Who is taking a side in Caballero vs. Hurtado state Senate race? Here’s a list.
The heavyweight battle between a veteran state lawmaker and an up-and-coming state legislator who won favor in Sacramento for knocking off a Republican incumbent is starting to heat up five months before voters in the redrawn 14th state Senate District make their decision.
Redistricting has thrown state Sens. Anna Caballero and Melissa Hurtado, who shared common supporters four years ago, into the same district of which 53.14% of the population are Latinos of voting age.
Hurtado and Caballero agree on one thing: Circumstances could change by the March 11 filing deadline for the June 7 primary. However, neither went beyond explaining their thinking.
“I have gotten in races where there’s 10 candidates, and by the time the filing period closes there’s only three or four. So, it’s hard to know,” said Caballero, who will be termed out in four years if she wins.
“You never know what may happen between now and the (primary) election,” said Hurtado. There’s so much that can happen between now and then.”
In their historic election four years ago to become the first Latinas to represent a state Senate district in the San Joaquín Valley, the two welcomed a busload of state Capitol leaders who were part of the Blue Wave Tour that knocked on doors and held press conferences in the Valley for Hurtado in the 14th District and Caballero in the 12th District.
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, Attorney General Xavier Becerra, state Senate pro tem Toni G. Atkins and Assemblymember Joaquín Arámbula were among those supporting both candidates.
Caballero’s campaign website – annaforsenate.com – includes a link to a story about Hurtado’s legislation to make medical school more accessible.
Caballero, who saw half of her current district become part of Hurtado’s district, fired the first salvo in the reelection campaign by grabbing the support of civil rights icon Dolores Huerta.
Then, she traveled last week to Fresno – the heart of the new district that is represented by Hurtado – to announce the endorsements of four Fresno City Councilmembers and that of Arámbula.
“These endorsements are so critically important in that what’s new to my district is the city of Fresno,” said Caballero on Jan. 21 about her endorsements from Fresno Councilmembers Nelson Esparza, Miguel Arias, Esmeralda Soria and Tyler Maxwell.
“Fresno becomes really important in the district because there are new voters,” said Caballero, who represents city residents west of Highway 99. “I’m going to need to get out and walk and talk to them. Having the backing of the councilmembers that represent those areas becomes critically important.”
About 80% of the city of Fresno is in the new 14th District.
Hurtado, who was a Sanger City Councilmember before shocking political experts by defeating Andy Vidak in 2018 by more than 11 percentage points, said those councilmember endorsements of Caballero were “expected.”
“You hear things through the grapevine,” said Hurtado.
She also downplayed the endorsements.
“When I ran in 2018, I had almost no endorsements when I ran against the incumbent and it really didn’t matter,” said Hurtado during a Jan. 25 interview.
“The former challenger had many, many endorsements from Sacramento and even within the district. At the end of the day, it’s all up to the voters.”
Hurtado said district voters aren’t likely to use endorsements to determine their choice.
“It’s about how they feel about you and whether your message resonates with them or not,” she said. “That’s going to be key and instrumental to this race.”
Caballero, the former mayor of Salinas who moved to Merced three years ago, said she wants “to make a tremendous difference in a city that is on the rise and moving. It’s got some incredible opportunities.”
“The Central Valley desperately needs bold, aggressive and engaged leadership; someone who listens, someone who can build consensus, and someone who delivers,” she said.
She had looked at a possible Congressional run, “but quite frankly I’m very happy doing what I’m doing in the Senate.”
Key endorsements by labor unions, who can provide money and volunteers for phone banking and outreach, have yet to be announced.
Caballero picks up key supporters
Friday afternoon, the Caballero campaign released its list of endorsements, which included state Controller Betty Yee and state Treasurer Fiona Ma.
“Her knowledge of the Central Valley and the connection to the lives of the people she represents fuel her tenacity to work hard for her constituents and to elevate the voices of emerging leaders in California,” said Yee in a statement.
“She has worked hard to craft approaches to budgets and spending that benefit her constituents and allow all Californians to thrive,” said Ma. “I consider her a trusted ally and voice for the Central Valley communities she represents.”
Hurtado’s endorsements
State Assembly: Adam Gray
Mayors: Ron Ramsey (Coalinga), Scott Robertson (Selma)
Councilmembers: Adam Adkisson (Coalinga), Mike Karbassi (Fresno), Dan Parra (Fowler), Steve Montes (Madera), Anita Betancourt (Reedley), Daniel Martínez (Sanger), Esmeralda Hurtado (Sanger), Mike Montelongo (Sanger), Blanca Mendoza-Navarro (Selma)
Others: Andrew Janz (Fresno County deputy district attorney), Adriana Prado (Fowler Planning Commissioner), Robert Fuentes (attorney), Ryan Indart (Indart Group)
Caballero’s endorsements
State officers: Controller Betty Yee, Treasurer Fiona Ma
State Assembly: Joaquín Arámbula
County supervisors: Rodrigo Espinoza (Merced), Josh Pedrozo (Merced), Leticia González (Madera)
Mayors: Santos García (Madera)
Councilmembers: Esmeralda Soria, Miguel Arias, Nelson Esparza, Tyler Maxwell (all Fresno); Jewel Hurtado (Kingsburg), José Moran (Livingston)
School boards: Kimberly Tapscott-Munson (Fresno County)
Others: Patricia Ramos-Anderson (Santa Nella County Water District), Billie Jelks-Hood (Madera District Fair Board), Darren Miller (former Fresno County School Board),
Esta historia fue publicada originalmente el 28 de enero de 2022, 6:06 p. m..