California Republican Who Voted to Impeach Trump Faces Toss-Up Race

Rep. ) is running for re-election in a district now rated a toss-up by the Cook Political Report. The district covers Bakersfield and was redrawn after California passed a mid-decade redistricting measure. The report changed its rating after Democrats responded to similar redistricting actions in Republican-led states.

Trump carried the revised district by two percentage points in the last presidential election.

Democrats are competing in the June 2 primary under California's top-two system. Physician Jasmeet Bains has support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, while political science professor Randy Villegas is backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).

Erin Covey of the Cook Political Report said Valadao faces a tougher district and political environment despite past over-performance.

Voted to impeach President Trump in 2021.

He later voted for a major Trump-backed bill that Democrats have criticized for including Medicaid reductions. His district has the highest Medicaid enrollment among Republican-held districts. The Democratic campaign arm has highlighted that vote in its messaging. Valadao's campaign did not respond to a request for comment. The White House also did not respond to a request for comment.