Your guide to the Fresno City Council District 7 primary election race
Fresno City Councilmember Nelson Esparza will term out by the end of the year, leaving his District 7 seat open in the 2026 primary election.
Four candidates are vying for the spot: community organizer and consultant Ariana Martinez Lott, Blackstone Merchants Association founder AJ Rassamni, retired paralegal Jason Keomanee and attorney Nav Gurm.
To secure a seat, a candidate must receive over 50% of the vote. If no one secures a majority of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
Martinez Lott, Rassamni and Gurm recently gathered for a forum hosted by The Bee, where they each expressed their positions on local issues and answered questions. Watch the full District 7 candidate forum here. Attempts by The Bee to reach Keomannee were unsuccessful.
Where’s the district?
The district includes east-central Fresno and parts of southeast Fresno, including the Manchester, Radio Park, Romain Park, Lafayette Park/Fresno High neighborhoods. The district also includes parts of the Blackstone Avenue corridor, and neighborhoods near Shields and Temperance avenues.
Of the 34,211 registered voters in the district, 14,662 are registered Democrats and 7,708 are registered Republicans, according to Fresno County data. Another 8,755 voters have no party preference listed.
Ariana Martinez Lott
Martinez Lott is a community organizer and the owner of Corazón Consulting. She also worked for Fresno Councilmember Miguel Arias as director of community relations from 2021 to 2023.
Martinez Lott said many issues in District 7 are connected to “decades of unchecked outward growth.” To counteract, she said she will prioritize gaps in street repairs, routes to school and public transportation services, as well as expanding Fresno’s local housing trust fund and establishing a public safety residential response team.
Martinez Lott is endorsed by Dolores Huerta, Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula, Councilmember Arias and some members of the Fresno Unified and State Center Community College District trustee boards.
Additionally, she has received endorsements from the Working Families Party, the Central Labor Council, the Dolores Huerta Action Fund, the Fresno City Employees Association, the Fresno Teachers Association, the Central Valley Progressive PAC, Valley Voters, the Nor Cal Carpenters Union 701, and other Democratic groups.
AJ Rassamni
Rassamni is the founder of the Blackstone Merchants Association. He’s also the former owner of the Great American Car Wash and the author of a business book.
Rassamni’s top issue is addressing homelessness. He said he sees it as not only a humanitarian issue, but also a public safety and economic stability issue.
Rassamni supports establishing government-sanctioned camps, or “safe zones” where people experiencing homelessness can stay legally while receiving services like sanitation, case management, mental-health treatment, and addiction support. It’s unclear where in the city Rassamni would propose these camps be located.
“When encampments remain unmanaged, neighborhoods become unsafe and economic activity declines. When people receive treatment, structure, and a path back to stability, the entire city benefits,” he said.
Other priorities include repairing streets and sidewalks and supporting small businesses.
Rassamni has received endorsements from former Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, Fresno Unified Trustee Valarie Davis and members of the Blackstone Merchants Association. He says that because he’s running to “put people before politics,” he is not accepting endorsements from politicians.
Nav Gurm
Gurm is an attorney and the owner of Five River Strategies, a Central Valley public affairs consultancy. Gurm is also a former legislative assistant for Esparza.
One pressing issue Gurm sees facing the district is insufficient infrastructure, such as poor roads and sidewalks, and outdated water and sewer systems.
“If elected, I will fight aggressively to ensure District 7 and South Fresno receive their equitable share of Measure C funds and any future infrastructure measures,” Gurm said.
He said that means prioritizing repairs and upgrades in underserved neighborhoods. Other priorities include lowering utility costs, expanding economic development opportunities, including a “One-Stop Shop” pilot program to streamline permitting, engaging youth through expanding mentorship and internship opportunities, strengthening public safety and expanding Fresno’s sports and entertainment.
Gurm has received endorsements from the following politicians: Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, Supervisor Luis Chavez, Councilmember Tyler Maxwell, US Sen. Adam Schiff, former Stockton mayor and lieutenant governor candidate Michael Tubbs, State Center Community College Trustee Destiny Rodriguez and Fresno County Board of Education Trustee Itzi Robles.
He has also been endorsed by the Fresno County Democratic Party, the Central Labor Council, the Fresno Teachers Association, Fresno Firefighters Legislative Action Committee, Fresno Building Trades Council and the Fresno Chamber of Commerce.
Who’s funding the race?
Gurm is leading the race in finances, with a total of over $150,000 raised, according to campaign finance disclosure forms filed by candidates’ campaign committees on the City of Fresno website. Financial supporters of Gurm’s campaign include farmers, small businesses and organizations representing workers.
Rassmni has raised roughly $85,700, with a majority of his financial support coming from small businesses belonging to the Blackstone Merchants Association.
Martinez Lott has raised just over $77,000, with a majority of contributions coming from teachers, nurses, construction workers, community organizers and small businesses.
