Republican Rep. David Valadao managed to once again fend off Democratic challenger Rudy Salas to keep his seat representing California’s 22nd Congressional District in the Central Valley.
Valadao’s win bolsters the Republican Party’s effort to retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives and brings the GOP closer to controlling both arms of Congress after flipping the U.S. Senate last week.
The Associated Press called the 22nd District race for Valadao Tuesday night, though official results will take longer. After Valadao’s victory, Republicans need just two more seats to win control of the House. About a dozen more seats remain to be called.
The 22nd Congressional District contest was one of several California seats seen as pivotal to determining which party will control the House. It is often a race won by slim margins. Both parties invested heavily in the district, pouring millions into ads.
The rural swing district spans portions of Kern, Kings and Tulare counties and includes Hanford south to Bakersfield. The economy is dominated by agriculture, and more than 70% of residents are Latino . Here, 43% of voters are registered Democrats compared with 26% registered as Republican and 23% with no party preference. The Central Valley is home to many conservative Democrats, who often vote differently than those in liberal metro areas like Los Angeles and the Bay Area.