Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
California's 22nd Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 top-two primary)
- Primary date: March 3
- Primary type: Top-two
- Registration deadline(s): Feb. 18
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: Yes
- Early voting starts: Varies locally
- Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): March 3 (postmarked); March 6 (received)
- Voter ID: No ID
- Poll times: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Incumbent Devin Nunes (R) and Phil Arballo (D) were the top two finishers from among the five candidates who ran in the March 3, 2020, top-two primary for California's 22nd Congressional District. The only other candidate with more than 10% of the vote was Bobby Bliatout (D). Nunes and Arballo ran in the district's general election on November 3, 2020.
As of the 2020 election, one Democrat and one Republican had advanced from the district's primary in each congressional election since California's top-two primary system went into effect in 2011. Nunes, who was first elected in 2002, was the only Republican who ran, alongside three Democrats and one candidate with no party preference.
Media coverage and endorsements focused on three candidates in addition to Nunes: Arballo, Bliatout, and Dary Rezvani (D).
Arballo described himself as "180 degrees from Devin Nunes," saying, "I’m present. I’m invested in this community. I sit on two committees for the City of Fresno. I’m an active board member with the local Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce."[1] The California Labor Federation and U.S. Reps. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), and Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) endorsed Arballo, along with the district's 2018 Democratic nominee, Andrew Janz.
Bliatout called himself a practical progressive.[2] He said, "I am a nonprofit healthcare executive, a former farmer, and a cancer survivor. I love the United States and I believe deeply in the American Dream. I am dedicated to ensuring that dream for future generations."[3] The California Democratic Party, SEIU California, former U.S. Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.), and state Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D) endorsed Bliatout.
Rezvani said he would "fight to strengthen our water supply, make it easier for local businesses to create jobs, and make healthcare and prescription drugs more affordable."[4] He received endorsements from the Fresno Sunrise Movement and the National Iranian American Council.
Nunes stated, "There is no greater honor for me than to be [the peoples’] voice in Congress for water, agriculture, jobs, lower taxes, and less government regulation."[5]
Eric Garcia (no party preference) also ran in the primary.
In the 2018 general election, Nunes defeated Andrew Janz (D) 53% to 47%. Major race rating outlets rated}} the general election as Likely Republican or Solid Republican. The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+8, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 8 percentage points more Republican than the national average. Click here to learn more about what's at stake in the general election.
Click on candidate names below to view their key messages:
 Nunes |
 Arballo |
 Bliatout |
 Rezvani |
For more information about the general election, click here.
Candidates and election results
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 22
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Devin Nunes (R) | 56.1 | 94,686 |
| ✔ |  | Phil Arballo (D) | 25.0 | 42,218 |
 | Bobby Bliatout (D) | 13.1 | 22,078 | |
 | Dary Rezvani (D)  | 3.1 | 5,273 | |
 | Eric Garcia (No party preference) | 2.7 | 4,515 | |
| Total votes: 168,770 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Heman Hill (Independent)
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[6] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.
Party: Republican Party
Incumbent: Yes
Political Office:
U.S. House of Representatives (Assumed office: 2003)
Biography: Nunes graduated from California Polytechnic State University with a B.S. in agricultural business in 1995 and an M.S. in agriculture in 1996. He worked as a farmer and served on the College of Sequoias Board of Trustees before President George W. Bush appointed him as California State Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, in 2001.
Show sources
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House California District 22 in 2020.
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Arballo attended California State University, Fresno. As of his 2020 campaign, he ran a financial services business, was on the board of the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and was chairman of Fresno’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
Show sources
Sources: Los Angeles Magazine, "Democrat Phil Arballo Says He Has a Solid Plan to Beat Devin Nunes in 2020," November 27, 2019 YouTube, "The Real Devin Nunes," December 9, 2019YouTube, "Devin Nunes: Sue Me," August 23, 2019; Phil Arballo 2020 campaign website, "Meet Phil," accessed February 24, 2020
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House California District 22 in 2020.
