House Speaker Paul Ryan to make appearance at Fresno County fundraiser

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Incumbent Republican congressman David Valadao will be getting a campaign boost next week. House Speaker Paul Ryan will appear at a private Fowler fundraiser a week from Thursday.

In November, congressman Valadao faces off against Emilio Huerta a Bakersfield attorney and son of UFW co-founder Dolores Huerta. Ryan has been busy raising millions of dollars to help Republicans maintain the house majority. The 21st congressional district race between Hanford incumbent Valadao and Huerta is seen as a competitive battle so Ryan will raise funds in Fowler for Valadao on October 27.

"It's a big boost," Guillermo Moreno with the GOP party said. "He's the leader of the party up in DC, so it's very important and it's also important because he gets to come and hear some Central Valley issues."

Ryan and Valadao have distanced themselves from GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump. Trump has divided many in the GOP but Moreno of the California Republican Party said it's important Republicans keep the majorities in both houses.

"You see divisiveness on both sides of the aisle, especially in our end. We respect all Republicans. We have to," Moreno said. "Not all of us are going to agree especially on the same team."

Huerta said the Ryan visit shows how concerned Valadao is about the election.

"I think Mr. Valadao should be worried," Huerta said. "The 21st Congressional District is one of the poorest districts in the country and when you look at college graduation rates they're less than 10 percent. Double-digit unemployment. We've been forgotten for too long."

It won't be cheap to see Speaker Ryan next Thursday in Fowler. Tickets are a $1,000 or $2,700 for the VIP reception.