Salas left his seat in the Assembly to run as the Democratic nominee for California's 22nd congressional district in 2022, losing to incumbent Republican David Valadao.[2][3] Salas ran again in 2024 for the 22nd congressional district, losing once again to Valadao.[4]
When incumbent Assemblyman David Valadao announced that he would not run for reelection for California's 32nd State Assembly district, instead seeking a congressional bid, the seat was left vacant. In the June 5 primary, Salas ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination of the 32nd assembly district and won the overall primary with 41.4% of the vote, or 13,053 votes, ahead of the three Republican candidates. He faced off against the primary runner-up, Republican former Delano Mayor Pedro Rios, in the November 6 general election. Salas came in first by a smaller margin than before, with 38,759 total votes (52.9%) to Rios's 34,476 (47.1%).[10] He was sworn in on December 3, 2012.
2014
Salas ran for re-election in November 2014, again against former DelanoMayor Pedro Rios, who defeated Delano Union School Board trustee Romeo Agbalog in the June 2014 Republican primary election.[11] He was described as a moderate Democrat, colloquially referred to as a "Valleycrat" by some.[11] He won the rematch in the November 4 general election with 54.8% to Rios's 45.2%.[11][12]
2016
Salas ran for a third term in 2016. He faced minimal opposition in the primary, with Republican Manuel Ramirez running a write-in campaign that garnered 1% of the primary vote. In the general election, he won his largest victory yet with 65% to Ramirez's 35%.[13]
2018
Salas ran for a fourth consecutive term in 2018. He was challenged by Republican Hanford City Councilman Justin Mendes, a staffer for Congressman David Valadao (whom Salas succeeded in the Assembly in 2012).[14]
2020
Salas ran for reelection and faced Republican Todd Cotta, a Hanford gun store owner in the general election.[15]
Salas announced he would run again for Congress in 2024.[17] He was defeated by incumbent Republican David Valadao in the 2024 general election by over 11,000 votes.[18]
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