Annalisa Perea takes early lead over GOP candidate in Assembly District 31 race

Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea has taken an early election night lead in the race for California’s Assembly District 31 seat currently held by Joaquin Arambula.

Returns showed almost 36,000 votes had been counted as of 9:09 p.m. in the race to represent the district, which covers the southern half of the city of Fresno, Sanger and Selma. Perea, a Democrat, held about 67.6% of the vote while Republican Jim Polsgrove, a retired engineering technician, held 32.4%.

The Fresno Bee could not immediately reach Perea on Tuesday night.

Polsgrove, who attended at watch party in Old Town Clovis, said he wants to “give it more time” before making a decision on the race.

“A lot of late votes are coming, they could go my way,” he said.

Polsgrove added that he remains confident, but added that he “knew it would be a rough race.”

“It’s a democratic area,” he said of the district.

The two candidates advanced from the June primary election, when Perea received 44.6% of the vote despite Sandra Celedon, another Democrat, also being on that ballot. Polsgrove received 34.4% of the vote in the primary election.

Perea, who works as an urban planner in the private sector, has been the District 1 Fresno City Councilmember since 2022, representing parts of the Tower District and west and central Fresno. She previously described herself as a pragmatic leader who can work across party lines.

She has highlighted her role in incentivizing infill development in Fresno and securing a tax revenue agreement with Fresno County that Perea says has secured more revenue for the city.

Before retiring, Polsgrove worked for the city of Fresno for decades, rising to the role of supervising engineering technician. He has described himself as a “common sense” candidate focused on affordability, reducing crime and improving water policy.

Polsgrove has highlighted his engineering experience handling projects related to roads, traffic signals and water and sewer infrastructure.