Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula will forgo a possible final term in the state Legislature to run for Fresno City Council.

“I am grateful for my community, for electing me six times to the Assembly, and I’m looking forward to a ’26 election when I can continue to serve my community,” Arambula told GV Wire.

Arambula lives in District 3, which covers southwest and downtown Fresno. Current D3 Councilmember Miguel Arias will termed out in two years.

Voters elected Arambula in a special election in April 2016 to fill the remaining eight months of Henry T. Perea’s term. Perea resigned to take a job in the private sector.

Arambula won re-election five more times for the two-year Assembly term — most recently on Nov. 5.

One reason for the decision to run for city council is whether he would be term-limited in Sacramento. State law allows 12 years’ combined in either the Assembly, state Senate, or a mix.

After his 2024 term, Arambula would have 10 years and eight months in the Legislature.

Politics 101 posed that question in 2022 — does serving a partial term count against the 12-year limit? At the time, Arambula’s campaign said no.

Now, Arambula said he is unsure.

“I’ve been elected six times through the vote of the people, and I’m grateful for that opportunity to serve. And I do believe that it’s time for us to be looking for who can serve next. And I’m looking forward to who’s willing to throw their hat into the ring,” Arambula said.

Who Could Run?

If Arambula follows through, that would lead to an open Assembly seat in 2026.

“I think there are plenty of people in our community who are willing to serve and who will be great at serving,” Arambula said, not tipping his hat as to who he may support as his successor.

Five Fresno city councilmembers live in Assembly District 31, which is a Democratic stronghold.

One name who could run is Fresno City Council President Annalisa Perea. She is in her first term and up for re-election in 2026.

“Nothing confirmed yet. I’ll be announcing my decision early next year,” she texted Politics 101.

District 5 Councilmember Luis Chavez is vacating his term early to join the Fresno County Board of Supervisors in January. He defeated incumbent Sal Quintero in the Nov. 5 eleciton.

He said “no” when asked if he had any Assembly interest.

District 7 Councilmember Nelson Esparza is termed out after the 2026 election. But, he is already running for the State Senate District 14 seat held by Democrat Anna Caballero. She terms out after 2026.

District 4 Councilmember Tyler Maxwell said he intends to fulfil his newly re-elected term. He won a second four-year term in March. Some political pundits believe he’ll run for Fresno mayor in 2028.

Arias could be a contender, but he is on a bit of a losing streak —  not advancing out of the supervisor primary against Chavez and Quintero and not elected as a delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention. He did not return Politics 101’s request for a comment.

Chavez will vacate his seat on Jan. 6, setting off a special election, likely to take place in May 2025.

Speculation continues whether his wife, Fresno Unified Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas, will run. She tells Politics 101 to “check back mid-December.”

Sanger Unified Trustee Brandon Vang expressed interest running.

Newsom ‘Totally Committed’ to Deliver Fresno Millions

In 2023, the state of California committed $250 million to help with downtown Fresno infrastructure.

The money would help build new parking structures, update sewers and water systems, and improve streets and sidewalks.

After receiving $50 million in the state Fiscal year 2024 budget, the state delayed the rest because of economic uncertainty. A FY 2025 $100 million commitment was pushed back to FY 2026.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, at a stop in Fresno on Thursday, said that funding is still on target.

“That will be in there. It’s a commitment we made together with the Legislature. I’m going to need the help of the community. I need the help of the mayor, city council and those that support that grant just to make sure it stays in there. But I’m not interested in that investment, I’m totally committed to it. I want you to understand there’s a distinction there between being interested in something and committed something. I want to get it done — at the peril of the former mayor tracking me down,” Newsom said, referring to Ashley Swearengin.

Current Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer reacted favorably.

“I am pleased to hear Governor Newsom remains committed to our downtown revitalization efforts and has prioritized the $200 million in his budget. It is my hope that this funding will come sooner rather than later in order to maintain the momentum we have built,” Dyer said.

Costa Aims for Top Ag Committee Post

Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, wants to become the ranking member in the House Committee on Agriculture.

In a letter to Democratic colleagues, Costa said he wants to pass a bipartisan farm bill and protect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

“As someone who has represented a rural, agriculture-focused district through a coalition of bipartisan support, I understand how to represent rural Americans. The Agriculture Committee can, and should, be better utilized as the link to rural America and to showcase what our Caucus stands for,” Costa said.

Doing so, would mean unseating David Scott, D-Georgia. Scott has served as the top committee Democrat since 2021.

Punchbowl News reported that others could be in contention. The House Democratic caucus will vote by secret ballot on committee chairs, based on recommendations from party leadership. A vote date has not been set, but it likely will be after the Thanksgiving break.

Scott, also the senior Democrat, has been there since 2003. Costa has served on the ag committee since 2005.