In an amended filing with the city clerk last week, Fresno Future Forward now lists Alex Tavlian as its principal officer and treasurer. The independent expenditure group sent mailers to District 5 voters accusing candidate Brandon Vang of statutory rape in the 1990s.

Vang won the election and took his southeast Fresno seat on the council last week.

In an interview last month, Vang and his wife, May Lee, said he was 20 and she was 15 when they had their first child in 1993. They married in 1995, and Vang was never criminally charged.

Tavlian, who is also the executive editor of the San Joaquin Sun digital news site, did not return messages seeking comment.

City Attorney Sends Letter to Tavlian

City Attorney Andrew Janz emailed Tavlian a letter, forwarding the same document he previously sent to Fresno Future Forward last month.

Janz fined Fresno Future Forward $1,000 for not filing its initial paperwork on time. The March 11 letter notified the person believed to be the principal officer and treasurer of Fresno Future Forward of the violation and fine.

The group filed its forms a day after Janz held a March 10 news conference, launching the investigation.

However, the information Fresno Future Forward provided did not reveal its money source. Funding information is expected in future filings by July. Some legal experts said that information should have been included already.

Fresno Future Forward listed Riley Moore — a person local campaign experts were not familiar with — as its principal officer and treasurer. Moore hasn’t responded to repeated requests for comment.

The new letter restarts the 90-day requirement to pay the fine.

“The case is closed. If someone files a new complaint, we will look at it,” Janz said on Tuesday.

Pedro Ramirez, Vang’s campaign manager, said another complaint is unlikely. He is still awaiting the documents showing who is funding Fresno Future Forward.

Tavlian initially denied his other public affairs firms were involved in the mailer. A GV Wire investigation linked Tavlian to Fresno Future Forward, both through a phone number connected to the group, and the real address listed on its paperwork.

The address listed a north Fresno mailbox store, which said Tavlian registered there for Fresno Future Forward. The address differed from what Fresno Future Forward included on its mailer.

The mailer included an address for a downtown Fresno mailbox store. The owner of the UPS Store, Lisa Murray, said that neither Fresno Future Forward nor Tavlian had a current account there.

Janz said any potential investigation into the address allegation would not be conducted by his office. Murray said she filed complaints with the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office and the State Bar. Tavlian is a licensed attorney.

Contract Canceled

Before he left office necessitating a special election, former District 5 representative Luis Chavez signed a contract on Dec. 17 with Tavlian’s public affairs firm, Local Government Strategic Consulting, to provide public outreach services.

The contract called for the district to pay Tavlian’s group $100,000 for the year. He already billed the city $33,333 before Vang canceled the contract last Thursday.

Fresno Future Forward filed its amendment hours after Vang canceled the contract.

The post Fresno Political Consultant Now Listed in Documents Tied to Mailer Attacking Vang appeared first on GV Wire.

In results certified by Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus on Friday morning, Vang — an elected Sanger Unified school board member — won 50.19% of the vote in the March 18 special election for District 5. Because Vang won a majority, no runoff is necessary in the special election.

With 2,324 votes, Vang finished nine votes above the majority needed to win the southeast Fresno seat outright.

He is expected to be sworn in Thursday, when the council votes to accept the election results. Vang will become the second Hmong-American to serve on the council. Blong Xiong served from 2007 through 2015.

“Through it all, we stayed true to our values and centered the voices of our neighbors. I’m honored and humbled by the trust this community has placed in me,” Vang said in a statement.

Fresno Unified school board member Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas finished second with 35.01% of the vote.

Vang succeeds Luis Chavez, who left office in the middle of his term in District 5 after his election to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors in November. He is married to Jonasson Rosas.

“I congratulate Brandon and wish him the best in tackling District 5’s needs and challenges in the upcoming months,” Jonasson Rosas told GV Wire.

The remaining results saw nonprofit leader Jose Leon Barraza third with 12.27%, Paul Condon fourth with 2.29%, and write-in candidate Nickolas Wildstar with 0.24%.

Turnout was 12.96%.

