Biography

David Goncalves Valadao, born on April 14, 1977, in Hanford, California, is an American politician and dairy farmer serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 22nd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, Valadao has been actively involved in agriculture and local charities throughout his life. His parents emigrated from the Azores Islands of Portugal in 1969, establishing a dairy farm in the Central Valley in 1973. Valadao and his family continue to operate the family business, which includes two dairies and over 1,000 acres of farmland in Kings and western Tulare County, cultivating almonds, alfalfa, corn, and wheat.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Valadao graduated from Hanford High School in 1995 and attended the College of the Sequoias in Visalia from 1996 to 1998.

• Political Experience:

  • Elected to the California State Assembly in 2010, representing the 30th district.
  • Served on the Assembly Agriculture Committee as Vice-Chair.
  • Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012, representing California's 21st congressional district.
  • Reelected in 2014 and 2016; defeated in 2018 but regained the seat in 2020.
  • Due to redistricting, elected to represent California's 22nd congressional district in 2022.

Notable Achievements and Positions

• Committee Assignments:

  • Serves on the House Appropriations Committee, including subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.
  • Member of the House Budget Committee.

• Caucus Memberships:

  • Co-Chair of the Congressional Portuguese American Caucus.
  • Co-Founder of the Sikh American Caucus.
  • Member of the Congressional Hispanic Conference and the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute.

• Legislative Focus:

  • Advocates for agriculture and water policy, addressing water shortages in California's Central Valley.
  • Supports military construction and veterans' affairs, contributing to the designation of Naval Air Station Lemoore as the location for the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet of the F-35C aircraft.

• Notable Votes:

  • One of ten Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald Trump during his second impeachment.

Valadao's career reflects a commitment to his constituents in California's Central Valley, focusing on agriculture, water resources, and veterans' affairs.