Political Party:
Democrat
Ballot Designation:
State Senator
Law Enforcement Contributions:
Background:
Senator Hurtado was elected to the Sanger California City Council in 2016 and to the California State Senate in 2018. She has an incredibly poor voting record on justice reform, earning an “F” on IJ Action’s Scorecard for the last 3 years.
Public Safety Platform:
On her campaign website, Senator Hurtado states that she is “seeking funding to fight gangs and drugs in the Valley and to put more officers on the streets.” And while she states supporting measures to prevent opioid overdoses by requiring college campuses to supply Narcan, she also advocates for increased criminalization and promises to “toughen penalties for those who manufacture and sell opioids like fentanyl in our communities.”
She also states her clear opposition to justice reform on her campaign website, referring to the fact that she opposed Democratic reforms and “Took on her own party to fight against the early release of violent criminals” and “Worked across party lines to toughen penalties for human traffickers.”
Website:
https://www.melissahurtado.com/
Political Party:
Republican
Ballot Designation:
Small Business Owner
Law Enforcement Contributions:
None as of 9/16/26
Background:
Guillermo Gonzalez is a small business owner from Bakersfield, CA.
Public Safety Platform:
Gonzalez places ‘restoring law and order’ as a campaign priority, stating: “The Valley has watched as Sacramento has pushed soft-on-crime policies that put our families in harm’s way. It’s time we back the badge, strengthen our police force, and end policies that release dangerous criminals back into our streets.”
Website:
