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Headshot of Melissa Hurtado

Melissa Hurtado

Democrat, State Senate
District 16, Bakersfield
Time in office:
  • Senate: 2018-present

News coverage of Melissa Hurtado

Bio

Melissa Hurtado, 37, was the youngest woman ever elected to the Senate, when she took office in 2018. Four years later, she won reelection to her newly redrawn district by a mere 13 votes over her Republican opponent, David Shepard. She’s one of the most moderate members of the Democratic caucus. Hailing from a top oil producing district, she is the lowest ranked Democrat senator on environmental group’s clean-energy scorecard. The former Sanger city council member is a Cal State Sacramento political science graduate.

Leader Badges

Environment Badge
Poverty Badge

Ideology

Left

Moderate

Right

Bill Activity

0

Of 24 bills:
5 Passed
1 Failed
18 Pending

For this session year, this legislator initiated 24 bills: 5 passed, 1 failed, and 18 are currently pending.

Alignment Meter

See all-time percentage of this legislator’s alignment with any organization based on total votes.

xx%votes: xx

Financials

This feature tracks three sources of money intended to help a candidate win election: 1-Money given directly to a candidate’s committee, 2-Money given to an Independent Expenditure Committee, 3-Money given to a political party. (NOTE: Senators are elected every four years. Twenty of the 40 Senators are on the ballot in even-numbered years, so Senators may do little or no fundraising in the first two-year session of their Senate term).

Election

This display shows money given directly to the incumbent’s campaign committee (NOTE: The industry categories for donors come from Open Secrets, a nonpartisan research organization for campaign finance. Some contributions are “uncoded,” meaning they have not been assigned to an industry sector. As a result, the total for each sector is also an estimate).

No data found for Last Session.

No data found for Last Session.


Influence

There are three categories of donations to legislators after they are elected that encourage a working relationship between the donor and the legislator. The three categories are: 1-Gifts, 2-Travel, 3-Behests.

Giver
Value
Date
Description
Recording Industry Association of America$520Nov 17, 2021Latin Grammy's
Kern County Farm Bureau$150Oct 9, 2021Ticket, Dinner
Adam Gray for Assembly 2020$98.45Mar 24, 2021Dinner
California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association$75Sep 12, 2021Ticket/Dinner
CSU Bakersfield Office of Events$74Oct 1, 2021Tote, Pen, Water Bottle
Susan Rubio for Senate 2022$68.99Aug 9, 2021Dinner
Kings Firefighters Association$60Dec 17, 2021Blanket
California Tribal Business Alliance$53Jul 14, 2021Food, Bev, Entertainm
Susan Rubio for Senate 2022$37.2May 5, 2021RBG Collar/Tote
California Chamber of Commerce$30Aug 16, 2021Lunch

Gifts

Legislators are not allowed to accept gifts of more than $10 per month from registered lobbyists. Gifts from any other single source are limited to $590 in a calendar year.

Gift Received Rating
#27/120

This legislator is ranked 27th highest for the amount of personal gifts received.

Policy

Bills Authored by Melissa Hurtado

SB 401
Political Reform Act of 1974: filing deadlines: emergency situations.

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments

In Progress
Political Reform Act of 1974: filing deadlines: emergency situations.Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments
SB 557
Child abuse: family resource centers.

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Human Services

In Progress
Child abuse: family resource centers.Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Human Services
SB 763
Conspiracy against trade: punishment.

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary

Passed
Conspiracy against trade: punishment.Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
SB 593
Electrical corporations: significant voltage-related incidents: studies.

Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications

Passed
Electrical corporations: significant voltage-related incidents: studies.Committee: Senate Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications
View All Bills

Committees

Most of the policy work in the state Capitol is done in “Standing” committees. Legislators also work on budget subcommittees. There are also “Special” and “Select” committees with a more narrow topic focus. And there are “Joint” committees with members from the Senate and Assembly.

Hearings

Featured Comments

Below are links to the video and transcript of recent, substantive comments by this legislator in committee hearings or floor sessions.

Preview image for SB 7631MIN
Sep 12, 2025

SB 763

Conspiracy against trade: punishment.

Preview image for SB 6471MIN
Sep 12, 2025

SB 647

Energy: Equitable Building Decarbonization Program: Low-Income Oversight Board: membership.

Preview image for SB 2241MIN
Sep 11, 2025

SB 224

Department of Water Resources: water supply forecasting.

Preview image for SB 3171MIN
Sep 11, 2025

SB 317

Wastewater surveillance.

Preview image for SB 5932MIN
Sep 10, 2025

SB 593

Electrical corporations: significant voltage-related incidents: studies.

Preview image for SB 29516MIN
Jul 16, 2025

SB 295

California Preventing Algorithmic Collusion Act of 2025.

Preview image for SB 76312MIN
Jul 15, 2025

SB 763

Conspiracy against trade: punishment.

Preview image for SB 2977MIN
Jul 15, 2025

SB 297

Valley Fever Screening and Prevention Act of 2025.

Preview image for SB 55614MIN
Jul 15, 2025

SB 556

Habitat enhancement and restoration: floodplains.

Preview image for SB 22414MIN
Jul 15, 2025

SB 224

Department of Water Resources: water supply forecasting.

Preview image for SB 66131MIN
Jul 7, 2025

SB 661

Airports: financial assistance.

Preview image for SB 29713MIN
Jul 1, 2025

SB 297

Valley Fever Screening and Prevention Act of 2025.

View All Hearings

District

View of map with yellow overlay for Senate District 16 boundaries.
District 16 is a Toss Up District
Both candidates have an equal likelihood of winning in an election

Previous Election (2022):

David Shepard
50%
Melissa Hurtado (Incumbent)
50%
WON

Party Registration

Census Data

Median age0102030

Median age