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Bliatout graduated from California State University, Bakersfield. He co-founded Health and Life Organization, Inc. (H.A.L.O.), a system of health clinics. As of his 2020 campaign, Bliatout was CEO of the Greater Fresno Health Organization and CFO of H.A.L.O.
Show sources
Sources: Bobby Bliatout 2020 campaign website, "Meet Bobby," accessed February 24, 2020 Valley Voice, "Race crowded for 22nd congressional district," January 16, 2020; Bobby Bliatout 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed February 24, 2020 Facebook, "Bobby Bliatout For the Valley," accessed February 24, 2020
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House California District 22 in 2020.
Party: Democratic Party
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Rezvani attended Fresno City College and earned a degree in accounting from California State University, Fresno. As of his 2020 campaign, Rezvani's professional experience included owning an auto repair shop and working as an auditor and consultant.
Show sources
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House California District 22 in 2020.
Party: No party preference
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I am a father, wartime United States Marine Corps veteran, college graduate, graduate student; Central Valley born and raised with roots in agriculture stemming from my time spent working on my family farm in Selma, CA. I joined the Marine Corps at the age of 17 in 2005. I had a Top Secret clearance by 18. Having just turned 20 I was deployed to Iraq in 2007. Despite becoming extremely ill on my first deployment, I again deployed in 2008, celebrating my 21st birthday over the Atlantic Ocean and purchasing my first beer in Germany while in transit to Iraq. My sickness from my first deployment eventually caused me to be medically separated from the Marine Corps in 2012. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2017. I started a Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy program in 2018 and expect to graduate in 2021. I have been married for 11 years to the love of my life and have three young children."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House California District 22 in 2020.
Endorsements
This section lists endorsements issued in this election. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.
| Top-two primary endorsements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endorsement |  Nunes
|
 Arballo
|
Bliatout
|
Rezvani
| ||
| Newspapers and editorials | ||||||
| The Fresno Bee[7] | ✔ | |||||
| Elected officials | ||||||
| U.S. Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.)[8] | ✔ | |||||
| U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.)[8] | ✔ | |||||
| U.S. Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.)[8] | ✔ | |||||
| California State Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D)[9] | ✔ | |||||
| Minnesota State Sen. Foung Hawj (D)[9] | ✔ | |||||
| Four mayors (hover over for list) | ✔ | |||||
| Sixteen local officials (hover over for list) | ✔ | |||||
| Two local officials (hover over for list) | ✔ | |||||
| Individuals | ||||||
| 2018 nominee Andrew Janz (D)[10] | ✔ | |||||
| Former U.S. Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.)[9] | ✔ | |||||
| Former Sunnyvale Mayor Otto Lee[9] | ✔ | |||||
| Former Fresno City Councilman Blong Xiong[9] | ✔ | |||||
| Dolores Huerta[9] | ✔ | |||||
| Organizations | ||||||
| Asian American Action Fund[11] | ✔ | |||||
| Asian Americans for Good Government[9] | ✔ | |||||
| BOLD PAC[8] | ✔ | |||||
| California Democratic Party[12] | ✔ | |||||
| California Labor Federation[8] | ✔ | |||||
| California ProLife Council and Right to Life Federation PAC[13] | ✔ | |||||
| Central Valley Leadership Round Table[9] | ✔ | |||||
| Communications Workers of America Local 9408[9] | ✔ | |||||
| End Citizens United[8] | ✔ | |||||
| Equality California[8] | ✔ | |||||
| Fresno-Madera-Tulare-Kings Central Labor Council (AFL-CIO)[8] | ✔ | |||||
| Fresno Sunrise Movement[14] | ✔ | |||||
| Latino Victory Fund[8] | ✔ | |||||
| National Iranian American Council[15] | ✔ | |||||
| San Joaquin Valley Democratic Club[9] | ✔ | |||||
| Sanger Democratic Club[9] | ✔ | |||||
| SEIU California[9] | ✔ | |||||
| Seven labor unions (hover over for list) | ✔ | |||||
| Tulare Stonewall Democrats[9] | ✔ | |||||
Timeline
2020
2019
Campaign themes
- See also: Campaign themes
Campaign themes were available on campaign websites for the following candidates as of February 24, 2020.
