Another 2026 congressional candidate? Breaking down Asm. Dr. Jasmeet Bains' healthcare ad
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Partisan divide over the new congressional budget is setting the stage for a contentious 2026 election cycle here in Kern County.
Especially in the hot seat is the 22nd Congressional District, as a healthcare advertisement is dominating the airwaves in recent weeks.
'I'm trying to see as many patients as I can, because Congress is trying to cut their Medi-Cal—Tell Congressman Valadao to stop these cuts on Medi-Cal,' said Dr. Bains in the ad.
Saying all that in a healthcare ad is Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains, a Democrat from Delano representing California's 35th Assembly District.
But in this ad, she only identifies as, 'I'm Dr. Jasmeet Bains, and I'm a family doctor.'
This piece is paid for by a political action committee called Healthcare Saves Lives, funded by SEIU CA and local heathcare and homecare unions.
A spokesperson for the union told 17 News the ad — airing in Kern, Kings and Tulare counties — costs six-figures.
'She's running for Congress,' said Central Valley political analyst Tracy Leach.
That, Leach said, should be the takeaway from the advertisement.
Bains collaborating with a PAC is a pre-campaign of sorts, the teamwork possible because she hasn't declared candidacy — at least not yet.
'An independent expenditure is just that — it's supposed to be independent from the campaign that they are supporting… So, it would be far more difficult, if not impossible to do in a full-blown election cycle,' Leach commented, adding that raising name ID ahead of a potential campaign was a smart strategy by Bains.
Riko Mendez, Chief Elected Officer of the SEIU Local 521 said of the collaboration, 'While Valadao is playing games with the lives of children, seniors and veterans in the Valley, Dr. Bains is actively working to save their lives.'
Bains did not respond to requests for comment on a potential congressional run, though she has stated in the past she hopes she won't need to get involved.
Let's break down the bigger-picture — the politics.
Democrats like Bains have been critical of Republicans' new budget plan, coined President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill.'
Democrat Fire burns at least 1,000 acres in Kern River canyon, Hwy 178 closed
Reductions to federal spending are proposed, sparking concerns programs like Medicare and Medicaid — known as Medi-Cal in California — could be cut.
An amended version of the bill also includes work requirements for able-bodied recipients of aid.
This is what the Bains ad gets at.
In it, Bains also states, 'These kids will lose access to their doctors, medications and even our Valley hospitals.'
'Cancers, diseases, they don't care what your political affiliation is,' said 17 News Democratic analyst Neel Sannappa. 'We shouldn't have to have ads placed. We shouldn't have to have folks out knocking on doors [to protect healthcare].'
Valadao will be put to the test this week, as the bill is set to be voted on again.
He voted 'yes' in the first vote for the bill; was absent for the second vote and ahead of the upcoming vote told 17 News in a statement in part, 'It's disappointing but not surprising to see Democrat activists resort to fearmongering tactics… Nothing has been finalized, and as we continue to work through the reconciliation process, I'll keep fighting to protect access to care for hardworking Valley families.'
'He has to be very careful if he wants to be reelected,' Leach said, touching on Democrats' efforts to flip his CD-22 seat blue come the 2026 Midterm election.
Meantime, local Democrats like Sannappa have been attending rally after rally, chanting for Valadao to vote against potential healthcare cuts.
'Valadao is ducking and hiding from his constituents,' Sannappa said. 'He has given us very little, compared to all the action that's happened.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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