Congressman David G. Valadao announced on May 4 the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for high school students in California’s 22nd Congressional District. Emily Romero, an 11th-grade student at Hanford High School, was selected for her mixed-media piece titled July 7, 2012.
The annual competition gives students from across the district an opportunity to showcase their artistic talents and have their work displayed in a national setting. The winning entry will be exhibited in the U.S. Capitol alongside works from other congressional districts for one year.
Valadao said, “Congratulations to Emily Romero of Hanford High School on her winning entry, and thank you to all the talented students across California’s 22nd Congressional District who shared their artwork. Emily’s piece, July 7, 2012, beautifully captures the spirit of a local county fair while celebrating the enduring traditions of classic Americana, which are especially meaningful as we approach America’s 250th anniversary. I look forward to seeing her work each time I walk through the U.S. Capitol.”
July 7, 2012 uses colored pencil and marker to depict a child riding a merry-go-round at a fair. In addition to having her art displayed in Washington D.C., Romero will be invited to attend a reception sponsored by the Congressional Institute.
Albert Garcia from Del Oro High School received The People’s Choice award for his black-and-white photograph Elidia, which portrays his grandmother sharing stories during Christmas Eve at home.
David Valadao is currently serving in Congress representing California’s 22nd district after replacing TJ Cox in 2021 according to Wikipedia. He has served as representative since that year and previously was part of the California State Assembly from 2010 through 2012 as reported by the official biography. Valadao was born in Hanford in 1977 and continues to reside there.
