Apparently Rep. David Valadao’s (R–Hanford) support of gas stoves was – apparently – too great of a concern earn the support of the Fresno Bee.
The newspaper published its endorsement in the 22nd Congressional District race on Monday, choosing former Asm. Rudy Salas in his rematch against Valadao.
Driving the news: It’s not the first time The Bee is backing Salas, having done so in 2022 because Valadao, the moderate Republican who often votes in-line with his district, allegedly “too often remains tied to the party line, which is not going to benefit the people of the 22nd district.”
- The Bee’s opinion on what will benefit the people of the 22nd district has not changed in the last two years, writing “Valadao remains true to the GOP platform, which is not going to be the most help to residents of the 22nd District.”
- Salas, on the other hand, is apparently “much more in tune with the needs of the district…” according to The Bee.
- The Bee said Valadao passed up an invitation to interview with its editorial board, noting that the newspaper does not endorse candidates who do not interview with them.
The big picture: The paper’s reasoning for backing Salas came, in part, because Valadao does not want to do away with gas stoves or gas-powered cars.
- A section of the editorial reads as follows: “Valadao has also favored border security measures; a parents bill of rights when it comes to their children’s education; increasing America’s oil and gas production at a time of rising global temperatures linked to the burning of fossil fuels; and measures to protect the use of gas stoves and internal combustion engines, despite climate impacts.”
Flashback: The Bee has flip-flopped on Valadao in recent years. In 2018, the paper endorsed former Rep. T.J. Cox in his bid to challenge Valadao. Cox won that race by less than 1,000 votes.
- Valadao actually earned the support of the paper in 2020 when he reclaimed his seat by a 1,500-vote margin. The Bee wrote at the time that it would not recommend Cox because of his history of not paying employees or federal income taxes.
