Everything you need to know about who wants to represent you in the state Assembly

This election season, there are four seats in the California state Assembly up for grabs to represent residents in Fresno and/or Madera counties.

What does a California Assemblymember do?

An Assemblymember is one of 80 people elected by their various communities to serve in the Assembly, the state’s largest legislative body.

Being an Assemblymember is a full-time job. Legislators receive a base annual salary of $114,877. They serve two-year terms, and can be re-elected up to six times.

Assemblymembers write new laws, oversee and approve state budgets, and help residents in their districts (also known as constituents) access state resources or navigate state bureaucracy and red tape.

In the Fresno and Madera area, assemblymembers play an important role in getting state money for local projects — new fire stations or a senior center for Fowler, for instance — or to get more state attention on an issue of local importance.

Who is running for Assembly to represent Fresno and/or Madera counties?

There are four Assembly districts that include parts of Fresno and Madera counties. Each district includes about 500,000 people.

Even if you think you know your Assembly district, the boundaries changed significantly in last year’s redistricting process. Redistricting happens every decade, following the census.