Overview:
Nelson Esparza, a Democrat who represents the urban core of the city, launched his campaign for senate with a video and endorsements from Fresno’s Republican mayor and other politicians from Fresno and Madera.
While most voters are focused on the upcoming presidential election in November, politicos are already looking ahead to the next election cycle in 2026.
So it’s not particularly surprising that candidates are already eyeing California State Senate District 14, which covers large parts of Fresno, Merced and Madera counties.
State Sen. Anna Caballero, D-Merced, currently represents the district, newly drawn after the 2020 Census and the following redistricting process. She’s a well known and longtime politician and attorney, who last year secured millions in state funding for her district.
Caballero is in her second – and last – term in the state senate, meaning her seat will be up for grabs in the 2026 election.
A Fresno City Councilmember already has his eye on it. Last week, Nelson Esparza, a Democrat who represents the urban core of the city, launched his campaign for senate with a video and endorsements from Fresno’s Republican mayor and other politicians from Fresno and Madera.
Notably missing were endorsements from Merced, but the Madera native has plenty of time to earn those. So far, Esparza appears to be the first to announce for the seat.
On Monday, Esparza’s campaign announced dual endorsements from the Fresno, Madera, Kings & Tulare Counties Building and Construction Trades Council and the Valley Building Trades Council.
“The dual endorsements further underscores the strong support Esparza is receiving from key labor leaders throughout the district,” Esparza’s team said in a statement.
Esparza has been on the Fresno City Council since 2018. Prior to that, he served on the Fresno County Board of Education.
District 14 leans Democrat in voter registration, has a majority Hispanic or Latino population and a poverty rate nearly double the state rate.
