Dr. Jasmeet Bains seeks to be the Democratic candidate for District 22 of California and challenge Republican David Valadao, in a territory where 75% of the population is Latino.

In a dialogue in Spanish, Dr. Bains indicates that she learned the language due to her work as a doctor and because the region where she lives has people from various parts of the world, including Latinos.

"In this part of California there are many immigrants from different parts of the world. There are immigrants from Mexico, there are immigrants from Honduras, Panama, Ecuador, from other parts, from Nicaragua as well, from Oaxaca," he explained. "There are immigrants from India. There are also immigrants from Filipinos. [...] Everyone wants opportunities, they want health services."

Bains is the daughter of immigrants from India and has lived her entire life in Delano, California, a territory she represents as a state assemblyman.

“I know the problem with health services,” he said, noting that voters want better services. "I am a doctor from my community. I am also an assembly member for this district, but first, I am a doctor. I am a family doctor."

The candidate for District 22 – who competes in the primary election with Randy Villegas – also speaks Punjabi, in addition to English and Spanish.

"The people in that district are my neighbors, from schools, patients and friends. We all want the same thing, to be able to afford food, public services, rent; for our streets to be safe and to have access to health and the hope of building a better life for ourselves and our families," he explained.

Dr. Bains explained that her agenda focuses on issues she has worked on as an assemblywoman, including better medical services, but also job opportunities and seeking to reduce the cost of living.

He criticized Republican Valadao, whom he described as “selling out” the district's voters to the “party leaders.”

"Latino voters and all voters are tired of Republicans' broken promises. At every turn, Republicans, like David Valadao, have voted for policies that make life more expensive and difficult for working families," Dr. Bains charged. “Across the country, we have seen Latinos strongly supporting Democrats in special elections.”

Valadao was one of the Republicans who voted for the so-called “Big and Beautiful Law,” which benefits immigration agencies with more than $75 billion dollars and cut medical benefits for millions of people. It is estimated that this decision on health insurance will affect at least four million Latinos.

Against protected borders?

Dr. Bains noted that she supports protecting US borders, but does not support a policy of fear against immigrants, as she noted is the case with President Donald Trump's administration.

"We need a system that works for people and keeps criminals out. That requires real solutions. We protect families who do things right. We keep our streets safe.

We protect the dream that my parents pursued," he said. "We all want safe communities and protected borders, but what we are seeing now is politics based on fear. “We cannot turn law enforcement into a political weapon.”

Dr. Bains recognized that District 22 is one of the poorest in California, which requires important work in Congress. She would focus on health, especially addiction treatment and trafficking victims.

"People want to feel safe in their communities. This means ensuring law enforcement has the tools they need, but also investing in real solutions, such as addiction treatment, mental health services and support for families," he explained.