After winning elections, Central Valley Republicans must deliver on promises in Congress | Opinion
They were designated among the most vulnerable Congressmembers because their agriculturally rich districts are Latino majority, have a Democratic registration edge, had highly contested previous races, and polling showed their opponents with slight leads.
The rematch of 2022 contests saw candidates raise more than $4 million each, while outside groups spent more than $24 million in each race, according to Open Secrets. In the end, Republican incumbents John Duarte in Congressional District 13 and David Valadao in District 22 kept their seats and will most likely return to a GOP-controlled House.
Although final numbers have yet to be determined, Duarte enjoys a 3,003-vote margin against former Assemblymember Adam Gray. In 2022, the Modesto nurseryman mustered a 564-vote victory over Gray.
Meanwhile, Valadao, a perennial target for Democrats, has a more comfortable 9,961-vote advantage over ex-Assemblymember Rudy Salas. Two years ago, the Hanford dairyman won by 3,132 votes. Valadao appears headed to his sixth term in seven tries.
Both seats remain in Republican hands, so Duarte and Valadao are not expected to move much from their previous positions on water, immigration reform, taxes or freeing businesses from burdensome regulations. However, their voices will be amplified because President Donald J. Trump is back in the White House, the GOP regained control of the Senate for the first time since Trump's first two years in office, and the House is expected to keep its majority.
That means Republicans will be able to push their priority bills. Both Valley representatives have shown their willingness to buck the party on occasion (Valadao on impeachment; Duarte on immigration).
Duarte, Valadao should blunt deportation
Duarte and Valadao are in position to soften the impact if Trump delivers on his promise of massive deportation. Trump's immigration advisor Stephen Miller used social media to state last year : "Yes. We started a new denaturalization project under Trump. In 2025, expect it to be turbocharged."
Duarte and Valadao understand that Valley farmers and growers depend on undocumented labor. So do the construction and service industries. A massive deportation would take a sledgehammer against the region's economy.
Valadao has favored comprehensive immigration reform. "Reforming our nation's immigration system is a massive undertaking, one that should be examined carefully on every level," Valadao, the son of Portuguese immigrants, posted on his website . "Comprehensive immigration reform will remain my top priority until a solution is reached."
Valadao, one of the few Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, told McClatchy he doesn't support Trump's mass deportation proposals, though he supports toughening asylum laws and border enforcement.
Duarte, meanwhile, introduced an immigration reform plan on Oct. 24 that provides an amnesty program and takes care of DACA (Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients once the border wall is built.
"So, families who have been here five years or more would be eligible for an amnesty program, and again, eventually a green card," Duarte said at an Oct. 31 campaign stop in Patterson. "But all of the amnesty programs are contingent upon border security."
Other issues that must be addressed
Farm bill: Congress has yet to authorize a new Farm Bill since the previous one expired in 2018 and extended to Sept. 30. It has since been punted to the new Congress. The Farm Bill, which is rewritten every five years, helps shape food and agriculture, trade, and rural economies.
Duarte and Valadao are in unique positions to make sure nutrition assistance is not drastically slashed, and that farmers have the tools to cope with climate change and run a sustainable operation.
Social issues: Valadao has tried to sidestep the national GOP's talking points on the culture war. But he walked back previous support of an exception-free, 15-week abortion ban. Duarte was quoted in an October debate in Merced defending gay rights. "I want same-sex marriage available, protected, enshrined, respected and celebrated every day," Duarte said. "I couldn't support it more and I'm proud to stand by it."
Water: We need water for farming, and clean drinking water for Valley residents who live in a region the United Nations said has yet to attain the goal of universal access to clean water. Droughts and overpumping of groundwater in the Valley have resulted in a need to balance those needs. Duarte and Valadao have called for improving water storage infrastructure.
