The Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC (CPC PAC) issued a sharp rebuke Monday against the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) for backing California Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains in a contested primary, escalating internal party tensions over primary interference.
In a statement shared with The Hill, CPC PAC co-chairs and board members—including Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), and Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas)—accused the DCCC of trying to tilt the race. “Voters, not the DCCC, should pick Democratic nominees,” they wrote, calling for the committee to stay neutral in competitive House primaries.
The DCCC added Bains to its “Red to Blue” program, which provides organizational and fundraising support. Bains, a physician, is running against Randy Villegas, a professor at College of the Sequoias who has endorsements from the CPC PAC and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Neither candidate secured the 60% threshold needed for the California Democratic Party’s endorsement in February.
Villegas criticized the DCCC’s move as “undemocratic,” accusing “D.C. elites” of meddling, according to The Sacramento Bee. The CPC PAC described Villegas as the “best candidate to win in November,” citing his stances on immigration reform and universal healthcare.
The DCCC defended its endorsement, noting Bains already serves as an assemblymember in California’s 22nd Congressional District and outperformed former Vice President Kamala Harris by over seven points in the 2024 general election. However, Proposition 50—a voter-approved mid-decade redistricting effort—has added at least five new cities to the district, potentially reshaping the electorate.
“It’s imperative that Democrats must take back the House to hold Trump accountable and deliver on what truly matters to voters—lower costs and affordable health care,” DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton told The Hill. He touted Bains’ endorsement as part of a broader strategy to back candidates “who span the ideological spectrum.”
Both Bains and Villegas are vying to unseat incumbent GOP Rep. David Valadao, a key target for Democrats aiming to regain the House majority. Valadao has raised nearly $2.9 million as of April 15, outpacing Villegas ($719,000) and Bains ($700,500), according to GV Wire.
The race highlights ongoing tensions between the party’s establishment and progressive wings, reminiscent of other primary battles like Vance backing Ramaswamy in Ohio. The three candidates will face off in a non-partisan primary on June 2, with the outcome likely to test the DCCC’s influence in contested races.
