David Valadao

David Valadao is a Republican politician and dairy farmer currently representing California's 22nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Born in Hanford, California, to Portuguese immigrants, he was raised in the Central Valley and eventually became a partner in his family's dairy operation, Triple V Dairy. Valadao attended the College of the Sequoias before entering public service. He first won a seat in the California State Assembly in 2010, representing the 30th district, where he focused on agricultural and budgetary issues as the Vice-Chair of the Agriculture Committee. In 2012, Valadao was first elected to Congress representing California's 21st district. He served three terms until 2019 after a narrow loss in the 2018 election, but successfully regained the seat in 2020. Following the 2020 redistricting cycle, he was elected to represent the 22nd district starting in 2023. Throughout his congressional career, Valadao has served on the House Committee on Appropriations and has established a reputation for focusing on water rights and agricultural infrastructure. He is also known for being one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump following the events of January 6, 2021.

Valadao’s policy platform is centered on the needs of California’s agricultural sector, particularly advocating for increased water storage and infrastructure to support Central Valley farmers. On immigration, he supports a comprehensive approach that includes both border security and a legal pathway for DACA recipients, often aligning with more moderate stances within his party. His economic positions favor fiscal conservatism, including support for tax reductions like the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and efforts to reduce federal spending and regulatory burdens on small businesses. Regarding healthcare, he advocates for a market-based system to lower costs while stating support for maintaining protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions and ensuring the solvency of Medicare and Medicaid without cutting benefits for current seniors. In foreign policy, he has expressed support for efforts to combat international narco-terrorism and has historically supported military action to counter extremist groups like ISIL.