Melissa Hurtado

Melissa Hurtado (born March 6, 1988) is an American Democratic politician currently representing the 16th Senate District, encompassing Bakersfield, Kings County, and parts of Tulare County, in the California State Senate. Prior to being elected to the State Senate, she served on the Sanger City Council.

Hurtado was first elected to the State Senate in November 2018, defeating incumbent Republican Andy Vidak.

On July 7, 2020, Hurtado was selected to serve on the then-candidate for U.S. president Joe Biden's National Latino Leadership Committee. In 2022, Hurtado ran for re-election in the redrawn 16th district, winning with 50.01% percent by a margin of 13 votes. Prior to the election, she had been considered the most endangered incumbent of any district at the state level in the state of California.

In July 2023, Hurtado filed paperwork declaring candidacy for California's 22nd congressional district in the 2024 election. She placed fourth in the March 2024 primary election and did not advance to November's general election.