BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- In the 2024 election, four candidates are battling over the 22nd Congressional District, held by Hanford Republican Rep. David Valadao.
17 News political reporter Jenny Huh spoke one-on-one Friday morning with state Senator Melissa Hurtado. The 35-year-old formerly served on the Sanger City Council and, in 2018, became the youngest woman elected to the California Senate.
In that election, Hurtado, a Democrat, beat Republican Senator Andy Vidak. In her reelection bid in 2022, Hurtado was challenged by another Republican, David Shepard, and won by just 13 votes.
If elected to Congress, Hurtado, the daughter of immigrant parents and a first-generation college graduate would make history once more, becoming the first Latina to represent the 22nd Congressional District.
Below is a recap of 17 News’ conversation with the candidate.
"The reason why I'm different is because I've demonstrated that already during my work in the state Senate," said Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield), a CD-22 candidate.
Hurtado said there's the sound of something better in this district, and that is her, as a Congressmember.
"You can't be afraid to lose an election," Hurtado said. "I jumped into this election very much like I did in 2018 when I ran for state Senate, knowing that I can very well lose."
The senator, referring to the fact that during her two terms as a California senator, she's repeatedly beaten the odds, winning elections even without her party's support.
Now, it's a deja vu in her bid for Congress. Democratic opponent Rudy Salas has been dominating endorsements from the local, state and national Democratic parties.
17's Jenny Huh: "Do you think you have more freedom to again go beyond what the party asks of you or go beyond what high profile people in your party would expect of you?
Sen. Melissa Hurtado: "I do. I do believe I have more freedom."
Hurtado said the above, in response to the high-profile backings of Salas and mentioned "perhaps both candidates are party bound."
In that statement, Hurtado was referring to both Salas and incumbent Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford).
The senator has also labelled herself the "independent Democrat" in the race.
"Some will see it as a challenge, to be honest with you, that [I'm] just an independent thinker," Hurtado began. "I'm being a leader. That's what leaders do, they stand up, they speak out."
She said even at the national level, her eyes are set on local results and emphasized Washington D.C. is not the district she represents.
"Being a U.S. representative, it's about going to Washington D.C. and being able to uplift the voices of this region and the concerns and how the national conversation impacts the local conversation [and vice versa]," the senator said.
"Making sure that we protect agricultural farmland, making sure we protect and [are] able to provide jobs in the community, continuing to provide infrastructure investments for critical infrastructure specifically," she said.
Looking back at what she's delivered for the district as a state senator, Hurtado pointed out her focus on water and public safety are her proudest accomplishments.
She stated she helped enact a bill that fixed the Friant-Kern Canal and that she secured $200 million for water, as well as $456 million for public safety.
Hurtado also noted energy security must be prioritized, especially for a big oil producer like Kern County.
"Water, food and energy, we have to think about it in that context. And when we talk about climate change and a transition, I don't know if we're going to ever be able to have a just transition. There's just too many challenges ahead," Hurtado acknowledged.
She added: "If that means we got to continue to have oil, I think that's part of the conversation, part of what we need to have to be energy secure. And so long as we're not energy secure without that, then I just disagree with whatever's out there."
Responding to recent criticisms by the Working Families Party, a progressive Democratic organization, that she had accepted oil money and was contributing to pollution, Hurtado stated money has never influenced her.
Furthermore, Hurtado explained she's proud of being a congressional candidate "not bound by big interest or money."
But when it comes to money, Hurtado has raised the least amount of campaign funds, in this congressional race of four. According to the most recent FEC filings, Hurtado's campaign owes nearly $32,000 in debt.
17 News asked the senator how potentially insufficient funds will allow her to compete in what once was and is again anticipated to be one of the most competitive House races in the nation. In the 2022 Midterm Election, both the GOP and Democratic Party poured millions into backing their endorsed candidates David Valadao and Rudy Salas, respectively, including through attack advertisements.
Hurtado answered the status quo -- whether that be dirty politics or competitive spending -- should be challenged and that voters "don't want to see all the political bickering back and forth."
She added she challenges her opponents to also change the status quo, and that she's willing to do so herself, even if it means risking losing the election.
And even on the more nationally managed topics such as immigration and border security, Hurtado said, "Immigration is impacting this congressional district, whether we recognize it or not, it is; the national debt is impacting this congressional district, as is the situation we are in with the budget deficit with the state... And you've got to be able to have that local perspective."
Hurtado said the biggest problem with America's current immigration system is that the judicial process lacks support. More federal funding is needed, Hurtado argued, as well as the protection of democracies nationwide.
But she made clear there should be no "fraudulent" entering into the country.
As for pathway to citizenship, Hurtado said individuals, especially those who did not enter in a lawful manner, must be asked certain questions -- how long have they been in the U.S.? Have they been good, productive citizens?
Overall, Hurtado said one of the biggest issues she seems is the "huge gap missing between the federal government and the state government and the local government and the sharing of information."
To solve any challenge, Hurtado explained, that gap must be closed.
She said she joined the race because she didn't see in any of the candidates a "leader that understands that connection and issues."
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Hurtado also took a jab at a go-to campaign message of opponent Salas: his frequent emphasis he helped guarantee minimum wage and overtime pay for farmworkers.
"There's policies and laws out there that sound good but when they play out, they're not good for people," Hurtado said.
She added: "They're losing hours, they're struggling. Some of them are losing their jobs."
17's Jenny Huh: "It did more harm than good?
Sen. Melissa Hurtado: "It did more harm than good, and the agricultural community warned the author of those potential issues down the road."
The senator said though she wasn't in the State Legislature at the time the bill was considered, she has since proposed a different bill to directly help this community: SB 685, the Farmworker Apprenticeship Innovation Funding Program.
Though the bill did not become law, her campaign stated Hurtado's starting of the conversation resulted in Governor Gavin Newsom dedicating millions of dollars to advance the career of farmworkers.
On foreign affairs, Hurtado said she supports aid for both Israel and Ukraine.
For more details on the candidate’s congressional plans, you can click here for the full interview.