Medicaid Vote Sparks Challenge to GOP Rep in California’s Central Valley

In Bakersfield, California, Medicaid recipient Ulises Hernandez staged a protest after an eight-hour ER wait, blaming Rep. David Valadao for supporting the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which seeks to reduce Medicaid spending by more than $900 billion through stricter eligibility and work requirements. Valadao argued the bill does not cut benefits, but a Center for American Progress estimate suggests 60,000 district residents could be uninsured by 2034, with California projected to lose about $30 billion a year.

Democrat Randy Villegas, a political science professor backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, is running on a Medicare-for-All platform to capture the district, where roughly six in ten voters depend on Medicaid. Both parties have poured over $32 million into campaign ads, highlighting the race’s potential to affect congressional control. Local voters such as Seslie Maese remain undecided, citing Valadao’s perceived reversal on Medicaid promises. The contest reflects the broader national divide over health-care policy ahead of the November 3 election.