Biography
David Valadao was born and raised in Hanford, California, in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. His family emigrated from the Azores, Portugal, and built a dairy farming operation in Kings County. Valadao grew up working on the family farm, attended the College of the Sequoias, and went into the family dairy business — Triple V Dairy — before entering politics. He served in the California State Assembly from 2010 to 2012 before running for Congress in the newly created CA-21 district (now renumbered CA-22 after redistricting).
He won his first congressional term in 2012 and served through 2018, when he lost by a narrow margin to Democrat TJ Cox in a race that was not called for weeks. After Cox was later indicted on fraud charges and the seat was open, Valadao ran again in 2020 and won, returning to Congress in 2021. He was one of ten Republicans who voted to impeach President Trump following January 6, a decision that carried significant political risk in a Republican primary. He survived a primary challenge from a Trump-backed opponent and has held the seat since, winning in 2022 and 2024 with comfortable margins as the district’s PVI proved more favorable than prior cycles.
Valadao sits on the House Appropriations Committee, where he has been an active advocate for Central Valley water infrastructure funding and agricultural programs. His family dairy background and his personal experience with the water fights that define Central Valley politics give him credibility on these issues that is rare among legislators.
Key Policy Positions
Water & Agriculture
Valadao’s defining issue is California water policy. He has been the most persistent advocate in Congress for increased water deliveries to Central Valley farms, arguing that federal environmental restrictions on water pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are destroying the agricultural economy. His Appropriations Committee seat gives him leverage over federal water project funding, and he has secured resources for water infrastructure in his district across multiple sessions of Congress. This issue transcends party lines in the Valley — Valadao has worked with Democrats on water legislation when it serves his agricultural constituents.
Moderate Republican Brand
Valadao occupies an unusual position in the House Republican Conference as one of the few remaining Trump impeachment voters still serving. He has generally supported Republican priorities on taxes, regulation, and immigration while occasionally breaking with the most hardline positions in the conference. His moderate brand — born of necessity in a majority-Latino swing district — gives him a different political identity than most California Republicans and has helped him maintain cross-partisan appeal among voters who might otherwise back a Democrat.
Healthcare & Rural Services
CA-22’s working-class agricultural communities depend heavily on Medicaid and federally funded health clinics, and Valadao has been cautious about supporting Medicaid cuts that would directly harm his constituents. He has been one of the more moderate House Republicans on healthcare, recognizing that rural California communities are deeply dependent on the federal safety net. His Appropriations seat has also enabled him to direct resources toward rural healthcare facilities and mental health services in the Valley.
Central Valley Political Context
CA-22 covers communities including Hanford, Tulare, Porterville, and parts of Fresno County in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. It is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world — the Valley produces a significant share of the nation’s fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dairy — and its economy is almost entirely dependent on agriculture. The district’s majority-Latino population includes many agricultural workers and their families, and Valadao’s ability to win there repeatedly as a Republican reflects both his personal roots in the community and his focused advocacy on water and agricultural issues.
