Nation's Largest RN Union Backs Randy Villegas for CA-22 Congress Seat

Largest RN Union Backs Central Valley Candidate for Health Care Reform

National Nurses United (NNU), the U.S.'s largest registered nurses union with over 225,000 members, has officially endorsed Randy Villegas for California’s 22nd Congressional District.

NNU President Mary Turner, RN, stated, “Nurses believe Randy will fight courageously and skillfully to not only reverse the Republican Party’s trillion-dollar health care cuts, but also push for Medicare for All and policies that will improve the lives of Central Valley’s working families.” She emphasized the importance of having an advocate like Villegas, who is intimately familiar with the challenges faced by families in the Central Valley, particularly in a district with the highest percentage of Medicaid recipients among Republican-held House districts.

Villegas expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am honored to receive the endorsement of NNU. Our nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system and the most trusted profession in our country. They are there for us in our first breaths and with us in our final breaths. I’m proud to stand with them in this fight for Medicare for all, health care justice, and patient safety.”

NNU plans to support Villegas's campaign and collaborate with him on key issues impacting nurses, patients, and communities if he is elected to Congress.

During an August 2025 town hall organized by NNU, Villegas pledged to challenge those undermining essential public programs like Medicaid. The town hall included registered nurses, local officials, and community leaders from across the Central Valley.

The recent federal budget reconciliation bill has led to significant financial shifts. Nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid funding has been redirected away from ordinary Americans, affecting 10 million people's insurance and reducing food assistance for 22.3 million families, while funding tax cuts for the wealthy and enhancing immigration enforcement.

In California, up to 3.4 million people risk losing their health insurance, significantly affecting those reliant on Medi-Cal, which covers almost half of all births in the state. Despite protests from constituents, including registered nurses, Rep. David Valadao voted to cut health care for 65,000 of his constituents.

NNU continues to support candidates who advocate for nurses' values, including staffing for patient safety, protecting workers' rights to organize, and ensuring universal health care as a fundamental right.

National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with more than 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates include California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.