2024 California (CA-22) US House of Representatives Voters Guide

Rudy Salas (D) vs David Valadao (R)

US House | Election | Nov 5, 2024

The Candidates

Rudy Salas

Rudy Salas

Democrat

David Valadao

David Valadao

Republican

Incumbent

The Issues

Abortion

Ban or legal?

Rudy Salas (D)

Legal. “Government shouldn’t be involved in a woman’s decision that she makes between herself, her doctor and within her own faith.” Sponsored a ballot measure to include access to abortion and contraceptives in the California Constitution.

David Valadao (R)

Ban. Sponsored a bill banning abortions without exceptions. Later said he supports exceptions for “rape, incest, life of the mother.” Is “pro-life.” Believes “human life” “should be protected at every stage.”

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Climate Change

Should climate change be a top priority?

Rudy Salas (D)

Mostly yes. “We need every tool to help us reduce waste, clean the air and produce renewable energy.” Also supports biomass energy and nuclear energy. Voted against requiring net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

David Valadao (R)

Mostly no. Opposed a bill addressing climate change. Opposed a carbon tax. Supported incentivizing farmers to use renewables. Sponsored a bill fostering climate-smart farming. In 2014 said climate change didn’t cause California drought.

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Criminal Justice

How to ensure effectiveness and fairness in law enforcement?

Rudy Salas (D)

Introduced a bill to fund hiring police in their own communities, to bring trust between the community and the officers. Introduced a bill helping prevent hiring police with a misconduct history, to hold them “accountable” and “root out bad cops.”

David Valadao (R)

Voted against addressing racial profiling and use of deadly force. Supports funding de-escalation training and mental health services for police, so they “know they have our support.” Supports providing childcare to deal with a police shortage.

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Economy

Decrease or increase government investment in, and regulation of, the economy?

Rudy Salas (D)

Increase. Voted to require community and employment benefits in new clean energy projects. Secured funding for workforce training at a growing community college. Supports overtime pay for farmworkers and state budget funding for infrastructure.

David Valadao (R)

Mixed. Opposed two bipartisan bills funding infrastructure and boosting domestic manufacturing. Supports spending more to deal with drought. Supported a short-term suspension of a gas tax and a community project funding bill.

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Education

Limit teaching about racism and gender identity?

Rudy Salas (D)

No. Supported requiring high school students to complete ethnic studies to graduate. Supported protecting parents who let their children get gender-affirming care—and providers of such care, regardless of other states’ laws.

David Valadao (R)

Yes. Sponsored a bill expanding parents’ rights to review curriculum and requiring parental consent to a student’s pronoun change. Supported a ban on transgender athletes competing on girls’ sports teams.

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Environment

Loosen or tighten environmental regulations?

Rudy Salas (D)

Mixed. Voted to reform permitting on wind and solar projects, and to regulate carbon capture. Opposed strengthening rules on new and abandoned oil wells. Opposed banning plastic packaging. Opposes ending oil drilling; importing oil from countries with far less regulation “doesn’t make sense.”

David Valadao (R)

Loosen. Requested that EPA accelerate processing of carbon storage infrastructure and allow states more authority. To address water storage infrastructure and water shortage, sponsored a bill lessening endangered species protections. Authored a bill removing limits on access to water supply.

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Gun Laws

Loosen or tighten gun regulation?

Rudy Salas (D)

Mixed. Voted to ban firearm marketing to minors. Voted to enable police seizure of ghost guns from people with restraining orders. Voted against a ban on manufacturing firearms without a state license. Voted against tightening the permit application process.

David Valadao (R)

Loosen. Opposed banning assault weapons. Opposed raising the legal age for gun purchases and criminalizing gun trafficking. Voted against expanding background checks.

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Health Care

Increase or decrease government support for healthcare?

Rudy Salas (D)

Increase. Would work to lower drug costs and insurance premiums. Supports Obamacare and wants to expand Medicare. In 2020 voted for California to produce its own drugs like insulin more affordably.

David Valadao (R)

Mixed. Says Obamacare “failed” and would ensure “health care remains in the hands of” the “doctor, not the government.” Sponsored bills funding hospitals in underserved communities and asthma patients.

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Immigration

How to handle immigration? Support a path to citizenship for “DACA” participants brought to the US as children?

Rudy Salas (D)

Supports better securing the border and revising the asylum process. Believes in “a pathway to citizenship” for “law-abiding” people. Supported a bill making non-citizens who meet certain requirements eligible for an election to a Democratic county central committee.

David Valadao (R)

Supports comprehensive reform by combatting illegal immigration and creating “a fair process” for earning citizenship. Supported bills providing paths to legal status to Dreamers and farmworkers. Voted to tighten border security.

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Labor

Make it easier or harder for unions to organize?

