Nathan Magsig, a Fresno County Supervisor since 2017, appeared en route to winning the open state Senate District 12 seat over Libertarian opponent William Brown Jr. of Visalia, on Tuesday night.

If Magsig, a Clovis Republican, secures the victory, it will require a special election to fill his supervisor seat. He held a 63.4%-to-36.6% lead in the early returns.

Two Republicans on the Clovis City Council, Mayor Vong Mouanoutoua and Mayor Pro Tem Diane Pearce, have already declared their intentions to run for the District 5 supervisorial seat. Mouanoutoua, a moderate Republican, is expected to draw strong Democratic support while Pearce will counter with loyal backing from her MAGA base.

Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, has represented the district since 2018. She is running for the State Board of Equalization against termed-out Fresno City Councilmember Nelson Esparza, a Democrat.

Soria Bolts to Big Lead in Safe Dem Seat

In state Senate District 14, where incumbent Democrat Anna Caballero is termed out, Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, a Democrat, led Republican Darin DuPoint, 63.6% to 36.4%, in the early returns. DuPont is a Merced City Councilmember and water attorney.

A prodigious fundraiser and ally of Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Soria entered the runoff virtually assured of victory in the Fresno-to-Merced district. Democrats hold a 42%-to-26% voter registration edge in District 14.

Hurtado Appears on Her Way to Re-Election

Incumbent Democrat Melissa Hurtado jumped to a 59.5%-to-40.5% lead over Republican Guillermo Asuncion Gonzalez, a Delano restaurant owner, in the state Senate 16 race.

Both candidates made soaring gas prices and high inflation central themes of their campaigns, which featured extensive TV advertising.

The district includes portions of Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern counties, and captures much of Bakersfield’s east side.

Perea, Pacheco, and Macedo Lead in Assembly Races

Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea is on the verge of continuing her family’s family’s legacy in the state Capitol.

Perea, a Democrat, led Republican Jim Polsgrove, a retired engineering technician, 67.6% to 32.4%, in the early returns for the 31st Assembly District.

Perea’s older brother, Henry T. Perea, represented District 31 from 2010 through 2015 before becoming a lobbyist. Like Annalisa, he served on the Fresno City Council.

District 31 is drawn as a safe Democratic Party seat, with Dems holding a 44%-to-23% edge over Republicans in registered voters.

Early Returns Favor Pacheco Over Murphy

Fresno dairyman and county supervisor Brian Pacheco, a Democrat, is leading former Merced Mayor Mike Murphy, a Republican, for the Assembly District 27 seat being vacated by Soria.

Pacheco garnered 62.8% of the early vote against Murphy, a small business owner, in a district where Democrats have a 40%-to-28% voter registration advantage over Republicans.

Backed by strong party support, Pacheco’s campaign saturated the television airwaves with ads depicting Murphy as beholden to Silicon Valley tech interests.

Republican Macedo Leads Challenger

Incumbent Alexandra Macedo, who is the Republican Assembly Leader, held a 53.3%-to-46.7% edge over Hipolito Angel Cerros, a Democrat and public policy fellow, in the Assembly 33 race.

The district is highly competitive as voter registration totals show Republicans at 36%, Democrats 33%, and no party preference 23%.