New members of the State Assembly and Senate sworn in at the Capitol

Tuesday, December 4, 2018
New members of the State Assembly and Senate sworn in at the Capitol
New members of the State Assembly and Senate sworn in at the Capitol

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Democrats and Republicans put the campaigns behind them, as both members of the Assembly and State Senate were sworn in. They all pledged to work together but its clear the Democrats will be in charge.

Among the new state senators sworn in were four from the Central Valley.

Melissa Hurtado, the 30-year old former Sanger City Council member, scored an upset victory over the Republican incumbent.

"I'm feeling excited but above all I'm full of energy and ready to work," Hurtado said.

Her priorties, addressing health care poverty, in the district which includes parts of Bakersfield and Fresno

"I've experienced poverty both as a child growing up and as an adult I really see that as in District 14 and the Valley.

Anna Caballero won the 12th District State Senate seat which includes all of Merced, nearly all of Madera county and part of Fresno County. also carries the democrats socially conscious agenda.

"We are very concerned about health care and that is a big issue in this district, affordable housing and educational resources, people want to be able to get good jobs," Caballero said.

While Cabellero and Hurtado are excited to be riding the Democratic blue wave which gave super majority control of the senate and assembly to democrats, Andreas Borgeas a former Fresno County Supervisorsis one of only 11 republicans in the senate.

"You know the numbers didn't turn out in our favor, but we are a mighty but small tribe. that's going to force us to work on issues of mutual interest and finding common ground," Borgeas said.

Gavin Newsome, who is still Lt. Governor until sworn in as Governor presided as President of the Senate and offered this advice to the new senators. He urged the new senators to rememer they were here not to be something, but to do something.

Governor Jerry Brown also dropped in on the swearing in ceremony.

The fourth State senator from the Valley is Republican Sahnnon Grove. She represents Kern and parts of Tulare Counties.

The legislators come back and get to work after the first of the year.