Phil Arballo
Arballo's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
An Economy That Works For All For far too long, our economy has worked well on average rather than working well for the average person. Many Central Valley families like Phil’s are struggling, often times having to work two or three jobs to make ends meet. The working families of the Central Valley need more pathways to opportunity. Phil will prioritize investments in job training programs, foster innovation in our farming communities, and fight for fair trade deals that help American workers and grow our middle class. Healthcare Phil believes that healthcare is a human right and will fight for universal healthcare. Everyone deserves access to quality, affordable healthcare, and shouldn’t be discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition. In Congress, Phil will fight to lower the price of prescription drugs. No one should have to choose between paying their rent or their mortgage, or for the medication they need. Immigration Phil comes from an immigrant family and knows that the Central Valley’s strength is our immigrant communities. As a member of Congress, Phil will fight back against inhumane family separation policies that are tearing immigrant families apart and will prioritize finding a pathway to citizenship for DACA eligible recipients. Immigrants are valued parts of our communities and economy. Phil will work to create comprehensive immigration reform that benefits both workers and local businesses. Clean Water Water is a critical resource in the Central Valley. Phil recognizes there is no silver bullet, but will work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure that we find the best solutions possible. This includes water infrastructure projects that ensure we are using the precious resources the most effectively and efficiently. Thousands of people in the Central Valley don’t have access to clean drinking water — this is unacceptable. The crisis has been ignored for far too long and has had a detrimental impact on many communities. This is an urgent public health emergency that Phil will fight to fix. Education As a product of Fresno Public Schools, Phil understands the positive impact of a strong education. The federal government needs to ensure that everyone has access to a quality, public education. This means supporting public preschool and kindergarten programs, K-12, as well as community colleges and vocational training. As someone with tens of thousands of dollars of student debt, Phil also knows we must address our student loan crisis. Higher education must be attainable without the immense burden of student loans. We must reinvest in higher education and stop shifting the cost to students. Environment Like many people in the Central Valley, Phil grew up with asthma. The Central Valley has the worst air quality in the nation. It’s important that we recognize the problem and work with stakeholders to improve our air quality to ensure the next generation of residents don’t have to worry about respiratory and health problems because of their zip code. Phil also knows we must invest in our green economy, making sure to engage with our rural communities and farmers to ensure they’re part of the solution. With unemployment higher than the national average and a changing economy, we should invest in programs to manufacture green energy products to win the future and lead the way in the Central Valley. Special Interests After the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC, corporations, special interests, and billionaires have been free to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence our elections. This is wrong. Phil has taken a no corporate PAC pledge because he believes that elected officials should be accountable to their constituents — not special interests and high-powered lobbyists. In Congress, Phil will fight to get dark money out of our politics and fix a broken system by passing comprehensive campaign finance reform like H.R. 1.[19] |
” |
| —Phil Arballo’s campaign website (2020)[20] | ||
Bobby Bliatout
Bliatout's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
AFFORDABLE & ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL As a director of safety net health clinics for the last 17 years and a cancer survivor, Bobby has seen our healthcare system firsthand, as both a provider and patient. He knows that it’s very expensive and for many, too hard to access. But it doesn't have to be. It’s part of why Bobby chose to run for Congress, because he knows all Americans deserve access to quality, affordable health care. On the other hand, Devin Nunes last year voted to have 30% of Bobby’s current patients lose their health care coverage, just because they were covered under the Affordable Care Act. In fact, Bobby reached out to the Congressman multiple times to discuss how the repeal and replace bill would hurt his patients, but was given the cold shoulder every time. That’s wrong, and in Congress he will fight that sort of mean-spirited approach to health care reform. But he won’t just fight against attempts to deprive people of their health insurance, he’ll also work to ensure Medicare for All to provide every American high-quality and low-cost health care. ENSURING CLEAN WATER The Valley’s agricultural lands are a critical strategic resource for our nation. But they won’t be if we continue to be deprived