Your guide to California State Senate races in Central Valley. Here’s who’s running

Several candidates are vying for three California State Senate seats to represent districts in the central San Joaquin Valley.

Two Republicans and one Libertarian are running to replace Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), who represents Senate District 12, a Republican-leaning district which includes foothill communities across Fresno, Kern and Tulare counties, as well as the cities of Visalia and Bakersfield. Grove is running to represent District 1 on the State Board of Equalization.

Three candidates, two Democrats and one Republican, hope to take over the seat of Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Merced) who represents Senate District 14, a Democratic-leaning district which encompasses parts of Merced, Madera and Fresno counties. Caballero is vying to replace Democrat Fiona Ma as state treasurer.

In the south Valley, two challengers, one Democrat and one Republican, are trying to unseat incumbent Sen. Melissa Hurtado to represent the Democratic-leaning Senate District 16, which includes parts of Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties.

The June 2 primary is less than a month away. The top two candidates will face off in the November general election.

State Senate District 12

Nathan Magsig (R-Clovis), a Fresno County supervisor, is the frontrunner in the race to replace Grove. Magsig, a general contractor, served two terms as mayor of Clovis and served on the Clovis City Council from 2001 until he was elected as Supervisor in 2016. His priorities include loosening regulations on water for agriculture, supporting oil production, public safety and adequate forest management, according to his campaign website.

Magsig has raised $766,407 from 623 contributions and is endorsed by dozens of community leaders and elected officials including Grove, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, Assemblyman David Tangipa (R-Clovis), Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo (R-Tulare), Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego), and more.

Louis Anthony Miramontes, a Republican from Visalia and aviation mechanic, is also in the race. He’s running his first campaign and is focused on transparency and fiscal responsibility, according to ABC23 Bakersfield. Campaign finance information for Miramontes was unavailable.

William Brown Jr., the Libertarian candidate, is a social worker and businessman. Little information is publicly available about Brown’s campaign. According to a survey he completed for Ballotpedia, he’s running on a campaign on protecting government overreach, reducing taxes, defending individual liberties and protecting economic freedom.

State Senate District 14

Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno), an assemblywoman who is terming out of her 27th District seat, hopes to replace Caballero in the state Senate. Soria is a former Fresno City councilwoman and adjunct professor. Soria currently serves as chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, as well as on the Governmental Organization, Banking & Finance and the Economic Development, Growth & Household Impact committees. According to California Secretary of State data, she has raised $1.38 million for her campaign.

Esmeralda Hurtado, a Democrat on the Sanger City Council and the younger sister of state Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield), is also running for the seat. She has raised $3,952 and her endorsements include several Valley mayors, San Joaquin Valley Democratic Club, Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), and Sandra Celedon, a Fresno public health nonprofit leader and candidate for the 31st Assembly District.

Darin DuPont, a Merced City councilman and water attorney, is the sole Republican in the race. The lifelong Merced resident launched his campaign less than two years after he was elected to the council in November 2024. He has raised a total of $43,505 and is endorsed by Jones, as well as several Valley Republican leaders including Tangiga, Macedo, Grove, Magsig and others.

State Senate District 16

Incumbent Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) is running to keep her seat in the state Senate, where she is focused on issues related to water, agriculture and access to healthcare in rural communities. Before becoming the youngest woman elected to the California State Senate in 2018, she served on Sanger City Council. She’s raised $1.14 million for her 2026 race and is endorsed by the California Democratic Party, Assemblywoman Jasmeet Bains, and several fellow state senators and labor groups.

Manpreet Kaur (D-Bakersfield), is the vice mayor of Bakersfield, a city planner and a professor at CSU Bakersfield. She also founded the Kern County chapter of the Jakara Movement. Her priorities include bringing down prices for utilities and groceries, protecting renters and building more homes, free childcare and bringing more jobs to the Valley. Kaur’s endorsements include Courage California and Randy Villegas, a candidate for Congressional District 22. She has raised $272,377 for her campaign.

Guillermo Gonzalez, a small business owner, is the sole Republican in the race. He’s running on a platform to improve quality of life for Valley residents, protect natural resources, housing accessibility and defense of faith, family and community, according to his campaign. He’s endorsed by U.S. Reps. David Valadao (R-Hanford) and Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield), Grove, Macedo, Tangipa and others. He has raised $73,500 for his campaign.