David Valadao wins reelection to House in California

Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) won reelection to a fourth term on Tuesday, successfully fending off a challenge by businessman T.J. Cox.

Valadao prevailed in California’s 21st District, encompassing the San Joaquin Valley. The Republican has won competitive races in the heavily Hispanic district even as Democratic voter registrations easily outpace Republicans.

The race was rated “Likely Republican” by the Cook Political Report after Valadao ranked first in the June jungle primary, winning 62.8 percent of the vote to Cox’s 37.2 percent.

{mosads}Democrats had eyed flipping his seat and included Cox as part of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Red to Blue” program.

Cox also got the endorsement of former President Obama, among others.

Valadao has at times parted with President Trump. He was also an initial sponsor of a discharge petition to try, unsuccessfully, to force a House vote on a bill that would have provided protections to immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children.

Cox faced controversy in recent weeks after The Fresno Bee revealed that he had designated both a California home and a Maryland home as “primary” residences for tax purposes. His campaign said it was an error, and he said he would pay back a tax credit he got for the Maryland home, the Bee reported.

UPDATED Nov. 26: The Associated Press retracted its decision in favor of Valadao in the race after Kern and Tulare counties updated their results, putting Cox in the lead. On Dec. 6, Valadao conceded the race to Cox.