BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Ballots for the Bakersfield City Council Ward 7 seat are now being counted after polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday.<\/p>\n
As of 10 p.m., incumbent Manpreet Kaur is leading the vote at over 54.5%.<\/p>\n
Kaur has sat on the Bakersfield City Council since December 2022 and was voted to become the city’s vice mayor in December 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before running for re-election this election cycle, Kaur made a bid for the State Senate 16 seat, in an attempt to oust incumbent Democrat Melissa Hurtado from the role.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kaur lost during the June primary election against Hurtado, along with political newcomer Guerillmo Gonzalez, who is running as a conservative candidate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Angie Valdez, a social worker and businesswoman, ran for the race hoping to be elected into office for the first time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She previously pointed to<\/a> boosting public safety and balancing the city’s budget as key priorities in her campaign. Her campaign website<\/a> says her approach to city council would be simple, saying she would “listen, ask questions, find solutions, and keep Bakersfield the priority.”\u00a0<\/p>\n