The last results Kus tabulated were about 60 voters curing their signatures. That means fixing problems such as forgetting to sign the ballot or a signature that didn’t match what was on file.

Election Lowlighted by Mailer

The talk of the special election was a campaign mailer sent by an independent expenditure group attacking Vang. It accused him of statutory rape, fathering a child in 1993 with a minor female.

Vang and his wife, May Lee, in a GV Wire interview, said he was 20 and she was 15 when they had their child. They have raised a family since, marrying in 1995. Vang was never investigated for statutory rape, he said, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office confirmed his statement.

The group behind the mailer, Fresno Future Forward, remained a mystery. Only after GV Wire asked questions and City Attorney Andrew Janz launched an investigation, did the group file its necessary campaign paperwork.

The filings, though, did not answer who was behind the group, or where it received its funding. GV Wire investigated further, linking the group to local political consultant Alex Tavlian.

Tavlian, through his public affairs firm, Local Government Strategic Consulting, signed a $100,000 contract with District 5 to provide “strategic communications and public relations services.”

Chavez signed the contract — through Dec. 31, 2025 — this past December, on his way out of office.

Vang’s campaign manager, Pedro Ramirez, said that contract will be cancelled.

“That’s gone. That should have never happened,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez said Vang will likely hire his own District 5 staff, replacing those who remain in the office even after Chavez left.

Related Story: Is Fresno Political Consultant Alex Tavlian Behind Election Attack Mailer?

What About a Recount?

Any registered voter in California — even a voter not connected to the election — may request a recount. Requests must come within five days after certification — by Wednesday, April 9, at 5 p.m.

Kus said a recount request would not affect certification status.

“If a recount occurs and the winner changes (or if the leading candidate drops to 50% or less), then a re-certification of the recounted contests occurs,” Kus said.

The certification would stand if a recount does not change the results, even if the numbers do change, Kus said.

There is no legal timeline to complete a recount request, but Kus said based on the volume in the special election, all votes could be counted in about eight hours — at least one full day and a part of a second day.

“A request for a recount might cause a jurisdiction to delay their declaration of the results but that decision is up to the jurisdiction,” Kus said.

It is unclear how a recount request would affect the city council considering approval of certification next Thursday.

The last recount in a Fresno City Council election happened in 2018, when District 3 candidate Daren Miller requested the examination after a third-place finish in the primary by six votes.

The recount did not change the results, and Miguel Arias eventually defeated second-place primary finisher Tate Hill in the general election.

The post Brandon Vang Wins Fresno City Council Special Election Outright appeared first on GV Wire.

Guadalupe Zamudio Telles finished second with 894 votes, and Carlie Hall, the current Senator of Veteran Affairs, had 636 votes.

Original Story

Carlie Hall, a candidate for Fresno State student body president, did not realize receiving an endorsement from state Assemblymember David Tangipa would create so much controversy.

Hall, who describes herself as a conservative, is at the center of a campus firestorm that also involves Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval and the university’s associate dean of student involvement, Dr. Amy Allen.

Even as the student elections wrap Thursday, it appears that the debate, allegations, and counter-allegations involving Hall’s campaign will continue for some time.

“They (the university) were going to do whatever it took to get me out,” Hall told GV Wire. “It was violation after violation that was either made up or fabricated or they approved it and then pulled approval, which is completely unfair and unjust.”

In fact, Hall fears she may be disqualified even though she’s on the ballot.

The other students running for president are Camalah Saleh and Guadalupe Zamudio Telles.

Alleged Violations Stack Up

Hall is a member of The Next Steps slate, which received its first notice of violation for an endorsement video featuring Tangipa, a Republican, the youngest member of the Assembly, and a former Fresno State football player.

The Associated Students, Inc. initially approved the endorsement but later said it was misrepresented and violated campaign guidelines, university documents show.

The university issued a second violation for distributing PRIME energy drinks on campus. In addition, Allen approached Hall regarding the display, leading to a verbal altercation and a PRIME inflatable display hitting Allen. Hall said that wind knocked the display into Allen.

Now, Allen has been temporarily appointed to the ASI Election Commission.