of a sustainable source of water. Like many people in the Valley, Bobby owns farmland and for several years, also farmed that land. He still has that deep appreciation for the land, and knows you can’t farm without water. It’s why in Congress, he’ll fight tirelessly to ensure the Central Valley has a reliable supply of clean water to maintain our vital agricultural resources. FIGHTING FOR A FAIRER ECONOMY Growing up, Bobby’s parents worked hard to provide for their family and eventually saved the money to open their own small business. But his family also fell on hard times and struggled to make ends meet. As someone who remembers what it’s like to struggle, Bobby understands this experience is all too familiar for many in the 22nd District, working two or three jobs just to survive. He knows we can only build the middle class by ensuring that working families don’t just live pay-check to pay-check, but have opportunities to grow their families’ wealth. That's why in Congress, Bobby will fight to ensure a fairer tax system, increase the availability of job training programs in emerging industries, protect small farmers, and increase investments in healthcare and education. CLEANING OUR AIR & FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE The 22nd District is one of the most polluted regions in America, with immensely dirty air and water. Bobby is committed to cleaning our air and water, and knows we can have both jobs & a clean environment. In Congress, he’ll be committed to helping bring high-paying green energy jobs to the Central Valley and combating the climate crisis. This starts with undoing the damaging environmental rollbacks by the Trump Administration, including restoring the Clean Air Act and re-entering the Paris Climate Accords. Bobby is also committed to providing federal grants to our local universities and community colleges to strengthen curriculum and training, and ultimately a Green New Deal for the Central Valley. FULLY FUNDED PUBLIC EDUCATION Bobby understands the immense power of a quality public education and will fight to fully fund our schools. That means putting more teachers and resources in classrooms, universal pre-K, and expanding vocational training. As a first-generation college student, Bobby remembers the critical financial aid he relied on, and in Congress, will work tirelessly to address the student loan crisis and ultimately ensure free public college for anyone who wants it SENSIBLE & HUMANE IMMIGRATION POLICY As the child of immigrants who fought alongside American troops and came to this country in search of a better life, Bobby is determined to combat the Trump Administration’s cruel and backwards immigration agenda and fight for a more compassionate and sensible system in Congress. This includes protecting DREAMers, fighting for a pathway to citizenship for people who have called America home for decades, and keeping families together by not separating children from their parents. FIX A BROKEN GOVERNMENT Bobby knows that the greatest way to ensure real reform in Washington is to get big money out of politics. It greatly sways public policy in the direction of the extremely wealthy and well-connected, and also discourages regular Americans from even considering getting engaged in the political process. That’s why in Congress, he’ll fight to overhaul our campaign finance system, including overturning Citizens United, reforming laws that undermine democracy for the benefit of wealthy interests, and strengthening public transparency. PROTECTING OUR FARMLAND As a former farmer, Bobby understands how critical it is to the entire 22nd District’s health and prosperity that we protect our farms and farmlands. Valley farms feed large parts of our nation and the world, but drought and corporate greed threatens their survival. If the 22nd District loses our small farmers, we likely lose that culture forever. Bobby recognizes the importance of agriculture as a national strategic resource, and in Congress, will ensure we preserve our farmlands. This includes prioritizing on the needs of small farmers who lack resources through grants and low-interest loans, fighting to designate California farmlands as national farm monuments, and working collaboratively to create a national commitment to innovation in agriculture by gathering the nation’s best and most innovative minds to make agriculture more sustainable STANDING UP FOR OUR VETERANS Americas' war veterans have a special place in Bobby’s heart. His family fought as part of the American mission in southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, and considers them American veterans as well. Bobby knows that every American who has fought for our nation deserves basic respect dignity and prosperity. No American veteran should return home from war only to find they have no job, no place to live, or inadequate healthcare coverage. That’s why Bobby is so infuriated when he sees veterans who are unemployed, without adequate housing, or even wandering the streets suffering from effects of PTSD or TBI. He knows we can do better, and if elected to Congress, will work to reform the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to make it more pro-active in caring for American veterans.[19] |
” |
| —Bobby Bliatout’s campaign website (2020)[21] | ||
Dary Rezvani
