Some House Democrats are celebrating Randy Villegas’ Democratic primary win, setting him up to face Republican Rep. David Valadao in a highly competitive race in California’s Central Valley this November.
Villegas defeated Jasmeet Bains, a California state assemblywoman who was backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the House Democrats’ campaign operation. The AP called the race for Villegas about a week after Election Day.
Villegas’ win over Bains marks the first time that a DCCC pick has not advanced to the general election this cycle. His victory, members say, sends a clear message to the DCCC: Stop getting involved in Democratic primaries. This dynamic is also playing out in the Democratic primary in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, where the DCCC has backed Maine state Sen. Joe Baldacci.