Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.

California's 21st Congressional District elections, 2014

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
U.S. House, California District 21 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Valadao Incumbent 57.8% 45,907
     Democratic Amanda Renteria 42.2% 33,470
Total Votes 79,377
Source: California Secretary of State


2016 →
← 2012

CongressLogo.png

California's 21st Congressional District
General Election Date
November 4, 2014
Primary Date
June 3, 2014
November 4 Election Winner:
David Valadao Republican Party
Incumbent prior to election:
David Valadao Republican Party
David Valadao.jpg
Race Ratings
Cook Political Report: Lean R[1]

Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean R[2]

California U.S. House Elections
District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35 • District 36 • District 37 • District 38 • District 39 • District 40 • District 41 • District 42 • District 43 • District 44 • District 45 • District 46 • District 47 • District 48 • District 49 • District 50 • District 51 • District 52 • District 53
2014 U.S. Senate Elections
2014 U.S. House Elections
Flag of California.png
BattlegroundRace.jpg

The 21st Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014.

Incumbent David Valadao (R) defeated Amanda Renteria (D) by nearly 20 percentage points in a race that many expected to be competitive.[3]

Ballotpedia identified California's 21st Congressional District as a 2014 battleground race because Valadao, a freshman, Republican incumbent, was seeking re-election in a district that leaned Democratic.[4][5] President Barack Obama also won the district by 11.1 percent in 2012 and 6 percent in 2008.

On the campaign trail, each candidate highlighted their ties to the district and farming. Valadao frequently noted that his parents were Portuguese immigrants and discussed his family's dairy farms. Valadao's campaign labeled Renteria a "carpetbagger" for leaving the district and accused her of only moving back so that she could run for Congress.

To counter the accusation, Renteria frequently shared stories about her parents, "who were migrant farmworkers in the Central Valley."[6] Renteria attempted to portray Valadao as one more Republican vote in an ineffective Congress. During a debate Renteria said, "This is the least productive Congress ever, nothing is getting done."[7]

Ultimately, high Republican turnout and Valadao's ties to agriculture and the large Hispanic community helped him win in this Democratic-leaning district. According to NPR, "Many farmers and big agricultural companies here that tend to lean Republican are in a full-court press lobbying Congress to pass the stalled immigration bill. It's one of the reasons Valadao is seen as a clear front-runner even in a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans."[6][8]

Renteria was considered a strong candidate, and after her defeat some political pundits wondered if Valadao could "ever be beaten in the 21st Congressional District," according to the Fresno Bee.[9]

Political analyst Tony Quinn said, “I do think that, probably, Valadao is almost unassailable."[9]

Candidate Filing Deadline Primary Election General Election
March 7, 2014
June 3, 2014
November 4, 2014

Primary: California uses a top-two primary system, in which all candidates appear on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, move on to the general election. In states that do not use a top-two system, all parties are usually able to put forward a candidate for the general election if they choose to.[10][11]

Unlike the top-two format used in some states (Louisiana and Georgia special elections for example), a general election between the top-two candidates in California occurs regardless of whether the top candidate received 50% of the vote in the first round of elections.

As of June 2025, California was one of five states to use a top-two primary system, or a variation of the top-two system. See here for more information.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Voter registration: To vote in the primary, voters had to register by May 19, 2014. For the general election, the voter registration deadline was October 20, 2014 (the 15th calendar day before that election).[12]

See also: California elections, 2014

Incumbent: Heading into the election the incumbent was David Valadao (R), who was first elected in 2012.

California's 21st Congressional District is located in the south-central portion of the state and includes Kings County and parts of Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties.[13]

Candidates

General election candidates

Republican Party David Valadao Green check mark transparent.png
Democratic Party Amanda Renteria


June 3, 2014, primary results

Republican Party David Valadao - Incumbent Approveda
Democratic Party Amanda Renteria[14] Approveda
Democratic Party John Hernandez[15]


Election results

General election

U.S. House, California District 21 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Valadao Incumbent 57.8% 45,907
     Democratic Amanda Renteria 42.2% 33,470
Total Votes 79,377
Source: California Secretary of State

Primary election

U.S. House, California District 21 Primary, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Valadao Incumbent 63% 28,773
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngAmanda Renteria 25.6% 11,682
     Democratic John Hernandez 11.5% 5,232
Total Votes 45,687
Source: California Secretary of State

Polls

David Valadao vs. Amanda Renteria
Poll David Valadao Amanda RenteriaUndecidedMargin of ErrorSample Size
SurveyUSA (October 15-20, 2014)
 47%42%11%+/-4.3554
SurveyUSA (September 3-8, 2014)
 56%37%7%+/-4.7439
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org

Media

SEIU

SEIU launched an ad campaign on July 15, 2014, targeting four Republican incumbents in the U.S. House over their chamber’s inaction on immigration reform in 2014.