Rezvani's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Climate Crisis and Water The climate crisis is one of the most urgent challenges we face as a country, and here in the Central Valley, we are on the front lines. With a dwindling window of time to solve this crisis, we must elect leaders who will take action on the climate crisis. Air Pollution Our district has some of the dirtiest air in the country according to The United Nations Health Agency, including the highest asthma rate for children in the nation. This affects both the quality and longevity of life for us all. According to the American Lung Association State of the Air report, the Visalia / Porterville area ranked first on the list of cities most affected by year-round particle pollution. This is a critical issue of public health, one I take seriously as a business owner serving on the board of the Environmental Justice Advisory Group. Safe and Affordable Drinking Water California has recognized clean, safe drinking water as a human right since 2012. It is unjust that nearly 100,000 people in our district lack access to this basic human necessity. The number of cases of water contamination in our rural towns such as Orosi is simply unacceptable. There’s no easy fix to this crisis, it won’t get any easier if our Representative in Congress lacks the leadership and vision to bring stakeholders to the table for a frank conversation about solutions. Supporting Family Farms Agriculture is a vital part of our Valley’s economy, and farming can and must have a positive impact on our environment. Bringing carbon back into the soil through the use of regenerative agriculture has the capacity to reverse climate change, using carbon sequestration while addressing public health concerns and the financial well-being of farmers. Nationally, the suicide rates for farmers is on the rise due to the pressure of extreme weather, financial stress, and trade uncertainty. We must do all that we can to support the health of the longevity of our land and the people who work in it. In Congress, I will:
Healthcare We all know our current healthcare system isn’t working. I’ve experienced the failures of this system first-hand when my dad died of lung cancer at 58. It wasn’t even 24 hours after he passed before the medical bills began coming in — it’s hard enough to lose someone you love, much less worry about the cost of the vital care required to keep them alive. A system where consumers will pay nearly infinite amounts to keep their loved ones alive is rife for profiteering when that care is being sold by a company whose primary responsibility not to its patients, but its shareholders. We spend more on healthcare than any other developed nation, yet health outcomes aren’t any better…and in many cases, they’re worse. According to a study by Peterson-Kaiser, of the 12 wealthiest countries in the world, the U.S. ranks last in life expectancy. We need bold change to ensure that the people of California’s 22nd District have access to high quality, affordable, and effective healthcare. Across our Central Valley, almost all of us struggle with access to care. Many of our neighbors don’t even have access to basic preventative care such as a visit to a primary care doctor. Our emergency rooms bear the brunt of this problem and are filled with patients suffering from preventable illnesses that have advanced to critical stages but could have been avoided altogether with proper care. The Central Valley’s shortage of primary care physicians is nearly double the state’s average, making it one of the worst shortages in California. We can only expect to see that increase if we do not take action. In Congress, I will:
Jobs & Economy I still own the automotive shop in Fresno that my dad and I started when I was 19. I was taught that working hard in this country will get you ahead, so I put my head down and earned my degree in Accounting from Fresno State. While working to audit public financial statements at one of the largest accounting firms in the world — PricewaterhouseCoopers — I saw firsthand how a few large corporations are able to game the system and manipulate the economy, making it harder for most Americans to keep a roof over their heads and put food on the table. The worst part? It’s perfectly legal because Congress is captive to the monied interests that fund their campaigns. In California’s 22nd district, people are working multiple jobs just to make ends meet. 1 out of 3 people in Fresno lives below the poverty line, and in Tulare County, the poverty rate is nearly double the state average. This is unacceptable. For too long the Central Valley has been left out or left behind in economic prosperity. As a small business owner and accountant, I know that we can do better if we have a Member of Congress who actually represents the people who live here. In Congress, I will:
Immigration Reform Immigrants are the reason the Central Valley thrives. We are a nation of immigrants, and nowhere is that more clear than right here in our community. America’s broken immigration system we are facing isn’t working for anyone. Too many families are living in fear, and that is hurting the entire Valley. We need comprehensive immigration reform. As a member of Congress, I will:
