UPDATE (4:03 p.m.): 35th Assembly District representative Dr. Jasmeet Bains gave a statement on Andrae Gonzales' campaign announcement.
“As a doctor and not a career politician, I know how important it is to stay focused on taking care of our community," said Bains. "Since being elected overwhelmingly last November, I have been fighting to do just that by fighting to deliver millions of dollars to support Kern County, working to protect Valley jobs, and delivering the resources we need to combat the fentanyl crisis. I am proud of my record delivering for our community, am looking forward to running another strong campaign, and am confident Kern County’s voters will re-elect me to another term, where they can count on me to deliver even more for our community.”
Bakersfield Vice Mayor and Ward 2 City Council representative Andrae Gonzales announced that he will run for State Assembly on Wed, June 21.
According to a press release, Gonzales will officially launch his campaign "alongside hundreds of community leaders" during an event at Salon Juarez on East 18th Street at 6 p.m. He intends to run for the 35th Assembly District. The seat is currently held by Dr. Jasmeet Bains.
Gonzales is Bakersfield's first Latino Vice Mayor. He spent six years on the Bakersfield City School District School Board, as well as seven years on the Bakersfield City Council. While on the City Council, he served on multiple committees. He was Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and the Housing & Homelessness Committee. Meanwhile, he was a member of the Legislative and Litigation Committee and the Water Resources Committee. He was also the city representative for the Local Agency Formation Commission.
Gonzales also served the community by being the CEO of the local nonprofit organization Stewards and the founder of multiple Bakersfield nonprofits. Those nonprofits include Faith in Action Kern County, Children First, the Kern Alliance of Nonprofits, and Hub of Bakersfield.
Gonzales was also the Chairman of the Tree Foundation of Bakersfield, a board member of Bike Bakersfield, a board member of the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce, and a board member of the Kern Council of Governments.
