Election 2026

Independent, source-first accountability

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Issue record

Water and infrastructure

In short

Villegas's campaign would create jobs fixing roads, bridges and water systems, and bring rural broadband. Valadao's campaign calls a safe, stable water supply critical to the Central Valley and its farms. Valadao voted for a 2025 law with $1 billion for western water storage and conveyance, and for 2026 spending laws funding wells and water projects he requested. The 2025 law's text cannot show who secured that money, and agencies still award the grants.

Campaign positions

What each campaign says.

Randy Villegas

Would create jobs building and repairing roads, bridges and drinking-water systems and bringing broadband to rural areas, citing Central Valley families without safe, affordable water from the tap.

David G. Valadao

His campaign says a safe and stable water supply is critical to the Central Valley and its agriculture, and that he will fight to address local needs during drought.

Evidence timeline

What the record shows.

  1. official action

    David G. Valadao: Matches stated direction

    In March 2026 Interior gave $540 million from the 2025 law he voted for to water projects across the Central Valley, not just his district; no record shows his part.

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    In the October 6 KGET debate, Valadao said he brought over $500 million to the district this year alone, including $500 million to help the Central Valley develop more water infrastructure, money he tied to the 2025 reconciliation law. On March 17, 2026 the Interior Department gave $540 million of the law's $1 billion for Bureau of Reclamation water storage and conveyance to Central Valley projects: $235 million for the Delta-Mendota Canal, $200 million for the Friant-Kern Canal, $50 million for the San Luis Canal, $15 million for a Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority pumping plant and $40 million to plan raising Shasta Dam. The $1 billion is in section 50501 of Public Law 119-21, which he voted for (Roll Call 190). Limit: Interior's $540 million matches his figure, but it goes to projects the length of the Central Valley, not just his district. Interior picked them, and no record checked here shows his part.

  2. official action

    David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

    Two 2026 spending laws he voted for fund his requests for Bakersfield senior housing, two wells, an Arvin street and an Arvin-Edison water district project; agencies still award the grants.

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    In the October 6 KGET debate, Valadao said that through the appropriations process he helped with a seniors' building coming to Kern County, with roads and with wells, and that his appropriations helped communities such as Arvin, including a project bringing water to Arvin's edge to help its wells. Two 2026 spending laws he voted for (Roll Calls 7 and 53) fund projects their explanatory statements list him as requesting, including $7,575,000 for the Kern County Housing Authority's Bakersfield Senior Center affordable housing, $1,250,000 for a street project in Arvin, $2,000,000 each for a new well in Kings County and a replacement well in McFarland, and $2,000,000 for an Arvin-Edison Water Storage District water supply project. They are Public Laws 119-74 and 119-75. The same tables list him for four more road projects worth $13,000,000. Limit: The tables name him as the House member who asked for each project; agencies still award the grants. He did not name the Arvin water project, so the Arvin-Edison one shown here may not be the one he meant.

  3. official action

    David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

    The 2025 law he voted for gives the Bureau of Reclamation $1 billion for water storage and conveyance across the West, but its text can't show who secured it.

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    Full detail

    He said he secured $1 billion in western water storage and conveyance funding in the reconciliation law. Section 50501 of Public Law 119-21 appropriates $1,000,000,000 to the Bureau of Reclamation, available until September 30, 2034, to restore or increase the capacity of existing Reclamation conveyance facilities and to increase the capacity of existing Reclamation surface water storage. None of it is reimbursable or subject to cost-sharing. He voted Aye on the final bill (Roll Call 190). Limit: The appropriation exists at the figure and for the purpose he states. It is the Bureau of Reclamation's to spend “in a manner as determined by the Secretary of the Interior”, across the West rather than in his district, and the law's text cannot show who secured it. “Secured” is his account of his role, which no record checked here confirms or contradicts. The House bill he voted for in May carried more, in two sections: $2 billion for surface storage and $500 million for conveyance (sections 80203 and 80204). The enacted law merges them into the $1 billion he cites.