Education Education is a core building block of our society. As an alumnus of Fresno State, I know how vital it is to have access to quality, affordable, and accessible education in our community and California’s 22nd district is lucky to have some of the best schools in the state. At the same time, 44 million people in this country are struggling to repay $1.56 trillion in student loans. The effects of this massive mountain of debt ripple through our entire economy and is hampering a generation of Americans who are unable to invest in their communities, start innovative companies, or even buy a home of their own. For this reason, I believe student loan debt should be forgiven in full so that young families have the freedom and economic mobility to start the next chapter of their lives. This is a bold move that would put $17 billion back into the U.S. economy annually. At the same time, we must expand public education to cover a 4-year debt-free college and cap the rate interest rate of federal loans for graduate students. Education is the greatest equalizer in this country and higher education should be accessible to anyone who wants it, regardless of where they fall on the socioeconomic ladder. We can improve public education by building the bench of teachers and committing to end our teacher shortage, strengthening the retention of teachers and attracting young people to the teaching profession. We must also eliminate the teacher pay gap and pay teachers for the vital work they do to educate our next generation like the professionals that they are. In Congress, I will:
Affordable Housing & Homelessness Across the nation, over 21 million Americans are facing housing cost burdens. California makes up 12% of the U.S. population with nearly a quarter of the total homeless population. While the cost of a home in the Central Valley is lower than the rest of California, many are still struggling to make ends meet. Almost 60% of renters in Fresno County spend a third of their income just to put a roof over their heads. The average cost of an apartment has increased by 6.2% in Fresno, the second-highest jump in the state. Central Valley resident’s income is not rising with the cost of housing, causing low-income families to pay more with fewer resources. This strain puts individuals and families of California’s 22nd district at risk of being unhoused with the number of people who are unhoused and have increased by 25% in both Fresno and Tulare Counties. There are hundreds of people in our district who are experiencing homelessness right now due to a lack of affordable housing, emergency services, disability, or access to mental health services. Every American deserves a safe, affordable, and decent place to live. We are not doing enough to combat this crisis and we must elect leaders that will take action on housing. In Congress, I will:
Criminal Justice Reform We have more people in prison than anywhere in the world. We have more than 2.3 million people locked up in more than 6,000 prisons across America and more people being put away every day. In California, the incarceration rate is 581 to 100,000 people. This system disproportionately affects communities of color and people in poverty while our government spends billions of dollars on subsidies for-profit prison industry that profits from more people being put behind bars. Our prison system must focus on rehabilitation and reintegration — We must reduce the incarcerated population. In Congress, I will:
Corruption in Washington Every person in California’s 22nd district deserves an equal voice in our government. Dark money and special interests are undermining our democracy as we know it and drowning out the voices of everyday Americans. I decided to run for Congress after seeing wide-spread corruption and know that it will take leaders who are willing to stand up and fight for a government that works for all of us. In Congress, I will:
|
” |
| —Dary Rezvani’s campaign website (2020)[22] | ||
Campaign advertisements
This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.
Phil Arballo
Supporting Arballo
|
Opposing Nunes
|
|
|
|
Bobby Bliatout
Supporting Bliatout
|
|
|
Opposing Nunes
|
Dary Rezvani
|
Campaign finance
This section contains campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission covering all candidate fundraising and spending in this election.[23] It does not include information on fundraising before the current campaign cycle or on spending by satellite groups. The numbers in this section are updated as candidates file new campaign finance reports. Candidates for Congress are required to file financial reports on a quarterly basis, as well as two weeks before any primary, runoff, or general election in which they will be on the ballot and upon the termination of any campaign committees.[24]
| Name | Party | Receipts* | Disbursements** | Cash on hand | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devin Nunes | Republican Party | $26,871,171 | $20,201,845 | $10,907,954 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Phil Arballo | Democratic Party | $5,175,373 | $5,146,107 | $29,266 | As of December 31, 2020 |
| Bobby Bliatout | Democratic Party | $712,616 | $712,616 | $0 | As of June 30, 2020 |
| Dary Rezvani | Democratic Party | $245,761 | $245,761 | $0 | As of April 20, 2020 |
| Eric Garcia | No party preference | $2,971 | $3,419 | $0 | As of March 31, 2020 |
|
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2020. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." |
|||||
Polls
- See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
If you are aware of polls conducted in this race, please email us.
