Andy Vidak | |
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Member of the California State Senate from the 14th district |
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Assumed office December 1, 2014 |
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Preceded by | Tom Berryhill |
Member of the California State Senate from the 16th district |
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In office August 10, 2013 – December 1, 2014 |
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Preceded by | Michael Rubio |
Succeeded by | Jean Fuller |
Personal details | |
Born |
Visalia, California, U.S. |
November 13, 1965
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Residence | Hanford, California, U.S. |
Alma mater | Texas Tech University |
Profession | Farmer |
James Andrew "Andy" Vidak is an American politician and cherry farmer. A member of the Republican Party, he is a California state senator who has represented California's 16th State Senate district and now represents the 14th district.
Vidak was born in Visalia, California to James Vidak, the Tulare County superintendent of schools, and Kathleen Vidak. The eldest of five children, he graduated from Redwood High School in 1984 and then attended College of the Sequoias in Visalia and California State University, Fresno before receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Business from Texas Tech University. He returned to the San Joaquin Valley to work in the produce industry before opening his own cherry farm outside Hanford in 1997.
In the 2010 midterm elections, Vidak announced his intention to run for Congress in California's 20th congressional district, challenging longtime incumbent Democrat Jim Costa. The race was too close to call on election night and was only settled three weeks after Election Day. Costa ultimately won reelection with 52% of the vote against Vidak's 48%, with a total popular vote margin of 3,050, in the closest race of Costa's Congressional career up to that point.
Following the sudden resignation of incumbent Democrat Michael Rubio on February 22, 2013, the 16th State Senate seat was left vacant and a special election was called.