Talk to political observers across the country and they’ll tell you one of the top Congressional races to watch in 2014 is in California’s 21st District. Republican David Valadao is seeking reelection to his second term representing a southern San Joaquin Valley district where Democrats hold a voter registration edge, and which went to President Obama back in 2012.
This year Valadao is facing off against two Democratic challengers – John Hernandez, who lost to the Hanford dairyman back in 2012, and a new name on the local political landscape – Amanda Renteria. A native of Woodlake and the daughter of former farm workers, the Stanford and Harvard educated politician was the chief of staff to Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow. She now hopes to become the first Latina to represent the South Valley in Congress. Renteria joined us on Valley Edition to talk about her background and her thoughts about everything from water and poverty to climate change and high speed rail.
