Fresno nonprofit leader Sandra Celedon has filed to run for the state Assembly in 2026.

The District 31 seat is currently represented by Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno, who said he is running for the Fresno City Council in 2026. The district covers much of Fresno, Sanger, and parts of the county.

Related Story: Assemblymember Arambula Says He’ll Run for Fresno City Council

Celedon, a Fresno Democrat, is the president and CEO of Fresno Building Healthy Communities, a social justice nonprofit that has collaborated in the past with government organizations. During the COVID pandemic, the city of Fresno paired with Fresno BHC for testing and quarantine support.

Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea also has filed paperwork to run for the AD 31 seat, according to the California Secretary of State’s website.

‘Bold Social Entrepreneur’

Celedon refers to herself as a “bold social entrepreneur” on her LinkedIn site.

This is believed to be Celedon’s first run for public office, but she has held several appointments to local government boards. She served on the city of Fresno’s police reform commission in 2020 in the wake of the George Floyd death.

She once tweeted in the aftermath of the riots in the Twin Cities, “burn it down. #BlackLivesMatter. No justice, no peace.”

Related Story: Fresno COVID Contract Awarded Despite Objections Over Tweet, Lawsuit

Celedon’s group has also filed several lawsuits against government entities and businesses. A current lawsuit against Community Health System accuses the hospital of misspending Medi-Cal funds. The case is pending in federal court.

Her group successfully sued the city in 2018, declaring that Measure P — the city’s parks and cultural arts sales tax measure — garnered enough votes to pass.

Arambula has said that he will run for the District 3 seat now held by Miguel Arias, who terms out after the 2026 election.

In 2024, Arambula named Fresno BHC as his district’s nonprofit of the year.