Andrae GonzalesCandidate

Andrae Gonzales

State HouseDemocrat

CA-AD35 State House

Mexican·Bakersfield City Councilmember, Ward 2 (2016-present)

Why This Race Matters

Andrae Gonzales is running against Ana Palacio (D, ER nurse).

Gonzales is running for the open AD-35 seat being vacated by Assemblywoman Jasmeet Bains, who is leaving to run for Congress (CA-22). If elected, Gonzales would continue his historic trajectory as the first Latino Vice Mayor of Bakersfield by bringing Latino representation to this Central Valley Assembly seat. AD-35 covers Bakersfield, Delano, Shafter, Wasco, Arvin, and McFarland -- a district with a large and growing Latino population in Kern County.

Gonzales received the California Democratic Party pre-endorsement with 84.62% of delegate votes, placing him on the consent calendar. He faces Democrat Ana Palacio, an ER nurse endorsed by SEIU California. Gonzales has secured endorsements from California Treasurer Fiona Ma and over 50 local leaders including Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez. He previously launched a campaign for this seat in 2023 but withdrew to focus on council duties.

Key dates to watch: Primary on June 2, 2026 and General Election on November 3, 2026.

About

Andrae Gonzales is a Bakersfield native who has devoted nearly two decades to community service in his urban core neighborhood. Born and raised in Kern County, he graduated from East Bakersfield High School and went on to earn his degree from UC Berkeley. He founded Faith in Action in 2006 to address neighborhood issues including safety, the foreclosure crisis, and education. He established Children First nonprofit to provide enrichment and extended learning for East Bakersfield youth, co-founded the Kern Alliance of Nonprofits, and started the Hub of Bakersfield focused on urban revitalization. Elected to the Bakersfield City Council in 2016, he became the first Latino to serve as Bakersfield's vice mayor.

Family & Heritage

Third-generation East Bakersfield native of Mexican-American heritage. Son of Manuel Gonzales Jr. Deep roots in Kern County. Roman Catholic. Born and raised in the Eastchester area of East Bakersfield. Graduated from East Bakersfield High School in 2000 and returned to his community after attending UC Berkeley.

Political Career

Before Politics

Nonprofit Executive Director and CEO of Stewards (provides financial assistance to adults with mental disabilities); Founder, Faith in Action Kern County (2006, community development nonprofit); Founder, Children First (healthy neighborhoods for youth); Co-founder, Kern Alliance of Nonprofits (2016); Founder, Hub of Bakersfield (2017, urban revitalization); Bakersfield City School District Board of Education Trustee Area 4 (2010-2016)

Education

High school diploma from East Bakersfield High School (2000); Bachelor's degree from University of California, Berkeley (2005)

Awards & Recognition

First Latino Vice Mayor of Bakersfield; UC Berkeley graduate; Nearly 20 years of community service

Key Issues & Priorities

*Housing affordability
*School investment
*Public safety
*Economic development
*Urban revitalization
*Working families

Endorsements

California Treasurer Fiona MaPolitical
Kern County Supervisor Leticia PerezPolitical
California Democratic Party (Pre-Endorsement)Political
Christian Romo (Kern County Democratic Party Chair)Political
Raji Brar (CSU Trustee)Political

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