The ad campaign targeted Cory Gardner and Mike Coffman (Colorado) of Colorado, Valadao of California and Joe Heck of Nevada with a round of Spanish-language television ads for about two weeks. The ad buy was in the mid-six figures.[16]

Amanda Renteria

Renteria released a pair of TV ads in May 2014, one in English and one in Spanish.[17]

Issues

See also: Energy and the 2014 election: the ballots and beyond

David Valadao

Valadao's campaign website listed the following issues:[18]

“
  • Jobs and the Economy: "Too many Americans are out of work, especially across California’s 21st Congressional District. The unemployment rate in the San Joaquin Valley rests at approximately 17% with many areas exceeding an outrageous unemployment rate of 32%. David knows that needless regulations kill jobs and increased taxes hurt small businesses, the backbone of our nation’s economy. He is working to pass common sense legislation that will put Americans, especially those in the Central Valley, back to work."
  • Water: "In the Central Valley, life as we know it is dependent upon securing a reliable and clean supply of water. Farmers, families, and entire communities must receive the water they need to strengthen the economy and raise our families. David knows that a safe and stable water supply is critical to the Central Valley and the State’s $35 billion agriculture industry. In Congress, he is fighting to address our local needs during the drought. The passage of his bill, H.R. 3964, The San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act, will help bring relief to the Central Valley."
  • Agriculture: "As a dairy farmer and a Member of the powerful House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, California’s agriculture industry is extremely important to David. David knows what it takes to ensure California remains an agricultural superpower. California’s diverse agricultural economy is a $35 billion dollar industry that produces over 400 commodities and accounts for over a half of our nation’s fruits and vegetables. It is important that we ensure our farmers and ranchers have the tools they need to produce our food supply and that they continue to remain competitive internationally."
  • Education: "As the father of three, one of David’s top priorities is ensuring every child has access to a quality, affordable education. He knows the “one-size-fits-all” approach of Washington bureaucrats only hinders the education of our nation’s children. Parents and educators should have the resources and flexibility to provide an education that meet the needs of their community and each individual student. Education should be more comprehensive at all levels and David supports expanding vocational and trade school options for our students."
  • Spending: "David believes that Washington should live by the same rules as every American family, which means they must balance the budget and spend no more than what they take in. Today’s government spends, borrows, and taxes its people too much. Our national debt has surpassed $17 trillion, nearly $53,000 for every man woman and child in America. David strongly opposes wasteful projects, such as the construction of a high-speed rail system throughout California which will cost tax payers billions of dollars with little added benefit."

[19]

”
—David Valadao's campaign website, http://www.valadaoforcongress.com/issues/

Key votes

Below are important votes the Valadao cast during the 113th Congress.

HR 676

See also: Boehner's lawsuit against the Obama administration

Yea3.png On July 30, 2014, the U.S. House approved a resolution 225 to 201 to sue President Barack Obama for exceeding his constitutional authority. Five Republicans—Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Paul Broun of Georgia, Scott Garrett of New Jersey, Walter Jones of North Carolina and Steve Stockman of Texas—voted with Democrats against the lawsuit.[20] Valadao joined the other 224 Republicans in favor of the lawsuit. All Democrats voted against the resolution.[21][22]

Government shutdown

See also: United States budget debate, 2013

Yea3.png On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201.[23] At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. Harry Reid rejected the call to conference.[24] David Valadao voted for the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate.[25]

Yea3.png The shutdown ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the Senate. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies.[26] The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from Republican members. David Valadao voted for HR 2775.[27]

Campaign contributions

David Valadao

Amanda Renteria

John Hernandez

District history

Candidate ballot access
Ballot Access Requirements Final.jpg
Find detailed information on ballot access requirements in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

2012

On November 6, 2012, David G. Valadao (R) won election to the United States House. He defeated John Hernandez in the general election.

