BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — Bakersfield Vice Mayor Manpreet Kaur has announced her intention to run against State Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) in the 2026 primary for the California District 16 Senate seat. She was elected Vice Mayor in Dec. 2024.
She said in a statement:
I’ve been encouraged by community and my constituents to explore my options, which in my eyes, is an honor to begin with.
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Kaur, a Democrat, currently represents Ward 7, which covers south Bakersfield. Her parents immigrated to the U.S. 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. District 16 includes parts of Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties.
Photographed from left to right: Eric Arias, Ward 1; Ken Weir, Ward 3; and Manpreet Kaur, who will represent ward 7{ } (KBAK/FOX58)
Democratic incumbent Melissa Hurtado is in her second term and can serve one more four-year term if re-elected. In 2022, Hurtado narrowly defeated Republican David Shepard by 22 votes. In 2024, she campaigned for Congress against incumbent David Valadao but did not advance to the general election.
Hurtado released a statement:
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.
State Senator Melissa Hurtado at the Senate Bill 237 Kern County Press Conference. KBAK//KBFXComment with Bubbles
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The California primary election takes place on June 2, 2026.