BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Rep. David Valadao (R) has won reelection to California's 22nd Congressional district, according to a projection by the Associated Press. The AP made its call on the race the Republican incumbent on Tuesday at 6:36 p.m. Valadao defeated former Bakersfield area Assemblymember and Democrat Rudy Salas. Valadao also defeated Salas back in November 2022. The district, which includes portions of Kern, Kings and Tulare counties, was a majority Democratic voter registration district. Democrats outpace Republicans in voter registration by double digits in the district. Democrats hoped that Salas could ride the higher turnout of a presidential election year to flip the seat. The seat was one of the more competitive races in the country to decide who would control the House of Representatives beginning in 2025. As of Tuesday night, the Associated Press projects Republicans have 216 seats in the House of Representatives of the 218 needed for a majority. The AP projected Republicans have already clinched a majority in the Senate. The Associated Press contributed to this report.