California Republican who impeached Trump wins reelection
Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) will win another term representing his House district, a key victory for Republicans trying to keep their narrow House majority, Decision Desk HQ projects.
Valadao defeated Democrat Rudy Salas in a rematch of the 2022 race for California’s 22nd Congressional District. His win is particularly notable because he was running in a district that comfortably voted for President Biden in 2020, making him a prime target for Democrats.
He also was likely to have to rely on split-ticket voting again with Vice President Harris expected to carry the district. One poll from October showed her leading former President Trump by 14 points.
Valadao only beat Salas two years ago by 3 points but was able to hang on for another term. Salas is a former California state Assembly member.
Valadao’s victory is also notable because he's one of two remaining House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The other one is Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), who won reelection earlier on Thursday, according to Decision Desk/The Hill HQ.
The other eight House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump either declined to run for reelection or lost in the 2022 midterms. Trump boosted primary opponents to several of these members but did not focus as much as ousting Valadao.