Couch Wins Unopposed Race for Assembly Seat
Kern County Supervisor David Couch received roughly 44,000 votes in the unopposed State Assembly District 32 contest after Assemblyman Stan Ellis opted not to seek re-election.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Republican David Couch, a current Kern County Board of Supervisors member, ran unopposed for State Assembly District 32 and received just over 44,000 votes in preliminary totals. The open seat was created when Assemblyman Stan Ellis announced he would not seek re-election.
Why it matters
The result positions Couch to move from county government to the State Assembly, filling a seat vacated by Ellis. Because the contest was unopposed, the preliminary totals reflect a single-candidate race rather than a competitive contest.
Preliminary returns show Couch received just over 44,000 votes in District 32, a number drawn from an unopposed race with no rival total to measure it against. The extraction does not confirm whether these are final or certified counts.
The players
David Couch
A Republican who serves as Kern County Supervisor for District 4 and previously held a seat on the Bakersfield City Council.
Stan Ellis
The outgoing State Assemblyman whose decision not to seek re-election opened District 32.
The details
Couch entered the race to succeed Ellis and ran without opposition. He has served as Kern County Supervisor for District 4 since 2013, and previously sat on the Bakersfield City Council from 1999 to 2012, including a term as vice mayor.
Timeline
Election night, November 3, 2026: preliminary results show Couch leading the unopposed race.
Coming months: Couch is expected to head to Sacramento to take up the Assembly seat.
Political Context
The outcome follows directly from Stan Ellis's announcement that he would not seek re-election, which left District 32 open and allowed Couch to run unopposed. Couch's move from the Kern County Board of Supervisors to the State Assembly continues a path from local office toward state-level service.
For California voters in District 32, the outcome determines who will represent them in the State Assembly once Couch takes office. Residents who want a say in future legislation can follow the Assembly's proceedings in Sacramento as the new term begins.
The takeaway
A seat opened by a retirement can change hands quickly when no challenger files, so local officials with state ambitions may find an unopposed path to the Assembly. Voters who want to track how that seat is used can watch legislative activity once the new term begins.
Further reading
Track the latest results in the California Elections section for more on this and other races.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KGET 17.
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