The Working Families Party announced its endorsement of Randy Villegas in California’s 22nd Congressional District, making an early play in one of the most-watched Congressional races in the country.

“The Central Valley deserves an unbought and tested champion for working families in Congress,” said Jane Kim, Director of the California Working Families Party. “Randy Villegas has been fighting for students and families as a School Board Trustee and educator. And like hundreds of thousands of his neighbors, Randy has relied on Medicaid and knows the difference affordable and accessible health care can make in the lives of children and families. He’ll fight to expand access to health care, not rip it away.”

Villegas—an educator, school board trustee, and son of immigrants—is challenging incumbent David Valadao. The district, which spans Fresno, Tulare, and Kings Counties, has the highest rate of Medicaid beneficiaries in the country. More than two-thirds of residents in CD-22 rely on Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program.

Earlier this month, after repeatedly pledging not to vote for any cuts to Medicaid, Valadao voted for the largest Medicaid cuts in history, threatening health care for hundreds of thousands of residents in the Central Valley.

“I’m proud to earn the support of the Working Families Party,” said Randy Villegas. “Working families across the Valley need a government that works for us, not for corporations and billionaires. I’m running to fight for that future—and to fight against the broken status quo that’s failed our families time and time again.”

Villegas is part of a growing wave of working-class candidates refusing to take money from corporate PACs. His endorsement follows a record-breaking first quarter of fundraising, with Villegas’ campaign raising over $231,000 from 3,357 unique donors. 

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