BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Bakersfield Vice Mayor Manpreet Kaur has filed paperwork with an intent to run for the California 16th District Senate seat in the upcoming June primary.
Kaur would be challenging incumbent state Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) for the seat in an open primary.
Republican Guillermo Gonzalez previously announced his candidacy for the seat. Gonzalez is a field representative for Congressman David Valadao.
Kaur is a Bakersfield native was elected to the City Council in 2022 representing Ward 7. She was appointed Vice Mayor in 2024.
Sen. Melissa Hurtado was elected to a second term in 2022 narrowly defeating Republican David Shepard. Hurtado ran for Congress challenging Rep. David Valadao in 2024 but didn’t make it out of the primary.
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California’s 16th Senate District includes all of Kings County and parts of Kern, Fresno and Tulare counties.
The primary election in California takes place on June 2.
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