GOP Congressman in California Swing-District Race Defends Vote for Medicaid Cuts
In a race that could help decide control of Congress, Republican U.S. Rep. David Valadao is trying to hold on to his swing-district seat. The congressman didn’t mention healthcare at a recent campaign rally in Bakersfield, but voters can't stop talking about it.
Ulises Hernandez, a Bakersfield resident, has faced significant challenges due to Medicaid coverage. Recently, he spent eight hours in an emergency room due to a dental crown complication, and endured over two days without food. Ulises feels that looming federal Medicaid cuts will exacerbate his situation, as he spent time sitting in a wheelchair during a protest near Congressman David Valadao's office.
The GOP congressman, who represents a Central Valley district with a high percentage of Medicaid enrollees, voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is expected to reduce Medicaid spending by more than $900 billion through 2034. This legislation includes stricter eligibility rules and reduced federal funding to states. Valadao maintains that there are no actual cuts to Medicaid, but critics argue that the tax and spending bill will push more than 2 million Californians off their coverage by 2034, causing significant hardship for his constituents.
Written by urgent.news from KFF Health News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
