- Representative David Valadaorepublican, incumbent
Valadao defends his seat in this heavily agricultural district. He was one of 10 House Republicans who voted in 2021 to impeach former President Trump over his role as the “driving force” behind the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Valadao was first elected to Congress in 2012 after one term in the state Assembly. He served in Congress for three consecutive terms before losing his 2018 re-election bid. But he returned to Congress in 2020 and was re-elected in 2022, defeating his Democratic rival Rudy Salas by a 3% margin.
- Rudy Salas, Democrat, former member of state Assembly
Salas challenges Valadao again. The son of farmworkers, in 2010 he became the first Latino elected to the Bakersfield City Council. Salas served five terms in the Assembly. He has received endorsements from the California Democratic Party, Governor Gavin Newsom and the United Farm Workers union. Salas told the Times that he is running “to continue delivering for the families of the Valley.”
- Melisa Hurtado, Democrat, state senator
Hurtado declared his intention to run in August, setting up a potentially competitive primary. Hurtado has branded herself as part of a new generation of Latina political leaders; In 2018, at age 30, she became the youngest woman elected to the state Senate. Previously, she served on the Sanger City Council.
- Chris Mathys, Republican, former Fresno City Council member
Mathys is also challenging Valadao, presenting himself as more politically right-wing than the congressman. The cattle ranch owner told the Times that he is running because he believes Valadao “betrayed the voters” when he voted to impeach Trump. “I will fight for our conservative values and always put Americans first,” he said.
Under California’s top-two primary system, the two candidates who receive the most votes in the March primary will advance to the November general election, regardless of their political party.