David Valadao, California Republican who impeached Trump, wins reelection

Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) is projected to win in California’s twenty second congressional district, conserving his political life alive for one more time period regardless of voting to question former President Trump following the Capitol riot.

The Related Press referred to as the race on Monday, practically two weeks after Election Day.

Valadao, who presently represents the Golden State’s twenty first Congressional District, bested Democrat Assemblymember Rudy Salas in a contentious contest that was rated a “toss up” by Prepare dinner Political Report. He moved to the twenty second following redistricting.

The California Republican drew headlines in January 2021 after the assault on the Capitol, changing into simply one in every of 10 within the Home GOP convention to solid such a vote. Eight members within the group both misplaced their reelection primaries or opted out of operating once more, and one is presently on the poll.

The race for the twenty second district got here below scrutiny this cycle after Democrats poured cash into the GOP major, propping up Valadao’s Trump-aligned candidate Chris Mathys. Trump himself, nonetheless, by no means endorsed Mathys.

It was a part of the Democratic technique of elevating extra conservative Republicans in primaries to present their candidates simpler opponents to defeat typically elections. Valadao, nonetheless, went on to beat Mathys.

In an interview with The Hill final month, Valadao marketing campaign senior adviser Robert Jones mentioned the candidate’s impeachment vote is “an illustration of his independence.”

Equally, Salas in-part tried to promote himself as unbiased on the marketing campaign path. One in every of his adverts tout a vote he took in 2017 towards a transportation plan that might have raised gasoline taxes. He was the one Democrat within the state Meeting to oppose the measure, which led to him dropping a committee chairmanship.

Based on California information outlet CalMatters, the state’s twenty second district traits towards the center: that 43.4 % of its residents are registered Democrats, 26 % are registered Republicans and 22.6 % shouldn’t have a celebration choice.

The majority of the election, nonetheless, centered on points vital to voters within the Central Valley district, together with agriculture, water points and the financial system. The candidates’ variations on the difficulty of abortion have been additionally highlighted — Salas is in favor of permitting the medical process, and Valadao is opposed.

Subsequent 12 months will mark Valadao’s fifth time period in Congress. He was first elected to the Home in 2012 however misplaced reelection in 2018. Two years later, he retook his seat.