Bakersfield Vice Mayor Manpreet Kaur announced she will run against State Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) in the 2026 primary election for California’s District 16 Senate seat. Kaur was elected Vice Mayor in Dec. 2024.
In a statement, Kaur said:
I’ve been encouraged by community and my constituents to explore my options, which in my eyes, is an honor to begin with.
Kaur, a Democrat, represents Ward 7 in south Bakersfield. Her parents immigrated to the United States from India, and she was born and raised in Bakersfield. In 2022, she became the first Sikh-Punjabi woman elected to the Bakersfield City Council. Senate District 16 includes parts of Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties.
State Sen. Melissa Hurtado, also a Democrat, is currently serving her second term and is eligible to seek one additional four-year term. In 2022, Hurtado narrowly defeated Republican David Shepard by 22 votes. In 2024, she ran for Congress against incumbent David Valadao but did not advance to the general election.
Hurtado released a statement in response to Kaur’s announcement:
Running for office is, and should always be, about fighting for your community. That’s why I first ran in 2018. My record is clear and historic: nearly $1 billion in investments secured across the Central Valley, from Fresno County to Kern in 7 short years. No Democrat or Republican in recent history can point to a stronger record of real results for this region. If someone thinks they can do better, I welcome that conversation because the goal should always be more opportunity, more investment, and a stronger Valley.
The California primary election is scheduled for June 2, 2026.