Founded four years ago as the first lobbying group for the food movement, Food Policy Action said it will work to defeat second-term Rep. David Valadao, a California republican and a member of the House Appropriations subcommittee overseeing USDA and FDA funding. “Valadao has voted for and championed initiatives that would roll back nutrition standards and cut programs which ensure our children, seniors and veterans have enough to eat,” said FPA. The organization is making Valadao one of its three targets in the Nov. 8 election.
In a statement, FPA said it “will devote significant resources in these races as part of a larger half-million dollar effort to hold elected officials accountable for their votes on food policy.” The other targets are Republican representatives Rod Blum of Iowa and Scott Garrett of New Jersey.
Valadao is challenged for re-election by Emilio Huerta in the Central Valley district. The political analysis site Sabato’s Crystal Ball rates the race as “likely Republican.” Huerta is the son of labor icon Dolores Huerta.