Incumbent Melissa Hurtado switches state Senate district; one opponent drops out

When state Sen. Melissa Hurtado mentioned the possibility that much could change in her re-election bid in the 14th state Senate District – one in which redistricting has made state Senate colleague Anna Caballero a challenger – the scenario played out when she announced she would run in a neighboring district.

“As the daughter of immigrants, I learned from my parents that change is scary, but sacrifice is necessary for the greater good,” said Hurtado in a Feb. 22 statement. “I will always put what’s best for the Valley first, which is why I have decided to run in the new Senate District 16.”

Caballero and Hurtado became the first Latinas to represent the Valley on the state Senate when they were elected four years ago.

The 16th state Senate District is similar to the redrawn 14th: Both are heavily Latino (58% Latino in the 16th to 53% in the 14th), and both represent heavily agricultural areas.

The 16th district reaches just south of Sanger, which has been Hurtado’s home for decades, and swings down to include Kingsburg, Dinuba, Woodlake, Hanford, Corcoran, Porterville, Avenal, Delano, Wasco, McFarland, Arvin and a chunk of east Bakersfield.

With the move, Hurtado will avoid a showdown against Caballero, the former Salinas mayor who now lives in Merced. Caballero had grabbed most mayor endorsements in the district, including that of four Fresno City councilmembers.

If Caballero wins in the heavily Democratic district, she’ll be termed out in 2026.

Hurtado’s change also means the 16th Senate District race will be crowded. Former Assemblymember Nicole Parra, who switched from a Congressional run, is in the race.

So is Delano Mayor Bryan Osorio, Porterville attorney Rob Fuentes, Bakersfield labor leader Imelda Ceja, and, Porterville farmer David Shepard, the only Republican in the group.

On Monday, Fuentes announced he was withdrawing from the race.

“Though I am stepping aside so that the Democratic Party can allocate as much of its resources as possible to hold this seat and will no longer be in the race for Senate District 16, my steadfast commitment to our community remains the same,” said Fuentes in a statement.

Fuentes said the race was not about him, but “about fighting for working families across across the Valley who struggle to make ends meet.”

State Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins backed Hurtado’s decision in a statement accompanying Hurtado’s press release.

“It’s hard to leave behind a part of a district that you have fought hard to represent,” said Atkins. “While it hasn’t been an easy decision for Sen. Hurtado, I commend her for running in Senate 16 to ensure that all the people in the Valley will have the strongest representation.

“Sen. Hurtado has my full support as well as the support of the Senate Democratic Caucus.”

Parra struck back at Hurtado’s district campaign change.

“Senate Leadership is threatening to spend $12M to buy this seat. I say, let the voters decide. What do you think?,” she posted on Twitter on Monday.

“We are running a great campaign. I welcome all challengers. I have over 30 years of public service in the Central Valley and I plan to spend the next 8 years, if the voters decide, in the State Senate,” she said.

The filing deadline is March 11 to be on the June 7 primary ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of political party, will advance to the November general election.

Esta historia fue publicada originalmente el 28 de febrero de 2022, 11:43 a. m..