David Valadao Bio
David Goncalves Valadao (born April 14, 1977) is an American politician and dairy farmer serving as the U.S. representative for California’s 22nd congressional district. A Republican from the Central Valley, he represents a district that covers part of the San Joaquin Valley, an agricultural region whose economy depends heavily on farming and food production.
Valadao first won election to the U.S. House in 2012, served until 2019, lost a narrow race in 2018, and returned to Congress in 2020. He is widely known for his work on agriculture, water, and rural issues, and for being one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump during his second impeachment in 2021.
Early Life and Background
David Goncalves Valadao was born and raised in Hanford, California, in the San Joaquin Valley. His parents are Portuguese immigrants, and his father grew up on the Azores Islands before coming to the United States. In a 2013 interview, Valadao said his parents were originally registered Democrats but later switched to the Republican Party.
Valadao graduated from Hanford High School in 1995. From 1996 to 1998, he attended the College of the Sequoias in Visalia as a part-time student but did not complete a degree. He is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish, a skill that has helped him connect with the diverse communities of the Central Valley.
Path to US Politics
Valadao’s path to politics was shaped by his family’s long history in agriculture. His father established a dairy farm in Kings County, California, in 1969, and Valadao and his brother became partners in Valadao Dairy in 1992. He also served on the California Milk Advisory Board, the Western States Dairy Trade Association, and as the Regional Leadership Council chairman for Land O’ Lakes.
His first step into elected office came in 2010, when he ran for California’s 30th State Assembly district after Republican assemblyman Danny Gilmore retired. Valadao won the Republican primary with 78 percent of the vote and went on to defeat Shafter mayor Fran Florez in the general election, 61 percent to 39 percent, serving one term in the California State Assembly from 2010 to 2012.
David Valadao Career
Early Career (2010–2012)
Valadao began his political career in the California State Assembly, representing the 30th district. During his single term, he focused on issues affecting the Central Valley, including agriculture, water supply, and rural economic development. His work in Sacramento helped him build a reputation as a strong voice for farming communities.
In August 2011, after redistricting reshaped California’s congressional map, Valadao announced he would seek the Republican nomination for California’s 21st congressional district. The district had long been represented by Democrats, making his candidacy an early test of whether a Republican could win back the seat.
21st District Era (2012–2019)
Valadao made a strong first impression in his 2012 congressional campaign. In the June 5 open primary, he placed first with 57 percent of the vote, well ahead of Democrat John Hernandez and Fresno City Councilman Blong Xiong. In the November general election, he defeated Hernandez, 58 percent to 42 percent, becoming the first Republican to hold the seat in years.
He was easily reelected in 2014, winning 58 percent of the vote against Democrat Amanda Renteria and a rematch with John Hernandez. Two years later, in 2016, Valadao won a third term with 56.7 percent of the vote over Democrat Emilio Huerta, the son of United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta.
Valadao’s streak came to an end in 2018. After Democrat TJ Cox entered the race, the contest became one of the closest in the country. Valadao initially declared victory on election night, but a large number of mail-in ballots gave Cox a narrow lead. Cox officially won by just 862 votes, and Valadao conceded on December 6, 2018.
22nd District Era (2020–Present)
Valadao returned to Congress in 2020, defeating TJ Cox in a rematch by 1,754 votes, 51 percent to 49 percent, even though Joe Biden carried the district by ten points. The win showed Valadao’s continued strength in a district that often leans Democratic at the presidential level.
After California redistricted its congressional map in 2021, Valadao ran for the new 22nd congressional district in 2022. Despite his vote to impeach President Trump, Trump did not intervene in the primary, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy endorsed Valadao. Valadao advanced from the open primary and defeated state assemblyman Rudy Salas, a Democrat, 52 percent to 48 percent, becoming one of only two House Republicans who had voted to impeach Trump to remain in Congress.
In 2024, Valadao and Salas met again. Valadao placed first in the March open primary with about 33 percent of the vote, and on November 12, 2024, the Associated Press declared him the winner of the rematch with roughly 53.5 percent of the vote. His victories have made him a key voice for moderate Republicans in California.
Notable Events and Milestones
Valadao’s most defining moment came on January 13, 2021, when he was one of ten Republicans to vote for the second impeachment of President Donald Trump for inciting the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He said he had to go with his gut and vote his conscience, calling Trump’s rhetoric un-American and absolutely an impeachable offense. He was one of only two of those ten Republicans to win renomination and reelection in 2022, alongside Dan Newhouse of Washington.
David Valadao Career Wins
David Valadao has built a long record of electoral success in California’s Central Valley, winning five U.S. House races across two different congressional districts. His victories include wins in both Republican-leaning and Democratic-leaning environments, a rare feat in modern California politics.
21st and 22nd District Highlights
Valadao first won California’s 21st congressional district in 2012 and was reelected in 2014 and 2016. After losing narrowly in 2018, he returned to Congress in 2020 by defeating TJ Cox in a rematch. Following redistricting, he won the new 22nd district in 2022 and again in 2024 against Rudy Salas. His ability to win in a district that Joe Biden carried comfortably has made him one of the most successful moderate Republicans in the state.
Other Wins & Achievements
Before Congress, Valadao won election to the California State Assembly in 2010, representing the 30th district. In 2014 and 2016, the United States Chamber of Commerce awarded him its Spirit of Enterprise Award in recognition of his support for pro-business policies.
| Position | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Representative, California’s 21st District | 3 | 2012, 2014, 2016 |
| U.S. Representative, California’s 22nd District | 2 | 2022, 2024 |
| U.S. Representative, California’s 21st District (return) | 1 | 2020 |
| California State Assembly, 30th District | 1 | 2010 |
David Valadao Family
Family Background and Farming Lineage
Valadao comes from a Portuguese immigrant family with deep roots in California’s Central Valley. His parents moved to the United States from Portugal, with his father growing up on the Azores Islands. The family established a dairy farm in Kings County in 1969, and Valadao and his brother became partners in Valadao Dairy in 1992, continuing the family’s multi-generational work in agriculture.
Personal Life
David Goncalves Valadao lives in Hanford, California, with his wife, Terra Valadao, and their three children. He has been married to Terra since 1999. During his first tenure in the House, Valadao consistently ranked as the poorest member of Congress by net worth, reporting over $17.5 million in debt in 2018, largely from loans to the family’s dairy operation. He is a practicing Catholic.