A bitter slugfest in Central Valley exposes divisions in the Democratic Party

The southern Central Valley contains a rare remaining congressional battleground where Democrats aim to replace Republican Rep. David Valadao. Proposition 50 redrew the district lines slightly toward Democrats. Two Democratic candidates compete to face Valadao in November: Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains and Randy Villegas, a school board trustee. Valadao is considered vulnerable because he voted to cut Medicaid spending, affecting a district where two-thirds of residents rely on low-income health insurance and tens of thousands could lose coverage under upcoming federal work requirements. National Democratic involvement has intensified the primary fight, with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee backing Bains through its Red to Blue program, angering Villegas and his supporters.

"Valadao is particularly vulnerable after he voted last year to cut Medicaid spending, a critical resource for many in this poor, rural area. Two-thirds of residents in the district are enrolled in the federally funded low-income health insurance program, and more than 60,000 are expected to lose coverage when work requirements and other federal rules take effect next year."

"National Democratic infighting has overshadowed a classic moderate vs. progressive primary race since House Democrats' campaign arm threw its support behind one candidate, Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains (D-Delano), over Randy Villegas, a school board trustee backed by progressives including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)."

"The race was already tense when the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added Bains, a family doctor and two-term assemblywoman, to its "Red to Blue" program, which provides staff and fundraising support to Democrats running against vulnerable Republican incumbents. Local party leaders said they had received assurances from national Democrats that they would stay out of the race, which further angered Villegas and his supporters."

""This is another example as to why people's faith in the Democratic Party and party leadership is at an all-time low," Villegas said in an interview with The Times. "In many ways, it's a badge of honor to not be the insider candidate and to say that I'm actually going to fight for community members here and not D.C. elites.""

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