Gov. Brown sets election for Senate seat vacated by Michael Rubio
SACRAMENTO -- Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday called a special election to fill the 16th District state Senate seat vacated last month by Michael Rubio.
The primary will be May 21 and, if no candidate wins a majority, a runoff would be held July 23.
Nobody has announced a run for the seat, although hints of interest have come from Shafter City Councilwoman Fran Florez, the mother of former Sen. Dean Florez, and newly elected Assemblyman Rudy Salas Jr. (D-Bakersfield).
On Friday, Salas wrote on Twitter: “Lots of discussion about future of #SD16 seat. Flattered with the overwhelming calls. Looking forward to doing what’s best for our community.â€
Assemblyman Henry Perea (D-Fresno) has said he decided not to run, as has former Assemblywoman Nicole Parra.
Rubio abruptly resigned from the Senate last month to take a job as the head of government affairs for Chevron in California.
His departure cost the Democrats a supermajority, although party leaders expect it to be restored after a special election, for which the primary is Tuesday, to fill Senate seats vacated when Gloria Negrete McLeod and Juan Vargas were elected to Congress.
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