U.S. House, California District 21 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDavid G. Valadao 57.8% 67,164
     Democratic John Hernandez 42.2% 49,119
Total Votes 116,283
Source: California Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010

On November 2, 2010, Devin Nunes won re-election to the United States House. He ran unopposed in the general election.[44]

U.S. House, California District 21 General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDevin Nunes incumbent 100% 135,979
Total Votes 135,979

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2014 HOUSE RACE RATINGS FOR June 26, 2014," accessed July 28, 2014
  2. ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "2014 House Races," accessed July 28, 2014
  3. ↑ The Huffington Post, "Election 2014," November 4, 2014
  4. ↑ FairVote, "FairVote Releases Projections for the 2014 Congressional Elections," accessed November 5, 2013
  5. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2014 HOUSE RACE RATINGS," accessed April 4, 2014
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 NPR, "Identity Politics Center Stage In California's Central Valley Campaign," accessed December 9, 2014
  7. ↑ BakersfieldNow.com, "No clear winner in Valadao, Renteria debate," accessed December 10, 2014
  8. ↑ Hartford Sentinel, "Analysis: Kings’ passion the difference in Valadao-Renteria matchup," accessed December 10, 2014
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Fresno Bee, "After dominating Renteria, some say Valadao may be unbeatable in 21st Congressional District," accessed December 9, 2014
  10. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed August 13, 2024
  11. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Primary Elections in California," accessed August 13, 2024
  12. ↑ California Secretary of State Website, "Voter Registration," accessed January 3, 2014
  13. ↑ California Redistricting Map, "Map," accessed September 25, 2012
  14. ↑ Roll Call, "Democrats Ready to Land Recruit in Elusive California District," September 18, 2013
  15. ↑ The Fresno Bee, "Political notebook: John Hernandez to seek rematch with David Valadao," October 11, 2013
  16. ↑ Politico, "Service Employees International Union targets four House Republicans," accessed July 15, 2014
  17. ↑ National Journal, "Latina Democratic House Candidate Releases Spanish, English TV Ads in California," accessed May 7, 2014
  18. ↑ Campaign website, "Issues," accessed September 12, 2014
  19. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  20. ↑ U.S. House, "House Resolution 676," accessed July 30, 2014
  21. ↑ Associated Press, "Suing Obama: GOP-led House gives the go-ahead," July 31, 2014
  22. ↑ Washington Post, "House clears way for lawsuit against Obama," accessed July 30, 2014
  23. ↑ Clerk of the U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 504," accessed October 31, 2013
  24. ↑ Buzzfeed, "Government Shutdown: How We Got Here," accessed October 1, 2013
  25. ↑ Clerk of the U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 504," accessed October 31, 2013
  26. ↑ The Washington Post, "Reid, McConnell propose bipartisan Senate bill to end shutdown, extend borrowing," accessed October 16, 2013
  27. ↑ U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 550," accessed October 31, 2013
  28. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "David Valadao April Quarterly," accessed July 23, 2013
  29. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "David Valadao July Quarterly," accessed July 23, 2013
  30. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "David Valadao October Quarterly," accessed October 21, 2013
  31. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "David Valadao Year-End," accessed February 4, 2014
  32. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "David Valadao April Quarterly," accessed April 21, 2014
  33. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "David Valadao Pre-Primary," accessed June 2, 2014
  34. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "David Valadao July Quarterly," accessed July 23, 2014
  35. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "David Valadao October Quarterly," accessed October 20, 2014
  36. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "David Valadao Pre-General," accessed November 24, 2014
  37. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Amanda Renteria Year-End," accessed February 10, 2014
  38. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Amanda Renteria April Quarterly," accessed May 5, 2014
  39. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Amanda Renteria Pre-Primary," accessed June 2, 2014
  40. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Amanda Renteria July Quarterly," accessed July 28, 2014
  41. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Amanda Renteria October Quarterly," accessed October 23, 2014
  42. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Amanda Renteria Pre-General," accessed November 24, 2014
  43. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "John Hernandez April Quarterly," accessed May 5, 2014
  44. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
v • e
2013-2014 Elections to the United States Congress
Senate by State
Alabama • Alaska • Arkansas • Colorado • Delaware • Georgia • Illinois • Idaho • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Montana • Nebraska • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • North Carolina • Oklahoma • Oregon • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Virginia • West Virginia • Wyoming
CongressLogo.png
House by State
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
Senate Special Elections
House Special Elections
Election information
Super PACs/Organizations


California's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Alex Padilla (D)
Adam Schiff (D)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
Ami Bera (D)
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
Adam Gray (D)
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
Ro Khanna (D)
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
Jim Costa (D)
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
Raul Ruiz (D)
District 26
District 27
District 28
Judy Chu (D)
District 29
Luz Rivas (D)
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
Ted Lieu (D)
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
Young Kim (R)
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
Dave Min (D)
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
Democratic Party (45)
Republican Party (9)

Retrieved from "https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=California%27s_21st_Congressional_District_elections,_2014&oldid=10437615"