Satellite spending
- See also: Satellite spending
Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[25][26][27]
This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.
Debates and forums
Know of a debate or forum we're missing? Email us.
January 30, 2020
Arballo, Bilatout, Rezvani, and Garcia participated in a candidate forum at the College of the Sequoias.
Coverage:
Primaries in California
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.[28][29]
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.
What's at stake in the general election?
U.S. House elections were held on November 3, 2020, and coincided with the 2020 presidential election. All 435 House districts were up for election, and the results determined control of the U.S. House in the 117th Congress.
At the time of the election, Democrats had a 232-197 advantage over Republicans. There was one Libertarian member, and there were five vacancies. Republicans needed to gain a net 21 seats to win control of the House. Democrats needed to gain seats or lose fewer than 14 net seats to keep their majority.
In the 2018 midterm election, Democrats had a net gain of 40 seats, winning a 235-200 majority in the House. Heading into the 2018 election, Republicans had a 235-193 majority with seven vacancies.
In the 25 previous House elections that coincided with a presidential election, the president's party had gained House seats in 16 elections and lost seats in nine. In years where the president's party won districts, the average gain was 18. In years where the president's party lost districts, the average loss was 27. Click here for more information on presidential partisanship and down-ballot outcomes.
General election race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[30]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[31][32][33]
| Race ratings: California's 22nd Congressional District election, 2020 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
| November 3, 2020 | October 27, 2020 | October 20, 2020 | October 13, 2020 | ||||||
| The Cook Political Report | Likely Republican | Likely Republican | Likely Republican | Likely Republican | |||||
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | |||||
| Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every week throughout the election season. | |||||||||
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+8, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 8 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made California's 22nd Congressional District the 164th most Republican nationally.[34]
FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.04. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.04 points toward that party.[35]
District election history
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 22
Incumbent Devin Nunes defeated Andrew Janz in the general election for U.S. House California District 22 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Devin Nunes (R) | 52.7 | 117,243 |
 | Andrew Janz (D) | 47.3 | 105,136 | |
| Total votes: 222,379 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 22
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House California District 22 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Devin Nunes (R) | 57.6 | 70,112 |
| ✔ | | Andrew Janz (D) | 31.7 | 38,596 |
| Bobby Bliatout (D) | 4.9 | 6,002 | |
 | Ricardo Franco (D) | 3.6 | 4,365 | |
 | Brian T. Carroll (Independent) | 1.3 | 1,591 | |
 | Bill Merryman (L) | 0.9 | 1,137 | |
| Total votes: 121,803 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jose Sigala (D)
- Mallory Kremer (D)
- Paul Vargas (D)
2016
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Devin Nunes (R) defeated Louie Campos (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Nunes and Campos defeated Teresita Andres (R) in the top-two primary on June 7, 2016.[36][37]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Devin Nunes Incumbent |
67.6% | 158,755 | |
| Democratic | Louie Campos | 32.4% | 76,211 | |
| Total Votes | 234,966 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |
Devin Nunes Incumbent |
63.8% | 86,479 | |
| Democratic | Louie Campos |
29.7% | 40,247 | |
| Republican | Teresita Andres | 6.5% | 8,808 | |
| Total Votes | 135,534 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State |
||||
2014
The 22nd Congressional District of California held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Devin Nunes (R) defeated Suzanna Aguilera-Marrero (D) in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Devin Nunes Incumbent |
72% | 96,053 | |
| Democratic | Suzanna Aguilera-Marrero | 28% | 37,289 | |
| Total Votes | 133,342 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State | ||||
State profile
- See also: California and California elections, 2020
Partisan data
The information in this section was current as of January 23, 2020
Presidential voting pattern
- California voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Congressional delegation
- Both U.S. Senators from California were Democrats.