  4. official action

    David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

    He voted for the WIIN Act, law since December 2016, which told agencies to maximize Delta pumping within fish limits; most of its California part expired in 2021.

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    Full detail

    In the October 6 KGET debate, Valadao said that at the end of 2016, under the Obama administration, they passed the WIIN Act with changes that let them move water through the Delta. He voted Aye when the House passed the WIIN Act on December 8, 2016, 360-61 (Roll Call 622), and it became Public Law 114-322 on December 16, 2016. Its California water subtitle tells federal agencies to provide the most water practicable to Central Valley Project contractors, and to run the south Delta pumps at the most negative river flow the fish biological opinions allow, to maximize supplies, unless that harms listed fish more than those opinions expected or breaks state law (sections 4001 and 4002). Limit: The law changed how the pumps are run; it does not show how much more water moved. Most of the California subtitle expired five years after enactment, in December 2021.

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Sources21 source records

How we use sources

  1. Issues: Jobs and the economyhttps://www.villegasforcongress.com/issues/jobs-the-economy

    Villegas for Congress · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Campaign-controlled.

    candidate statement

    For: Randy Villegas: campaign position

  2. Issues: Waterhttps://valadaoforcongress.com/water/

    Valadao for Congress · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Campaign-controlled; undated.

    candidate statement

    For: David G. Valadao: campaign position

  3. KGET 17/KSEE24 CA-22 debate, Valadao on Central Valley water money, 20:20https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlTfMhDMlpQ&t=1220s

    KGET 17 News, with KSEE24 · Published Oct 6, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    20:26-20:42. Paraphrased, not quoted: one copy of YouTube's English captions; no second English transcript.

    candidate statement

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated direction

  4. KGET 17/KSEE24 CA-22 debate, Valadao on what the 2025 law carried, 26:00https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlTfMhDMlpQ&t=1560s

    KGET 17 News, with KSEE24 · Published Oct 6, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    26:03-26:19. Paraphrased, not quoted: one copy of YouTube's English captions; no second English transcript.

    candidate statement

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated direction

  5. Interior Announces $889 Million Investment in Western Water Infrastructurehttps://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-announces-889-million-investment-western-water-infrastructure-through

    U.S. Department of the Interior · Published Mar 17, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    Interior's allocation of the 2025 law's $1 billion for water storage and conveyance: $540 million to Central Valley projects, listed by canal and dam.

    official office record

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated direction

  6. Public Law 119-21 (H.R. 1, 119th Congress)https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ21/html/PLAW-119publ21.htm

    U.S. Government Publishing Office · Published Jul 4, 2025 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The enacted text, read in full from GovInfo. Used for sections 50501 (water conveyance and storage), 71112 (retroactive coverage), 71119 (community engagement requirement) and 71401 (Rural Health Transformation Program). Also used for sections 50101 (onshore lease sales), 70103, 70104, 70201 and 70202 (senior deduction, child credit, tips, overtime), and 70512 and 70513 (wind and solar credits).

    official legislative record

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated direction; David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

  7. Roll Call 190, H.R. 1, on concurring in the Senate amendmenthttps://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025190

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    Recorded vote of July 3, 2025, read from the Clerk's roll-call XML by his member ID. Agreed to 218-214; the bill became law the next day.

    official legislative record

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated direction; David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

  8. KGET 17/KSEE24 CA-22 debate, Valadao on local projects, 13:00https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlTfMhDMlpQ&t=780s

    KGET 17 News, with KSEE24 · Published Oct 6, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    13:03-13:18. Paraphrased, not quoted: one copy of YouTube's English captions; no second English transcript.

    candidate statement

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

  9. KGET 17/KSEE24 CA-22 debate, Valadao on Arvin, 47:54https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlTfMhDMlpQ&t=2874s

    KGET 17 News, with KSEE24 · Published Oct 6, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    47:57-48:14. Paraphrased, not quoted: one copy of YouTube's English captions; no second English transcript.

