Meet Senator Hurtado
Meet Senator Hurtado
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Representing a new generation of Latina political leaders, State Senator Melissa Hurtado is the youngest woman ever elected to the California State Senate. Her Senate district — in California’s great Central Valley — is home to some of the richest and most fertile farmland in the world, one of the top oil-producing counties in the United States and resilient working-class families who power the Valley economy.
The daughter of hardworking immigrant parents, Melissa grew up in the Valley. She learned firsthand from her parents that hard work, a good education and perseverance is fundamental to success. Melissa is the first from her family to graduate from college. After graduating from Sacramento State University, Melissa returned home to the Valley to serve her community and build a better life for Valley families. She advocated for teachers, patients and working families — helping lead the fight for good wages, access to quality health care and retirement security.
Melissa was elected to the Sanger City Council in 2016. Proudly representing her hometown, she worked collaboratively with city leaders to help create high-wage jobs, balance the city’s budget and build a financial reserve — all without raising taxes.
Two years later Melissa took on an even greater challenge, running for State Senate against a well-known and well-financed Republican incumbent. Despite what seemed like unrealistic odds, she became the youngest woman ever elected to the California State Senate in 2018.
In the Legislature, Melissa is known for being a thoughtful, pragmatic, and effective policymaker who works across party lines to improve the quality of life for residents and to ensure rural voices are heard at all levels of government. She focuses on rural community issues that often go unheard in the State Capitol — access to clean air and water, food insecurity and poverty, inequities in environmental policies, agriculture and access to health care in rural communities. Melissa was a critical voice in the shaping of California’s Safe and Affordable Clean Water legislation.
“Like most of the kids I knew growing up in the Central Valley, I didn’t have much. My parents were immigrants, working hard every day on farms. What I had was a belief in the future: that tomorrow could be better than today if I worked hard. My parents gave me my values, and the Valley gave me opportunity. That’s why I serve in the State Senate— because I want every child to have the opportunity to succeed. I’m fighting to support our schools, create high-paying jobs, and improve affordability because I know that if we work together, the Valley has a bright future.”