Who’s running for Kings County supervisor seats in 2026? Here are the candidates
One of the three seats on the Kings County Board of Supervisors races is up for grabs in the 2026 primary election.
Longtime District 1 Supervisor Joe Neves is not seeking reelection. Neves, 68, was first elected to office in November 1994 and is one of the Valley’s longest-serving supervisors. He was last reelected in the general election in 2022 after facing two challengers in the June primary and getting 47.79% of the vote.
District 1 has 28,543 residents in a 131-square-mile area that includes Lemoore and Stratford.
Supervisors Doug Verboon and Rusty Robinson are running unopposed in the District 3 and District 4 races.
The primary election will take place June 2. Candidates must receive over 50% of the vote in the primary election. If no candidate gets a majority of the vote, the top two will advance to the general election in November.
Kings County District 1 race
Martin Chavez, who was born and raised in Kings County, works as a farmer relations director for Pacific Farm Management Inc.
The 31-year-old attended Stratford Elementary, Lemoore High School while dually enrolled at West Hills Community College Lemoore.
This is the second time Chávez has run for a public office. The UC Merced graduate is a first-generation college student. His parents, who are immigrants from Mexico, are farmworkers.
“Politicians are not only failing our farmers, but also hard-working families. Too many people feel unheard, and too many basic priorities have gone unaddressed,” Chavez said on his website. “Kings County deserves leadership that listens, shows up, and delivers results. I will work every day to earn your vote and to deliver what we deserve.”
He served on the Stratford Public Utility District leading efforts to develop a new water well in the community. He represented the region as a Nuffield International Farming Scholar, a program that supports agricultural leaders to explore global practice.
According to his election statement, Chavez is running for board of supervisors for “reliable water, safe communities, and better roads.”
Stefanie Silveira Chavez, a lifelong Kings County resident, works as a real estate agent with Realtor Exp California and is the owner of a residential assisted living facility.
“I understand firsthand the values, challenges, and opportunities that shape our local community,” Silveira Chavez said in her election statement.
She is the sister-in-law to former U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who resigned in mid-April amid misconduct investigations.
“I’m a local business owner, I farm with my family, and I work every day with families navigating housing, agriculture, and small business challenges,” Silveira Chavez said when she announced her bid for supervisor earlier this year.
She is a board member of the Kings County Sheriff’s Foundation. She said her priorities include protecting property rights, water, agriculture, local jobs and small business and public safety.
Silveira Chavez said she brings “practical experience in housing, economic development and community care.”
Garrett A. Gilcrease is a fourth-generation farmer and agriculture professional from Lemoore, with his family farming since 1883, growing almonds, grapes and tomatoes.
“Our agriculture roots run deep, and I am committed to preserving that legacy for future generations,” said Gilcrease in his election statement.
Gilcrease is a Lemoore High School graduate and has a bachelor’s degree in plant science from Fresno State and a master’s degree in agronomy from Iowa State University. He is a licensed pest control advisor and certified crop advisor.
Gilcrease is the president of the Kings County Farm Bureau and chairs the Mid Kings River Groundwater Sustainability Agency Grower Advisory Committee. He has been endorsed by Neves.
His great-uncle was a long-time supervisor for District 1, while his father Jeff served for more than 40 years on the Central Union Elementary School board. Gilcrease also volunteers to coach youth sports.
“I am running for supervisor to deliver practical leadership, protecting water resources, supporting family farms, enhancing public safety and guiding responsible growth,” Gilcrease said in his election statement.