Hall had submitted a waiver request to distribute PRIME beverages, which University Catering denied, according to the violation notice signed by ASI Election Commissioner Mary Davis.

Fresno State holds an exclusive contract with PepsiCo, prohibiting the distribution of other beverages during campus events. But the distribution of non-PepsiCo beverages consistently occurs on campus by other organizations, Hall said.

Controversy peaked when a student alleged that Saleh provided $2,000 to a club president in exchange for an endorsement and member votes. The student’s name was on a list of potential campaign workers Hall turned into ASI, but Hall said he never worked on her behalf.

University President Gets Involved

That claim was proven false, and ASI delivered an official clearance of allegations against Saleh. Jiménez-Sandoval then formed a committee to investigate the situation.

Evidence of Jiménez-Sandoval’s bias came, Hall says, when an ASI director advised her to contact a lawyer because he wanted her “off the ballot.”

A Fresno State spokesman told GV Wire that “at this time, we will not be commenting on the matter.”

Hall said her legal counsel delivered a cease-and-desist letter to the university objecting to the committee reviewing the campaign disputes. Her counsel also requested documents related to the election.

The document says the university president abandoned the Student Court, responsible for adjudicating election disputes, to create a committee. The Student Court was down a member who had recently resigned.

Additionally, the Student Court Justice Melanie Mora was excluded from the committee, according to another cease-and-desist letter sent by Hall’s attorney, Bradley W. Hertz, of Los Angeles.

The committee met on March 31, a state holiday, to evaluate the dispute. It’s unclear what decision, if any, was made.

Tangipa Defends Hall

ASI first approved Tangipa’s endorsement of Hall based on an understanding that he was presented as a “Board Member of the Fresno State Alumni Association,” and the endorsement was solely based in that context.

Later, the Alumni Association was deemed to not meet criteria of a campus organization, which is necessary for endorsement, according to a violation notice.

Additionally, the post included Tangipa’s elected state position and the slate’s plan to “leverage relationships with appointed officials.”

Therefore, the conditional approval was reversed due to “incomplete or misinterpreted information.”

Hall said she felt “blindsided” by the violation. She later reached out to Tangipa, whom she has known her “whole life,” for support.

“I kind of felt like that was the only option. Unless we were advocated for by people that Saúl respected, there was no way that we were going to get anything done,” Hall said.

Tangipa personally called Jiménez-Sandoval, Hall said.

Allen Joins Election Commission

The current ASI President, Faith Van Hoven, issued an Executive Order appointing Allen to the ASI Election Commission.

The temporary appointment will end on April 9 or upon the return of ASI Director James Martinez. Martinez has been “missing in action” since voting opened on April 1, according to Hall.

Allen is overseeing election procedures and compliance with ASI policies. Votes will be counted and elected officials will be announced today.

Hall and her attorney objected to the appointment of Allen, calling it “extremely inappropriate and highly prejudicial.”

The document cites Allen’s involvement in one of Hall’s violations and her “adverse position towards Ms. Hall” as conflicts of interest.

The post Politics Turns Ugly for a Conservative Running for Fresno State Student Body President appeared first on GV Wire.

Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus updated the results on Wednesday, adding 42 votes in the March 18 special election for District 5.

Vang, a Sanger Unified trustee, remains above the majority mark with 50.16% of the vote. He is eight votes over.

Fresno Unified trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas is in second place with 34.98% of the vote.

If Vang’s margin holds, a runoff election won’t be necessary. He could be sworn in on April 10.

However, if his total falls below a majority, Vang and Jonasson Rosas will meet in a July 15 winner-take-all election.

“We feel very positive that we will avoid a runoff,” Vang’s campaign manager Pedro Ramirez said.

Said Jonasson Rosas: “We need to count every vote.”

The special election was to fill the seat vacated by Luis Chavez after he won election to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. He is married to Jonasson Rosas.

The next update will be Friday, April 4 — the date Kus is required to certify the election.

Few Votes Remain

The only remaining votes to count are cured signature ballots. Kus reported that about 130 such ballots remain. He said nine ballots have been cured since the previous update.

