ABC News projects Villegas over Valadao in 22nd District

The projection

ABC News projects Randy Villegas as the winner of California’s 22nd Congressional District over David Valadao. The projection places Villegas ahead of Valadao in the congressional race.

The result is reported as a projection rather than a vote total.

The candidates named

Villegas and Valadao are the two candidates identified in the projection.

No policy positions, endorsements, fundraising figures or vote totals are included in the announcement. The development concerns the projected result in California’s 22nd Congressional District.

Projection and official result

It is separate from an official result issued through the election process. The projection reported by ABC News therefore answers who the network expects to win, while the certified result is the formal record of the contest.

The distinction matters because a projection and a final vote tally serve different purposes. The projection names Villegas as the winner over Valadao; an official result records the counted vote and formal outcome.

What happens next

The next step is to follow the official election record for California’s 22nd Congressional District. That record will establish the formal outcome after the election process is completed.

No additional campaign position or policy issue is part of this update.

The projection can be read through ABC News’ election report.