Rudy Salas (D)

Easier. Is “proud to stand in solidarity with” the California Labor Federation, which endorsed him. Supported bills protecting faculty bargaining rights, giving farmworkers more ways to vote in union elections, and giving family childcare providers the right to unionize.

David Valadao (R)

Mostly harder. Opposed expanding union organizing rights. Supported ending a rail shutdown by voting for an agreement between unions and management, but opposed a related bill giving railroad workers seven sick days.

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LGBTQ Rights

Limit or expand LGBTQ rights?

Rudy Salas (D)

Expand. Opposes “discrimination against LGBTQ Americans.” Voted to protect the privacy of people receiving gender-affirming care. Voted to require trans-inclusive healthcare training.

David Valadao (R)

Mixed. Opposed anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people. Supported recognizing same-sex marriages. Voted to ensure equal credit opportunities for LGBTQ businesses. Supported banning trans women on girls’ sports teams.

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Marijuana

Ban or legal?

Rudy Salas (D)

Unclear. Voted against clearing past cannabis convictions. Voted against allowing parental administration of medical cannabis at schools. Voted to keep a cannabis cultivation tax.

David Valadao (R)

Mixed. Opposed decriminalizing cannabis and expunging cannabis arrests and convictions. Voted to protect financial institutions servicing cannabis-related businesses. Voted to advance research on cannabis.

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Minimum Wage

Raise the federal minimum from $7.25 per hour?

Rudy Salas (D)

Yes, but unclear how much. Calls $7.25 “low.” In 2013 voted to gradually raise CA’s minimum wage to $10 per hour by 2016. Did not vote on a 2016 bill to raise it steadily to $15 in 2022.

David Valadao (R)

No position found.

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Student Financial Aid

Support lowering interest on student loans and/or forgiving them?

Rudy Salas (D)

Support. Voted to increase awareness of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for community college faculty. Supported an effort to increase the number of Californians accessing loan forgiveness programs.

David Valadao (R)

No. Voted to repeal Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan. Voted to end the pandemic student loan payment pause.

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Taxes

Raise or lower taxes on corporations and wealthier individuals?

Rudy Salas (D)

No recent position found. In 2019 voted to increase tax rates for Californians making $1 million and above.

David Valadao (R)

Lower. Voted for the 2017 Trump tax cuts that included the largest corporate cuts in US history and major tax cuts for the wealthy. Voted to rescind $45.6 billion in funding that would enforce the tax code for businesses or households making over $400,000.

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Voting Rules

Make voting harder or easier?

Rudy Salas (D)

Mostly easier. Would “protect the right to vote for all Americans” while preventing “voter fraud.” Voted to continue California’s universal vote-by-mail system. Voted against allowing convicted felons to register and vote while on parole.

David Valadao (R)

Harder. Supports bolstering “election security.” Sponsored a bill requiring voter photo ID and banning Washington, DC from mailing out ballots. Voted against expanding voting access.

Click To Share Stance

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Rudy Salas

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David Valadao

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Rudy Salas

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See guides.vote for online guides with links & sources https://www.rudysalas.com/ https://valadaoforcongress.com/
Abortion

Ban or legal?

Legal. “Government shouldn’t be involved in a woman’s decision that she makes between herself, her doctor and within her own faith.” Sponsored a ballot measure to include access to abortion and contraceptives in the California Constitution.Ban. Sponsored a bill banning abortions without exceptions. Later said he supports exceptions for “rape, incest, life of the mother.” Is “pro-life.” Believes “human life” “should be protected at every stage.”
Climate Change

Should climate change be a top priority?

Mostly yes. “We need every tool to help us reduce waste, clean the air and produce renewable energy.” Also supports biomass energy and nuclear energy. Voted against requiring net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.Mostly no. Opposed a bill addressing climate change. Opposed a carbon tax. Supported incentivizing farmers to use renewables. Sponsored a bill fostering climate-smart farming. In 2014 said climate change didn’t cause California drought.
Criminal Justice

How to ensure effectiveness and fairness in law enforcement?

Introduced a bill to fund hiring police in their own communities, to bring trust between the community and the officers. Introduced a bill helping prevent hiring police with a misconduct history, to hold them “accountable” and “root out bad cops.”Voted against addressing racial profiling and use of deadly force. Supports funding de-escalation training and mental health services for police, so they “know they have our support.” Supports providing childcare to deal with a police shortage.
Economy

Decrease or increase government investment in, and regulation of, the economy?

Increase. Voted to require community and employment benefits in new clean energy projects. Secured funding for workforce training at a growing community college. Supports overtime pay for farmworkers and state budget funding for infrastructure.Mixed. Opposed two bipartisan bills funding infrastructure and boosting domestic manufacturing. Supports spending more to deal with drought. Supported a short-term suspension of a gas tax and a community project funding bill.
Education

Limit teaching about racism and gender identity?

