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A liberal Democrat won a spot Tuesday in the runoff for a pivotal California House race that could help determine which party controls Congress, upending Democratic Party leaders' hopes of running a more moderate candidate whom they believed had a better chance in a general election.
Randy Villegas's (D) second-place finish in the district that stretches across California's Central Valley sets the educator up for a race against Rep. David G. Valadao (R-California), according to a race call by the Associated Press.
Villegas won the chance to face the Republican incumbent by besting Jasmeet Bains, a Democratic member of the California Assembly, dealing an embarrassing blow to House Democrats' campaign arm, which backed Bains before Election Day.
Valadao has long been a Democratic target, but the Republican has weathered many political shifts, including the rise of President Donald Trump. Valadao was first elected to Congress in 2012. He lost his bid for reelection in 2018, a wave election year for Democrats, but won the seat back in 2020. His district was made slightly more difficult for Republicans during California's redistricting this cycle.
Villegas, in an interview with The Washington Post ahead of the election, questioned whether the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee knew the district he was running to represent when they backed Bains.
"It's a classic example of D.C. insiders and elites trying to swoop in thinking they know what's best for the community," said Villegas, who was backed by national liberals like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and California leaders like Rep. Ro Khanna (D).
"What you're seeing play out in our race and in races all across the country is truly this fight for the soul of the Democratic Party and who we want to be as Democrats," Villegas added.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee endorsed Bains in May, adding her to a program aimed at helping her advance to the general election.
A spokesperson for the committee said they are now backing Villegas in the general election.
"David Valadao has spent years pretending to be an independent voice for the Valley, but when it matters most, he sells out," said Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Washington), the chair of the Democratic committee.
Bains's loss, however, is damaging for House Democrats' campaign arm and highlights the limits of the party's establishment at a time of deep voter distrust. Although the committee has helped other Democrats get through primaries this year, it is uncommon for them to lose. In 2018, the last time the Democratic committee forcefully engaged in Democratic primaries, the committee advanced 39 of the 41 candidates it endorsed in primaries to the general election, according to analysis at the time.
National Republicans celebrated Villegas's victory, signaling they are eager to run against him in November.
"Central Valley families know Congressman David Valadao has always fought for them ... which is why he enters the general election with the momentum, record, and resources to win," said Christian Martinez, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
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