Valadao has consistently outperformed partisan expectations, a feat attributed by analysts to his personal ties to the agricultural community, his Portuguese-American heritage, and his focus on local issues such as water policy and infrastructure.

His vote to impeach Donald Trump in January 2021 marked a significant moment in his career and in the broader politics of the Republican Party. While most of the ten House Republicans who voted for impeachment were subsequently defeated in primaries, chose not to run for reelection, or lost general elections, Valadao's survival — alongside Dan Newhouse of Washington — demonstrated the viability of a path for moderate Republicans in certain districts.

Valadao's legislative focus on water policy has placed him at the center of one of California's most enduring and consequential policy debates. The tension between agricultural water needs and environmental protections in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Central Valley water system has been a defining issue for generations of Central Valley politicians, and Valadao has been among the most prominent congressional voices on the agricultural side of this debate.

As his district continues to be a focal point for both parties in congressional elections, Valadao's career offers a case study in the politics of competitive districts, the role of personal identity and local credibility in electoral success, and the limits and possibilities of moderation within the contemporary Republican Party.