Local Politics
Progressive challenger Randy Villegas held a 65.1% to 34.9% lead over Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, in California's 22nd Congressional District race as of 10:45 p.m. Nov. 3, with about 44% of votes counted per the AP. Villegas claimed victory in a statement after 9 p.m., though Valadao had not conceded and the AP had not called the race. The district spans communities across Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern counties in the southern San Joaquin Valley, including Huron, Riverdale, Caruthers, Kerman, San Joaquin, Hanford, Porterville, Wasco, and portions of Bakersfield. If results hold, Villegas would become the first Latino to represent the Central Valley in Congress.
Local Politics · Fresno, CA
Early Tuesday-night results showed Rob Fuentes leading Naindeep Singh 52.13%–47.87% in Fresno City Council District 1, Ariana Martinez Lott ahead of Nav Gurm 54.69%–45.31% in District 7, and Joaquin Arambula over Keshia Thomas 55.99%–44.01% in District 3. The Measure S transportation tax renewal trailed with 53.53% voting against it in early returns, though both campaigns urged patience as thousands of ballots remained uncounted. In county races, Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco led Fresno City Councilmember Mike Karbassi 55.37%–44.63% for the Board of Supervisors, and incumbent Michele Cantwell-Copher held a 57.52% lead over Eimear O'Brien for County Superintendent of Schools. Fresno Unified school board races also showed early leads for Miguel Arias in District 1, Valerie Davis in District 3, and Karen Steed in District 4.
Crime · Fresno County
Camilo Giles Jimenez, a legal permanent resident living outside Kerman in Fresno County, pleaded not guilty Wednesday afternoon to three misdemeanor counts of voting as a noncitizen in federal court in downtown Fresno. The Justice Department announced charges against Jimenez and 27 other California residents on Oct. 19, with 12 additional defendants charged Monday; most face allegations of illegal registration rather than illegal voting. A federal judge Wednesday rejected the Trump administration's bid to separate ballots from people on a list of likely noncitizen registrants, and the Supreme Court denied a related DOJ appeal Monday ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm. Legal experts say convictions require proof of intentional violation, though even legal residents face potential deportation regardless of intent.
Public Safety
The NWS Hanford office issued a dense fog advisory on Tuesday at 8:39 p.m. valid for Wednesday from midnight through 10 a.m. across much of the San Joaquin Valley. Visibility is expected to drop to a quarter mile or less, impacting State Routes 33, 41, 43, 99, 140, 145, 152, 168, 180 and 198. The advisory covers areas including Los Banos, Dos Palos, Merced, Madera, Mendota, Fresno-Clovis, Hanford, Corcoran, Lemoore, Visalia, Porterville, Reedley, Delano, Wasco, Shafter, and Kern County. The NWS urged drivers to slow down, use headlights, and leave extra distance, or avoid driving if possible.
Want tomorrow's Fresno County edition in your inbox? It's free.
Subscribe free
Local Politics · Fresno County
Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig held about 62.5% of the vote over Libertarian William Brown Jr.'s 37.5% in early returns for California Senate District 12, as of 8:30 p.m. Nov. 3. The district covers northeast Fresno and Clovis, plus portions of Tulare and Kern counties including parts of Visalia and Bakersfield. Magsig, a Fresno County supervisor since 2017, said his priorities include infrastructure, forest management, water and energy policy. Brown, a Marine veteran from Visalia, focused his campaign on fiscal responsibility and reducing taxes and regulations.
Local Politics · Fresno, CA
State Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria held approximately 63.6% of counted votes against Republican Darin Dupont's 36.4% in the California State Senate District 14 race as of 8:55 p.m. Nov. 3, with 89,277 votes tallied. The district covers southern Fresno, western Fresno County, and parts of Madera and Merced counties. Dupont said it was too early to call the race, citing heavy turnout in Merced County. Soria, a former Fresno City Councilmember serving as Assemblymember since 2022, faces Dupont, a Merced City Council member and attorney campaigning on affordability issues.
Local Politics · Fresno County
Fresno County Supervisor Brian Pacheco held approximately 62.8% of the vote against Republican Mike Murphy's 37.2% with nearly 55,000 votes counted as of 8:45 p.m. on Nov. 3 in the race for California Assembly District 27. The district covers west Fresno County and large parts of Madera and Merced counties. Pacheco, a fourth-generation dairy farmer serving as District 1 Fresno County supervisor since 2015, is endorsed by incumbent Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, who is running for the state Senate. Murphy, a former Merced mayor from 2016 to 2020, told The Fresno Bee his team worked hard but acknowledged results were not where they hoped.
Local Politics · Fresno, CA
Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea led Republican Jim Polsgrove approximately 67% to 33% with nearly 49,000 votes counted as of 11:45 p.m. on election night in the race for California's Assembly District 31 seat. The district covers the southern half of Fresno, Sanger and Selma. Polsgrove, who attended a watch party in Old Town Clovis, said early results did not match his campaign expectations but declined to concede. Perea has served as Fresno's District 1 councilmember since 2022; Polsgrove is a retired city of Fresno supervising engineering technician.