No. Supported requiring high school students to complete ethnic studies to graduate. Supported protecting parents who let their children get gender-affirming care—and providers of such care, regardless of other states’ laws.Yes. Sponsored a bill expanding parents’ rights to review curriculum and requiring parental consent to a student’s pronoun change. Supported a ban on transgender athletes competing on girls’ sports teams.
Environment

Loosen or tighten environmental regulations?

Mixed. Voted to reform permitting on wind and solar projects, and to regulate carbon capture. Opposed strengthening rules on new and abandoned oil wells. Opposed banning plastic packaging. Opposes ending oil drilling; importing oil from countries with far less regulation “doesn’t make sense.”Loosen. Requested that EPA accelerate processing of carbon storage infrastructure and allow states more authority. To address water storage infrastructure and water shortage, sponsored a bill lessening endangered species protections. Authored a bill removing limits on access to water supply.
Gun Laws

Loosen or tighten gun regulation?

Mixed. Voted to ban firearm marketing to minors. Voted to enable police seizure of ghost guns from people with restraining orders. Voted against a ban on manufacturing firearms without a state license. Voted against tightening the permit application process.Loosen. Opposed banning assault weapons. Opposed raising the legal age for gun purchases and criminalizing gun trafficking. Voted against expanding background checks.
Health Care

Increase or decrease government support for healthcare?

Increase. Would work to lower drug costs and insurance premiums. Supports Obamacare and wants to expand Medicare. In 2020 voted for California to produce its own drugs like insulin more affordably.Mixed. Says Obamacare “failed” and would ensure “health care remains in the hands of” the “doctor, not the government.” Sponsored bills funding hospitals in underserved communities and asthma patients.
Immigration

How to handle immigration? Support a path to citizenship for “DACA” participants brought to the US as children?

Supports better securing the border and revising the asylum process. Believes in “a pathway to citizenship” for “law-abiding” people. Supported a bill making non-citizens who meet certain requirements eligible for an election to a Democratic county central committee.Supports comprehensive reform by combatting illegal immigration and creating “a fair process” for earning citizenship. Supported bills providing paths to legal status to Dreamers and farmworkers. Voted to tighten border security.
Labor

Make it easier or harder for unions to organize?

Easier. Is “proud to stand in solidarity with” the California Labor Federation, which endorsed him. Supported bills protecting faculty bargaining rights, giving farmworkers more ways to vote in union elections, and giving family childcare providers the right to unionize.Mostly harder. Opposed expanding union organizing rights. Supported ending a rail shutdown by voting for an agreement between unions and management, but opposed a related bill giving railroad workers seven sick days.
LGBTQ Rights

Limit or expand LGBTQ rights?

Expand. Opposes “discrimination against LGBTQ Americans.” Voted to protect the privacy of people receiving gender-affirming care. Voted to require trans-inclusive healthcare training.Mixed. Opposed anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people. Supported recognizing same-sex marriages. Voted to ensure equal credit opportunities for LGBTQ businesses. Supported banning trans women on girls’ sports teams.
Marijuana

Ban or legal?

Unclear. Voted against clearing past cannabis convictions. Voted against allowing parental administration of medical cannabis at schools. Voted to keep a cannabis cultivation tax.Mixed. Opposed decriminalizing cannabis and expunging cannabis arrests and convictions. Voted to protect financial institutions servicing cannabis-related businesses. Voted to advance research on cannabis.
Minimum Wage

Raise the federal minimum from $7.25 per hour?

Yes, but unclear how much. Calls $7.25 “low.” In 2013 voted to gradually raise CA’s minimum wage to $10 per hour by 2016. Did not vote on a 2016 bill to raise it steadily to $15 in 2022.No position found.
Student Financial Aid

Support lowering interest on student loans and/or forgiving them?

Support. Voted to increase awareness of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for community college faculty. Supported an effort to increase the number of Californians accessing loan forgiveness programs.No. Voted to repeal Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan. Voted to end the pandemic student loan payment pause.
Taxes

Raise or lower taxes on corporations and wealthier individuals?

No recent position found. In 2019 voted to increase tax rates for Californians making $1 million and above.Lower. Voted for the 2017 Trump tax cuts that included the largest corporate cuts in US history and major tax cuts for the wealthy. Voted to rescind $45.6 billion in funding that would enforce the tax code for businesses or households making over $400,000.
Voting Rules

Make voting harder or easier?

Mostly easier. Would “protect the right to vote for all Americans” while preventing “voter fraud.” Voted to continue California’s universal vote-by-mail system. Voted against allowing convicted felons to register and vote while on parole.Harder. Supports bolstering “election security.” Sponsored a bill requiring voter photo ID and banning Washington, DC from mailing out ballots. Voted against expanding voting access.

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