Gearing up for the 2026 Midterm election: Battle over healthcare cuts becomes partisan
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Democratics and Republicans alike are already gearing up for the 2026 Midterm election.
At a townhall at Bakersfield's IBEW Local 428 union hall Thursday night, Democratics discussed possible pathways to future victory, following major local and national losses in 2024.
Kern County Republicans face their own troubles — especially Congressman David Valadao.
Two days in a row, constituents rallied outside his Bakersfield district office to protest potential cuts to programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
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'Show me what America looks like, this is what America looks like,' protesters chanted Wednesday evening.
And on Thursday morning, nurses with Bakersfield's Memorial Hospital chanted, 'When our healthcare is under attack, stand up and fight back.'
'[We're here] to demand that he votes no on the current federal budget in the House of Representatives. And votes no to any cuts to Medicaid…' said Noe Garcia, policy coordinator with the Dolores Huerta Foundation.
These concerns stem from House Republicans' budget blueprint approved in February, for which Valadao voted.
In this blueprint, Republicans say they want to cut $880 billion from programs managed by Congress' Energy and Commerce Committee.
But the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said such a massive cut likely cannot happen without cutting Medicaid, Medicare and other programs.
These cuts are up in the air.
Nothing is finalized, and Congress and President Trump just passed a temporary spending bill to keep the government open and funded through the end of September.
But again, voters are concerned that in the future when budget conversations pick up again, there is an opportunity for those entitlement cuts.
'We need people to be able to get their insulin, to take care of their chronic illnesses and see their doctors on a regular basis,' said Sandy Reding, a nurse at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital.
Reding added, 'It's oftentimes the working poor, the disabled, the children [that are affected].'
'Valadao, you represent the largest number of people in California that are on Medicaid, food stamps, disability programs, education programs,' said local activist Dolores Huerta.
Medicare provides health care to seniors. Medicaid assists low-income and disabled people.
Valadao has declined all interview requests since early this month but said in a statement: 'I know how important Medicaid is to Central Valley families, and I remain committed to ensuring they have access to affordable healthcare,' said Congressman Valadao. 'There has been a lot of political rhetoric about cuts to Medicaid, but the reality is no such cuts have been made. As Congress continues to work through the budget process, I have been clear with House Leadership that I will only support a final package that protects critical programs like Medicaid and meets the needs of our community. My priority remains standing up for Central Valley families and making sure they can get the care they need.'
Huerta added, 'Republicans, independent voters, Democrats, people that don't vote, everybody's going to be impacted by these tax cuts.'
So, what are political implications as the 2026 Midterm — and yet another reelection bid for Valadao — fast approaches?
'He's in a tough spot. He's always in a tough spot, though,' said Central Valley political analyst Tracy Leach. 'Throughout his tenure, he is a Republican in a very Democrat district.'
17 News also spoke to Central Valley political strategist Tal Eslick.
17 News' Jenny Huh: 'Do you think that can actually threaten his reelection bid?
Tal Eslick: 'So, when voters ultimately make the decision as to whether or not they're going to reward an elected official with reelection, it's usually not one specific thing. Maybe it's a couple of things [that impact their vote]… Valadao is probably the only Republican that can consistently win in this particular seat.'
The five-term congressman has walked a fine line as a moderate Republican, winning in the majority Latino, largely Democratic district, beating Latino candidates like former California Assemblyman Rudy Salas.
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His 22nd Congressional District is a competitive purple district — Democrats and Republicans have a fair shot.
'But healthcare is an Achilles for him,' Leach noted. 'In the past, it was healthcare, arguably, that was his undoing in 2018 to repeal and replace Obamacare. He voted for that.'
That was the one year thus far Valadao lost his reelection bid.
Constituents encouraged Valadao if wants reelection in 2026.'Under those pressures of Washington D.C. and the current Administration, stand firm, stand strong,' stated Grace Huerta, co-director of Kern Exceptional Family Center.
'Valadao's district, two thirds of the people are on Medicaid, the residents,' Leach remarked. 'That is a huge number. So, he has to somehow navigate that with his party in D.C. but not let down his own constituents here in the Central Valley.'
Strategist Eslick noted, 'The specificity of these cuts does not exist yet, right? So, everything that we're talking about so far is mostly rhetoric… Congressional Democrats are using this as a bludgeon against anyone in a competitive seat.'
All eyes are on Valadao — whether it be his constituents, or his party, with the potential President Trump can put up a Republican primary opponent against the congressman.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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