Incumbent Republican Congressman David Valadao won reelection in California's San Joaquin Valley 22nd Congressional District. This close race was considered a close race.
On Tuesday night, Republican Gabe Evans was also declared the winner in Colorado's 8th Congressional District. With the victories of Valadao and Evans, Republicans are two wins away from gaining a majority in the House.
The current breakdown is 216 Republicans and 206 Democrats. There were still 13 races remaining as of Tuesday night.
The congressional race was a high-stakes rematch between Valadao and Democratic challenger Rudy Salas. Valadao, who has represented the district since 2013 except for one term from 2019 to 2021, is one of the few Republicans in the largely Democratic district to survive in recent years. Additionally, there are more registered Democrats than Republicans in this district.
Rematch sets between GOP representatives Valadao, Democratic challenger in battleground California district
California State Capitol Building during National Urban League California Legislative Advocacy Day in Sacramento, March 13, 2024. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for the National Urban League)
Mr. Valadao is known for his moderate stance, sometimes at odds with the party's conservative wing. His vote to impeach former President Donald Trump made him a target for Trump's allies and a key figure for Democrats seeking to flip the seat.
Congressman David Valadao (R-Calif.) poses during a reenactment of the swearing-in ceremony in the Rayburn Room at the Washington State Capitol on January 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin, File)
Salas, a former state representative, is seeking to unseat Valadao in 2022, a seat he narrowly lost. Salas, who has strong ties to labor unions and the state's agricultural workers, aims to mobilize voters in CA-22's majority-Latino district. of California's Central Valley.
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District 22 faces significant challenges, including water scarcity, illegal immigration issues, and economic concerns. Both candidates boast deep roots in their hometowns.
In 2022, Mr. Valadao defeated Mr. Salas by less than 4,000 votes.
