BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A familiar face has filed paperwork to run in one of the nation’s most hotly contested congressional seats, setting up a Valley race to be another nail-biter.
State Sen. Melissa Hurtado is considering a bid for California’s 22nd Congressional District.
The two-term Democrat filed her paperwork a week after Democrat Rudy Salas announced his own campaign.
Republican David Valadao fought a tough race to continue representing the Valley in Congress. He beat Salas, who is a former Democratic assemblyman, by just three percentage points last year.
Hurtado won her second term in the state legislature by an even closer margin – just 13 votes. If she hopes to leave Sacramento for Washington, she would have to beat Salas in the primary.
Hurtado has yet to officially launch her campaign. A spokesperson says she is “pursuing support for a potential run.”
The district skews heavily Democrat on paper but has remained a challenge for California Democrats.
The presidential election – and its higher voter turnout – could boost any Democratic nominee on the ballot.