Randy Villegas

D

Advanced from the June 2 top-two primary with 32.4% of the vote, narrowly ahead of fellow Democrat Jasmeet Bains (26.9%)

Randy Villegas is a college professor, Visalia Unified School Board member, and community organizer running against Rep. David Valadao in a race Ballotpedia has identified as a battleground contest.[3]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsExpand public health coverage

    Supports Medicare for All and federal negotiation of prescription-drug prices, including capping insulin at $35.[3]

    “In Congress I'll fight for Medicare for All, take on big Pharma by negotiating the price of prescription drugs directly, bringing down costs like making insulin $35 for everyone.”
  • OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goods

    Opposes broad tariff trade wars, saying they hurt Central Valley farmers and businesses.[3]

  • SupportsRaise the minimum wage

    Supports the PRO Act to strengthen workers' ability to organize for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.[3]

In their words — priorities

  • Names healthcare as his top priority, saying he will fight for Medicare for All, negotiate prescription-drug prices, and cap insulin costs at $35.[3]
  • Supports passing the PRO Act to strengthen labor organizing rights and investing federal dollars in job training and small businesses in the Central Valley.[3]
  • Opposes what he calls 'endless tariff trade wars' that he says hurt Valley farmers and businesses.[3]

Background

  • Graduated from Golden Valley High School; earned an associate degree from Bakersfield College in 2015, a bachelor's degree from CSU Bakersfield in 2017, and a Ph.D. from UC Santa Cruz in 2022.[3]
  • Works as a professor at College of the Sequoias; serves on the Visalia Unified School District Board, where he says he has won pay increases for teachers and staff.[3]
  • Endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, Dolores Huerta, the California Nurses Association, the California Teachers Association, the United Auto Workers, Latino Victory Fund, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.[3]

Campaign money

Raised $2.6M · spent $2.1M · $572K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Also on the ballot for this seat: David Valadao · Compare side by side

Sources cited in this profile

  1. 3.Randy Villegas — Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words