Melissa Hurtado

Incumbent State Senate in Bakersfield, CA

Melissa Hurtado is a candidate for State Senate District 16 in California State Senate District 16, California — 2026 Primary Election.

Also running: Manpreet Kaur, Guillermo Asuncion Gonzalez.

Melissa Hurtado is an American Democratic politician currently representing the 16th Senate District in the California State Senate. She assumed office in December 2018 and was re-elected to the redrawn 16th district in 2022. Born and raised in the Central Valley, Hurtado previously served on the Sanger City Council. In the Senate, she has chaired the Agriculture Committee and focused on issues such as water infrastructure, agriculture, public safety, and rural health care.