    candidate statement

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

  10. Explanatory statement on H.R. 7148, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2026-01-22/html/CREC-2026-01-22-pt2-PgH1353-2.htm

    Congressional Record, U.S. Government Publishing Office · Published Jan 22, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    The housing and transportation project tables list him as the House requester of $7,575,000 for the Bakersfield Senior Center affordable housing, $1,250,000 for Arvin's 4th Street project and four more road projects worth $13,000,000.

    official legislative record

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

  11. FY26 Interior and Environment project table, as enacted (document)

    Senate Committee on Appropriations · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    The project table for the Interior division of Public Law 119-74, built by GPO. It lists him as House requester of $2,000,000 each for the Arvin-Edison project and wells in McFarland and Kings County; Senator Padilla also requested the Kings County well.

    official legislative record

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

  12. Public Law 119-74 (H.R. 6938, 119th Congress)https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ74/html/PLAW-119publ74.htm

    U.S. Government Publishing Office · Published Jan 23, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    Signed January 23, 2026. Section 4 gives the House explanatory statement the effect of a conference report's; Division C is the Interior and Environment act.

    official legislative record

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

  13. Public Law 119-75 (H.R. 7148, 119th Congress), Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ75/html/PLAW-119publ75.htm

    U.S. Government Publishing Office · Published Feb 3, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    Signed February 3, 2026. Section 4 gives the House explanatory statement the effect of a conference report's; Division D is the transportation and housing act.

    official legislative record

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

  14. Roll Call 7, H.R. 6938, Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026, on passagehttps://clerk.house.gov/Votes/20267

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    Recorded vote of January 8, 2026, read from the Clerk's roll-call XML by his member ID. Passed 397-28.

    official legislative record

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

  15. Roll Call 53, H.R. 7148, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, on concurring in the Senate amendmentshttps://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202653

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    Recorded vote of February 3, 2026, read from the Clerk's roll-call XML by his member ID. Agreed to 217-214.

    official legislative record

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

  16. Congressman Valadao Releases Statement After House Budget Reconciliation Votehttps://valadao.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3103

    Office of Congressman David G. Valadao · Published Jul 3, 2025 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    His congressional office's press release on his final vote for H.R. 1, in his own words. It makes several claims about what he secured in the law.

    candidate statement

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

  17. H.R. 1 as passed by the House, May 22, 2025 (engrossed text)https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-119hr1eh/html/BILLS-119hr1eh.htm

    U.S. Government Publishing Office · Published May 22, 2025 · Reviewed Sep 23, 2026

    The text the House passed on May 22, 2025, read in full from GovInfo. Used for section 44122 (retroactive coverage) and sections 80203 and 80204 (surface water storage and conveyance). A search of the full text for "Rural Health Transformation" returns nothing.

    official legislative record

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

  18. KGET 17/KSEE24 CA-22 debate, Valadao on the 2016 WIIN Act, 47:14https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlTfMhDMlpQ&t=2834s

    KGET 17 News, with KSEE24 · Published Oct 6, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    47:29-47:35. Paraphrased, not quoted: one copy of YouTube's English captions; no second English transcript.

    candidate statement

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

  19. Roll Call 622, S. 612 (the WIIN Act), on passagehttps://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2016622

    Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    Recorded vote of December 8, 2016, read from the Clerk's roll-call XML by his member ID. Passed 360-61; the House passed the Senate bill with its WIIN Act amendment.

    official legislative record

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

  20. S. 612, House amendment of December 8, 2016https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-114s612eah/html/BILLS-114s612eah.htm

    U.S. Government Publishing Office · Published Dec 8, 2016 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    The text the House passed, which replaced the Senate bill with the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act.

    official legislative record

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim

  21. Public Law 114-322 (S. 612, 114th Congress), the WIIN Acthttps://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-114publ322/html/PLAW-114publ322.htm

    U.S. Government Publishing Office · Published Dec 16, 2016 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    The enacted text. Used for sections 4001, 4002 and 4013 of its California water subtitle.

    official legislative record

    For: David G. Valadao: Matches stated record claim