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Melissa Hurtado

Melissa Hurtado
Member of the California Senate
from the 16th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 3, 2018
Preceded byAndy Vidak
Constituency14th district (2018–2022)
16th district (2022–present)
Member of the Sanger City Council
for District 1
In office
2016–2018
Personal details
Born (1988-03-06) March 6, 1988 (age 37)
Fresno, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationCSU Sacramento(BA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Melissa Hurtado (born March 6, 1988) is an American Democratic politician currently representing the 16th Senate District, encompassing Bakersfield, Kings County, and parts of Tulare County, in the California State Senate. Prior to being elected to the State Senate, she served on the Sanger City Council.[1][2][3]

Hurtado was first elected to the State Senate in November 2018, defeating incumbent Republican Andy Vidak.[4][5]

On July 7, 2020, Hurtado was selected to serve on the then-candidate for U.S. president Joe Biden's National Latino Leadership Committee.[6] In 2022, Hurtado ran for re-election in the redrawn 16th district, winning with 50.01% percent by a margin of 22 votes.[7][8][9] Prior to the election, she had been considered the most endangered incumbent of any district at the state level in the state of California.[10]

In July 2023, Hurtado filed paperwork declaring candidacy for California's 22nd congressional district in the 2024 election.[11] She placed fourth in the March 2024 primary election and did not advance to November's general election.[12]

Electoral history

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2016 Sanger City Council 1st district election[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Melissa Hurtado 815 68.2
Nonpartisan Martin F. Castellano 370 31.0
Write-in 10 0.8
Total votes 1,195 100.0
2018 California State Senate 14th district election[14][15]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Andy Vidak (incumbent) 37,918 54.1
Democratic Melissa Hurtado 16,295 23.2
Democratic Abigail Solis 10,413 14.9
Democratic Ruben Macareno 5,464 7.8
Total votes 70,090 100.0
General election
Democratic Melissa Hurtado 80,942 55.8
Republican Andy Vidak (incumbent) 64,131 44.2
Total votes 145,073 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican
2022 California State Senate 16th district election[16][17]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Shepard 32,579 43.4
Democratic Melissa Hurtado (incumbent) 22,162 29.5
Democratic Nicole Parra 9,921 13.2
Republican Gregory Tatum 6,016 8.0
Democratic Bryan Osorio 4,344 5.8
Total votes 75,022 100.0
General election
Democratic Melissa Hurtado (incumbent) 68,460 50.01
Republican David Shepard 68,438 49.99
Total votes 136,898 100.00
Democratic hold
2024 California's 22nd congressional district primary[18]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David Valadao (incumbent) 20,479 32.7
Democratic Rudy Salas 19,592 31.3
Republican Chris Mathys 13,745 22.0
Democratic Melissa Hurtado 8,733 14.0
Total votes 62,549 100.0

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Biography". Senate District 14 | Senator Melissa Hurtado. August 7, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  2. ^ "Melissa Hurtado". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  3. ^ Del Real, Jose A. (May 21, 2019). "They Grow the Nation's Food, but They Can't Drink the Water". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
  4. ^ "Correction: Election 2018–California Legislature story". AP News. November 13, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  5. ^ Kotowski, Jason (October 2, 2018). "14th SD challenger Hurtado: What happened to Vidak's vision for the valley?". The Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  6. ^ Melero, Jr., Gabriel (July 7, 2020). "Joe Biden Picks Senator Melissa Hurtado for National Latino Leadership Committee". GV Wire. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  7. ^ Taub, David (December 30, 2021). "Exclusive: Why Sen. Hurtado Is Risking Her Political Career to Stay in Sanger". GV Wire. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  8. ^ "2022 Election Results". California Secretary of State.
  9. ^ Patrick, Lacey (January 20, 2023). "Hurtado secures her victory in senate district 16 election". The Sun-Gazette Newspaper. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  10. ^ Hoeven, Emily (October 21, 2022). "Inside California's overlooked political powerhouse". CalMatters. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  11. ^ Yeager, Joshua (July 29, 2023). "Sen. Melissa Hurtado files to run for congressional seat in 2024". KVPR Valley Public Radio. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  12. ^ Donegan, John (March 7, 2024). "State Sen. Hurtado suspends congressional campaign". The Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "RESULTS OF NOVEMBER 8, 2016 PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION". Fresno County. December 6, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  14. ^ "June 5, 2018, Statewide Direct Primary Election – State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  15. ^ "November 6, 2018, General Election – State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  16. ^ "June 7, 2022, Primary Election – State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  17. ^ "November 8, 2022, General Election – State Senator" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  18. ^ "March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election – United States Representative" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
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