A prominent Democratic figure and practicing physician, Dr. Jasmeet Bains, announced her candidacy on Wednesday to take on Central Valley Republican Rep. David Valadao in the upcoming November elections. This race is being closely monitored as Democrats aim to regain control of the House.
Dr. Bains, who serves as an assembly member from Bakersfield, is motivated by widespread voter anger over Valadao’s support for President Donald Trump’s controversial domestic policy bill that experts warn could jeopardize health coverage for millions of low-income Californians. According to the California Budget and Policy Center, nearly 290,000 residents in Valadao’s district may be in danger of losing their health insurance.
“That vote was really a betrayal,” Bains commented during an interview with CalMatters. “I did not envision ever running for Congress. But this is a matter of a doctor upholding her Hippocratic Oath that she took to protect her patients.”
For his part, Valadao has represented the Central Valley for ten of the past twelve years and previously made assurances that he would not back any initiatives that would endanger Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program for low-income individuals and those with disabilities. Just a week before the crucial vote, he had expressed intentions to challenge the U.S. Senate’s version of the legislation, should it return to the House.
However, on July 2, Valadao voted “aye” when the bill came before him, prompting backlash from constituents, particularly since over two-thirds of his district’s residents depend on Medi-Cal for their health care.
Bains’ candidacy has gained traction since she has hinted at running for the past few months. In May, she featured in an ad campaign funded by SEIU California that urged viewers to contact Valadao to oppose the GOP megabill. Political insiders noted that a social media post Bains made shortly after the House voted in favor of the bill indicated her intention to enter the race.
“My community overwhelmingly elected me to office to fight for them because they know I am not afraid to go to any length to protect them,” Bains stated on X, the day after the megabill passed. “It might be time to call in the doctor!”
As of now, Bains joins Randy Villegas, a trustee on the Visalia School Board and college professor, as the only two confirmed challengers in this race. Former Assemblymember Rudy Salas, who previously ran against Valadao in 2022 and 2024, has filed paperwork for a 2026 campaign, but he has not made a formal announcement. His recent campaign fundraising totaled less than $60 for the latest quarter. Additionally, Clovis Democrat Eric Garcia, a disabled Marine veteran who has run three times unsuccessfully in the primaries, also declared his candidacy recently.
Bains shared that many of her patients have encouraged her to take action regarding escalating health care costs and the challenge of finding access to physicians. In her role within the Assembly, she has played a pivotal role in efforts to bring a University of California medical campus to her district. Furthermore, she obtained $8 million in state funding for a local initiative aimed at combating the fentanyl crisis, an area she is particularly passionate about due to her background in addiction treatment.
Valadao’s seat is receiving significant attention as he has only faced a single loss, which occurred during the Democratic wave of 2018. This period saw voters express discontent with the first Trump administration and resulted in Democrats regaining control of the House based on backlash against the GOP’s failed attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Valadao has defended his controversial vote by arguing that it was a complicated decision that still kept protected groups in mind. In his words: “Ultimately, I voted for this bill because it does preserve the Medicaid program for its intended recipients – children, pregnant women, the disabled, and elderly. No piece of legislation is perfect.”
Christian Martinez from the National Republican Congressional Committee labeled Bains a “radical Democrat,” asserting that Californians deserve a better option.
Since securing her Assembly seat in 2022, Bains has made headlines as a moderate Democrat willing to challenge her party’s positions. For instance, she was the only Democrat to oppose Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal to penalize oil companies surpassing state-regulated profit margins, resulting in her temporary removal from the Business and Professions Committee by former Speaker Anthony Rendon.
Bains emphasized her commitment to her constituents’ needs. “My constituents have seen me take on my party when it comes to having their back,” she remarked, noting her frustration that a representative could not resonate similarly with voters in the district.
Growing up in Delano as the daughter of Indian immigrants, Bains returned to the Central Valley after completing her education at the Illinois Institute of Technology. When the Great Recession led to friends and neighbors losing their jobs and healthcare, she pivoted from a career at her father’s Chevrolet dealership in Taft and pursued medical school in Antigua.
After returning to Kern County for her residency, she continues to see patients during weekends, exemplifying her commitment to her community. Notably, in April, she attended a Business and Professions Committee hearing still wearing her scrubs after working late at the clinic.
However, both candidates, Bains and Valadao, will need to secure their positions in the June primary before they can face each other in the general election.
Comparatively, Villegas aligns more to the left than Bains, associating himself with the Working Families Party. He has refrained from identifying strictly as a “progressive,” opting instead to label himself an “economic populist.” Some strategists express concerns that his leanings may be too liberal for Central Valley voters.
Since beginning his campaign in mid-April, Villegas has raised over $230,000. Local Democratic leadership is optimistic Bains could emerge as the frontrunner due to her established name recognition as both a doctor and an assembly member, especially in an election cycle where health care will likely play a central role.
Yet, party chairs in Kern, Kings, and Tulare argue that Bains does not have a guaranteed path to victory, particularly given her reputation as a political outsider who diverges from party leadership.
Cathleen Jorgensen, chair of the Kings County Democrats, expressed concern over Bains not engaging with local party leadership. She remarked, “I wished the party could present a unified front behind a single candidate from now until next November, rather than allow multiple candidates to compete against each other in the primary. I’m worried that it might become negative.”
Christian Romo, chair of the Kern County Democrats, echoed similar sentiments, warning that while health care is a pressing issue now, the political landscape could shift prior to June 2. He indicated the risk of running on a single-issue platform, emphasizing that it will require sustained momentum to remind voters consistently about Valadao’s vote on the megabill. Without this continued focus, it might prove challenging for Bains to secure a win.
“If we don’t keep that momentum, if we don’t keep reminding people that you’re going to lose health insurance, you’re going to lose your food assistance, you’re going to lose your veterans’ benefits and services that we desperately depend on,” Romo warned, “then I don’t see us winning.”
image source from：calmatters
