Anaheim, California — Sen. Bernie Sanders has endorsed Democrat Randy Villegas in a competitive Central Valley congressional race that both parties view as pivotal ahead of the 2026 midterms. Villegas, a school board trustee and auto shop owner, is running in an all-party primary against state Assembly member Jasmeet Bains. The winner will face Republican Rep. David Valadao, one of the GOP’s most vulnerable incumbents.
Villegas has built his campaign around economic populism and is aligned with the Working Families Party. Sanders praised him as a candidate rooted in working-class experience, saying the political system “has been rigged… in favor of the billionaires.” He urged voters to support “bold leaders” who will prioritize affordability and strengthen protections for working families. Villegas welcomed the endorsement, citing shared goals on economic fairness.
The Cook Political Report rates the district as a tossup, particularly after a recently approved constitutional amendment will shift the area’s congressional boundaries to favor Democrats. Valadao briefly lost the seat in 2018 but reclaimed it in 2020. Democrats are expected to focus heavily on his vote for former President Donald Trump’s tax and spending package, which reduced Medicaid and food stamp benefits in a district that has the highest share of Medicaid recipients of any GOP-held seat.
Villegas has also secured support from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, and Rep. Maxwell Frost. Bains did not respond to requests for comment.
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