- California had 45 Democratic and six Republican U.S. Representatives, with two vacancies.
State executives
- Democrats held 10 and Republicans held one of California's 21 state executive offices. Elections for the other offices are nonpartisan.
- California's governor was Gavin Newsom (D).
State legislature
- Democrats controlled the California State Senate with a 29-10 majority, with one vacancy.
- Democrats controlled the California State Assembly with a 61-19 majority.
California Party Control: 1992-2025
Twenty years with Democratic trifectas • No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Assembly | D | D | D | S | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
|
|
| Demographic data for California | ||
|---|---|---|
| California | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 38,993,940 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 155,779 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 61.8% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 5.9% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 13.7% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 4.5% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 38.4% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 81.8% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 31.4% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $61,818 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 18.2% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in California. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
See also
- California's 22nd Congressional District election, 2020
- United States House elections in California, 2020 (March 3 top-two primaries)
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2020
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2020
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2020
- U.S. House battlegrounds, 2020
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Los Angeles Magazine, "Democrat Phil Arballo Says He Has a Solid Plan to Beat Devin Nunes in 2020," November 27, 2019
- ↑ Bobby Bliatout 2020 campaign website, "Meet Bobby," accessed February 24, 2020
- ↑ Bobby Bliatout 2020 campaign website," "Why I'm Running," accessed February 24, 2020
- ↑ Dary Rezvani 2020 campaign website, "Meet Dary," accessed February 24, 2020
- ↑ Devin Nunes 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed February 24, 2020
- ↑ Candidate Connection surveys completed before September 26, 2019, were not used to generate candidate profiles. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 The Fresno Bee, "Devin Nunes cares more for Trump than his district. Vote for Phil Arballo for Congress," February 3, 2020
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 Phil Arballo 2020 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed February 23, 2020
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 Bobby Bliatout 2020 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed February 23, 2020
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 The Sun, "Janz backs Arballo against Nunes. Janz supporters? Not so much," June 6, 2019
- ↑ Fresno County Dems, "PRESS RELEASE: Senator Melissa Hurtado Endorses Bobby Bliatout In Race Against Devin Nunes," February 11, 2020
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 The Sun, "Democrats make their pick to face off against Nunes. It might surprise you," November 18, 2019
- ↑ California ProLife Council and Right to Life Federation, "2020 Endorsements," accessed February 23, 2020
- ↑ Twitter, "Dary for Congress on February 21, 2020," accessed February 23, 2020
- ↑ Dary Rezvani 2020 campaign website, "Endorsements," accessed February 23, 2020
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Federal Election Commission, "California - House District 22," accessed February 24, 2020
- ↑ Visalia Times-Delta, "Supervisor candidates clash over homelessness; Congress hopefuls bash Nunes," January 31, 2020
- ↑ The Fresno Bee, "Devin Nunes’ Democratic opponent takes out first TV ad buy – and doesn’t mention Nunes," January 27, 2020
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Phil Arballo 2020 campaign website, “Issues,” accessed February 24, 2020
- ↑ Bobby Bliatout 2020 campaign website, “Issues,” accessed February 24, 2020
- ↑ Dary Rezvani 2020 campaign website, “Priorities,” accessed February 24, 2020
- ↑ Fundraising by primary candidates can be found on the race's respective primary election page. Fundraising by general election candidates can be found on the race's general election page.
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "2022 Quarterly Reports," accessed March 2, 2022
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
- ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Primary Elections in California," accessed August 13, 2024
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Certified List of Candidates for Voter-Nominated Offices June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election," accessed April 4, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "California Primary Results," June 7, 2016
