BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KFSN) — Sen. Bernie Sanders campaigned in Bakersfield on Sunday alongside Democratic congressional candidate Randy Villegas as part of his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, with 30 days remaining until Election Day.<\/p>\n
The event at Bakersfield High School’s Harvey Auditorium drew supporters who lined up for hours despite triple-digit temperatures in Bakersfield.<\/p>\n
Sanders’ visit came days after House Speaker Mike Johnson campaigned<\/a> in the district for Republican Rep. David Valadao during a rally Wednesday, highlighting the national attention focused on California’s 22nd Congressional District.<\/p>\n “We can do this, and it starts in California’s 22nd District. I am not kidding. The road to the majority, and thus the road to save the country, goes through the Central Valley,” Johnson said during the rally Wednesday.<\/p>\n RELATED: Speaker Mike Johnson in Bakersfield for David Valadao campaign event<\/a><\/p>\n Under the new Proposition 50 district map, Democrats hold a 16-point voter registration advantage in the district. However, low Democratic turnout, particularly among Latino voters, continues to make the race competitive.<\/p>\n As both campaigns make their case to voters, affordability remains a central issue in the district, which has a large farmworker population. Concerns over rising fuel prices amid the war with Iran, along with increasing fertilizer and grocery costs, have become key topics in the race.<\/p>\n RELATED: Senator Bernie Sanders holds rally supporting Prop. 40, CA billionaire tax proposal in SF<\/a><\/p>\n Valadao addressed the issue during the campaign.<\/p>\n “The reality is, Sacramento plays just as big a role. And so, for one side to point fingers, this is a temporary thing that’s going on in Iran. It will end,” Valadao said Wednesday.<\/p>\n A Valadao spokesperson also issued a statement to Action News regarding Sunday’s event, describing Villegas as “a partisan ideologue in lockstep with Sanders’ far-left agenda.”<\/p>\n Election Day is Nov. 3.<\/p>\n For news updates, follow Grant Johnson on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a>.<\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2026 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n