This week marks one year since David Valadao voted for the Big, Ugly Bill, a disastrous tax scam that enacted the largest cut to Medi-Cal and food assistance in American history to fund massive tax breaks for billionaires.
The DCCC made clear that a vote for this Tax Scam would be the defining vote of Valadao’s race – and that fact remains the same one year later. Here is why:
- Valadao cut health care for nearly 70,000 people in CA-22 – the highest impact in the entire nation. 87% of children in his district are Medi-Cal recipients.
- Valadao cut nearly $90 million in estimated Medi-Cal revenue from CA-22 hospitals in what local health care providers have called a financial “tsunami” jeopardizing “the long-term sustainability of rural health care” for the Central Valley.
- More than 1.7 million Californians will lose health coverage. Marketplace enrollment has fallen by 4.2 million people nationally, while an estimated 3.8 million Americans have lost Medicaid or CHIP coverage since the law took effect.
- 83 hospitals are at risk of closing in California, including 15 in the Central Valley.
- 1 in 4 CA-22 families rely on food assistance every month. Enrollment has fallen by 5.5% in California, with more than 300,000 fewer people in the state receiving nutrition assistance.
- Health care costs are soaring. Californians have been forced to pay 11.9% more for their monthly premiums in 2026 or abandon their plans altogether. California also saw a 3% decrease in enrollment since last year when the ACA tax credits expired.
- The Big, Ugly Bill remains deeply unpopular. Recent Navigator polling shows the law underwater by 11 points in battleground districts and 18 points nationally, underscoring the political liability Valadao continues to face.
Read more on the impact of Valadao’s vote:
- CNN: How a vote for Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ put Republican David Valadao in danger of losing his seat
- Sacramento Bee: Rep. Valadao faces re-election challenge as Medi-Cal cuts affect Central Valley
- NBC News: Rep. David Valadao battles backlash in his swing district after voting for Medicaid cuts that hit close to home
- CalMatters: California Rep. David Valadao voted for Medi-Cal cuts. Will voters hold it against him?
- LA Times: Valadao votes for a Trump megabill expected to disrupt healthcare for many in the Central Valley
- Fresno Bee: Rep. David Valadao proves his empty vows to protect Medicaid were all lies | Opinion
DCCC Spokesperson Anna Elsasser:
“David Valadao betrayed his constituents when he voted for this Big, Ugly Bill. As a result of his shameful actions, hospitals are closing, children are losing food, and health care is being stripped away from tens of thousands of Central Valley families. Nowhere was hit harder than CA-22 from this vote, and Valadao is going to lose in November because of it.”
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