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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

A key congressional race in California will test progressives' appeal

Villegas won the Democratic primary and will challenge Rep. David Valadao in November.

A key congressional race in California will test progressives' appeal
Image · ABC News

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This article1 analysis · Oct 5, 2026
ABC News
Jun 11, 2026
tl;dr

Randy Villegas won California’s Democratic primary and will face Republican Rep. David Valadao in November. The race is being watched as a test of whether a progressive candidate can win in a district that has traditionally favored Republicans.

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This story reports what happened without casting Villegas in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Villegas’s record.

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Democratic nominee challenging Rep. David Valadao for California’s Central Valley House seat

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Representative and candidate for the Democratic Senate nomination in Michigan

Michigan state senator and Democratic Senate candidate

Democratic House candidate in Colorado

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President of the United States, mentioned in the context of Democrats’ House-majority goals

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Senator cited as the political origin of Our Revolution

California state assembly member and Democratic primary candidate who had party support

Angie Craig
D · MN-2

Representative and Democratic Senate candidate in Minnesota

Representative and chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Republican representative and Villegas’s general-election opponent

Chuck Schumer
D · NY · SEN

Senate minority leader whose preferred candidate was Janet Mills

Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan

Minnesota lieutenant governor and Democratic Senate candidate

Democratic Senate candidate in Maine

Former Democratic Senate candidate and Maine governor

Gabe Evans
R · CO-8

Republican representative and potential general-election opponent in Colorado

Democratic House candidate in Colorado

Part of a bigger story

14 OUTLETS
Randy Villegas Wins Democratic Primary in California’s Central Valley

Randy Villegas won the Democratic primary and will face David Valadao in November in California’s Central Valley congressional race. Center outlets mainly frame the matchup as a test of whether progressive candidates can compete in a traditionally Republican district; some also discuss redistricting strategy or Medicaid funding.

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