Gonzales Leaves Bakersfield Council for Assembly
Ward 2 Councilman Andrae Gonzales will step down Dec. 7 after winning the state Assembly 35th District seat.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in People
Live Poll
Do you think Ward 2 residents should elect a replacement through a special election?
Andrae Gonzales announced at the Nov. 4 City Council meeting that he will leave the Bakersfield City Council after 10 years of service. His final council meeting is set for Nov. 18, and he is scheduled to be sworn in to the state Assembly on Dec. 7.
Why it matters
Gonzales's departure opens the Ward 2 seat, which has nearly two years left in its term, and residents will see how the city fills it. The vacancy also marks a change in local representation as Gonzales moves to Sacramento to represent Kern County.
Gonzales has served 10 years on the council, and a special election petition needs at least 2,684 signatures filed within four weeks of the Dec. 7 vacancy. Whether that petition will be filed has not been determined.
The players
Andrae Gonzales
Gonzales is a Bakersfield councilman who has served 10 years on the council and won the state Assembly 35th District seat.
The details
Gonzales told colleagues at the Nov. 4 meeting that his final session will be Nov. 18, and he said via text that he prefers a special election for the seat. If no petition is filed, the City Council can either call a special election or appoint a member to fill the Ward 2 vacancy.
Timeline
Nov. 4, 2026: Gonzales announces his departure at the City Council meeting.
Nov. 18, 2026: Gonzales holds his final City Council meeting.
Dec. 7, 2026: Gonzales is sworn in to the Assembly and the Ward 2 seat becomes vacant.
Market Landscape
Under the Bakersfield city process, a special election petition requires 2,684 signatures filed within four weeks of the vacancy, a threshold that will decide whether Ward 2 voters choose the next councilmember or the council appoints one. Gonzales's move follows the pattern of local officials advancing to state Assembly seats and leaving their city posts mid-term.
Ward 2 residents will be represented by an empty seat until the vacancy is filled. Whether a special election is held or an appointment is made will determine when they next have a voting say in their councilmember.
The takeaway
Local vacancies like this one show how state-level wins can reshape city representation mid-term. Residents who want a say in who fills the Ward 2 seat should track whether a special election petition is filed in the coming weeks.
What happens next
Gonzales's final council meeting is Nov. 18, and he is scheduled to be sworn in on Dec. 7, when the Ward 2 seat becomes vacant.
Further reading
For more on local leadership changes, see People coverage in Bakersfield.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KBAK.
Live Poll
Do you think Ward 2 residents should elect a replacement through a special election?
