At first look, the recent Democratic primary in California’s Central Valley appeared to be another clash between the party’s progressive wing and its more moderate establishment figures.

This round ended with victory for the populist challenger Randy Villegas. Yet the result carries greater weight than most similar primary fights because of what comes next.

The contest was not for a reliably Democratic district. Villegas will now face Republican Rep. David Valadao, viewed as one of the stronger opportunities for Democrats aiming to regain control of the House and check President Donald Trump.

The November matchup will examine the idea, favored by many on the left, that progressive anti-establishment candidates can draw broad support even in areas that have long leaned Republican.

“A populist message isn’t limited to blue districts or specific regions,” said Ravi Mangla, a spokesperson for the Working Families Party, which backed Villegas. “It can succeed wherever voters sense that politics fails to serve them.”

“More than ever, voters across the spectrum seek candidates ready to confront entrenched power,” Mangla added.

The National Republican Congressional Committee downplayed Villegas’ prospects despite recent redistricting by state Democrats that aimed to improve the party’s odds of flipping the seat.

“Democrats understand Villegas cannot defeat Congressman David Valadao because he supports the same unsuccessful approaches that have raised costs, reduced safety, and burdened working families in the Central Valley,” said spokesperson Christian Martinez.

Villegas’ win occurs in a cycle where large segments of the Democratic base are turning away from candidates favored by party leaders as the strongest options for gaining congressional seats.

Graham Platner won the Democratic Senate primary in Maine decisively after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s preferred choice, Gov. Janet Mills, withdrew amid weak backing shortly before the vote.

A combat veteran and oyster farmer with no prior elected experience, Platner has faced scrutiny over past personal matters, heated social media comments, and a tattoo once linked to a Nazi symbol that has since been altered.

In Michigan, Rep. Haley Stevens competes in a three-way race for the Democratic Senate nomination against state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and progressive favorite Abdul El-Sayed. The primary falls on Aug. 4, and El-Sayed recently gained a key endorsement from the United Auto Workers union.

In Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race, progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan battles U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, who holds support from labor unions, LGBTQ organizations, and moderate Democrats ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.

Another key test arrives June 30 in Colorado, where progressive Manny Rutinel challenges establishment-backed Shannon Bird in the Democratic primary to face Republican Rep. Gabe Evans. Like Valadao, Evans ranks as a prime Democratic target, and the race centers on electability questions for November.

Valadao placed first and Villegas second in California’s primary, sending the top two finishers to the general election.

When early voting opened roughly a month before the primary, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee took the rare step of openly endorsing Jasmeet Bains, a physician and state Assembly member who had secured backing from numerous elected officials, unions, and health care organizations.

“Dr. Jasmeet Bains has worked on the front lines of health crises and established a record of results for the Central Valley,” DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene stated at the time. She avoided criticism of Villegas, yet the public endorsement signaled to donors and activists that party leaders viewed Bains as the stronger nominee. Congressional leaders seldom intervene so directly in contested primaries for open seats.

The choice to support Bains angered many progressives, who saw it as further proof that Washington insiders misread both the Democratic base and voters drawn to Trump.

“I think the moderates are mistaken. People reject status quo, pro-corporate candidates,” said Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution, a progressive group that emerged from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential bid. “They want candidates prepared to disrupt the system.”

With Villegas now the nominee, Democrats in Washington describe him as a capable candidate well placed to unseat Valadao. They cite the grassroots energy that carried him through the primary and the combined 59 percent share won by Democratic candidates, well above Valadao’s 41 percent, though turnout will rise in the general election.

Any friction from the earlier snub appears resolved. By Wednesday both sides presented a united front. California members of Congress, including some who had backed Bains, released supportive statements, and Villegas responded graciously.

“We’re all committed to electing Randy and flipping this seat,” said Anna Elsasser, a spokesperson for the DCCC. The district “is a must-win seat for the House majority, and we are confident in winning with Randy as the Democratic nominee,” she added.