Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, defeated former Assemblyman Rudy Salas, D-Bakersfield, again in California’s 22nd Congressional District, the Associated Press projected. Valadao had 53.5% of the votes and Salas had 46.5% as of 6:36 p.m Pacific Time on Tuesday. An estimated 82% of votes had been counted.

Republican Rep. David Valadao managed to once again fend off Democratic challenger Rudy Salas to keep his U.S. House seat representing California's 22nd Congressional District in the Central Valley. Valadao's win bolsters the Republican Party's effort to retain control of the House of Representatives and brings the GOP closer to controlling both arms of Congress after flipping the U.

The race between David Valadao and Rudy Salas might not be called for weeks given how close it’s predicted to be.

The House GOP incumbent's successful record in his purple California district is, to quote one former Democratic pollster, “ridiculous.”

During his race, Valadao declined to publicly endorse between Trump and his Democratic challenger for the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris. It’s unclear whether that decision helped his reelection chances among voters, or if it could hurt his position in Congress with Trump soon heading back to the White House.