Voters with ballot signature problems have until April 2 to fix the issue. These include not signing the ballot or a signature that doesn’t match what is on file.

Both campaigns have a list of voters whose ballots will not be counted unless they “cure” by the deadline.

Ramirez said the Vang campaign reached out to several of those voters, and anticipate the votes will be in their favor.

Jonasson Rosas’ only chance to force a runoff is to add more cured ballots to her column than Vang does. She said her campaign will discuss the next steps, including a possible recount bid.

Nonprofit leader Jose Leon Barraza is third with 11.9%; Paul Condon in fourth with 2.31%; and write-in candidate Nickolas Wildstar has 0.24%.

The post Vang Inches Closer to Outright Fresno Council Victory appeared first on GV Wire.

Rassamni tells Politics 101 he is running for Fresno City Council District 7 in 2026. The district stretches from central Fresno at Van Ness Avenue in the west to the city’s eastern border at Locan Avenue.

“I am on the streets. I know what the people want. They want safety, prosperity, and they want the place to be clean,” Rassamni said.

Changing zoning laws to help businesses and bringing more tax revenue to the city are Rassamni’s top priorities.

He plans to officially file within a month. He recently moved to the district from Clovis, but has operated his car wash business in central Fresno for 15 years.

“I lived in Clovis, but I spent all day long on Blackstone. So whenever people ask me, where are you from, I always say Fresno,” Rassamni said.

Fled Lebanon’s Civil War for American Dream

Rassamni was born in Liberia, moved to Lebanon as a child, and endured the Lebanese civil war. Speaking several languages, he fled to America in the mid-1980s.

“I always knew I would come over here,” Rassamni said. “We knew of the American Dream.”

He first moved to Houston, then Los Angeles. He came to the Central Valley in 2010.

In Fresno, he operated the Great American Car Wash. In 2021, it closed because of a fire. Rassamni said he plans to reopen, and has worked as a business consultant in the interim.

Rassamni is also a registered lobbyist with the city of Fresno.

He also operates a nonprofit, Success From Within, which focuses on housing the homeless.

Third Entrant in the Race

At 61, Rassamni almost as old as the two other candidates who have filed to run combined — Ariana Martinez Lott, 38, and Nav Gurm, 25.

Rassamni is registered as no party preference. Martinez Lott and Gurm are Democrats.

“When you run for the city, the party should not be involved. It should be about the people in the city. And this is what I’m running for,” Rassamni said.

Technically, the Fresno City Council race is nonpartisan.

Gurm, a public affairs consultant and law student, said he is introducing himself by walking neighborhoods. He has also held a series of meet-and-greets.

“I’m humbled by the tremendous support we’ve received as our message resonates. Our community wants a fighter at City Hall, and I’m ready to be that advocate on Day 1. I welcome AJ Rassamni to the race and look forward to a respectful campaign where voters can compare and contrast the candidates,” Gurm said.

Gurm reported raising $50,101 as of Dec. 31, 2024. That includes a $15,000 loan to himself.

Martinez Lott has the backing of Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula. He contributed $5,500 on March 10 (and filed March 24) from his campaign account. Arambula intends to run for city council District 3 in 2026.

A former staffer for Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias, Martinez Lott has worked as a community organizer since.

Martinez Lott also lists Maria Lemus as one of the principal officers for her campaign account. Lemus is Arambula’s district director.

The incumbent, Nelson Esparza, terms out after the 2026 election. He is running for state Senate in District 14.

Politicker …

Brandon Vang continues to receive contributions, a week after the special election for Fresno City Council District 5. Kao Vang, a retired resident of Leominster, Massachusetts; and Meng Xiong, listed as a substitute teacher at Fresno Unified, each gave $1,500. Vang currently leads the race with a shade over 50%.

So far so good with the manual ballot tally from last week’s special election, Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus told Politics 101. Just under 4,000 ballots were hand counted, with about 600 remaining for today, Kus said. The county found no discrepancies.

“As we have both seen over the past five years, Fresno County’s Dominion tabulation system is incredibly accurate — the only issues we have identified in that period were due to human adjudication errors when reviewing write-in votes, which are low in number this election,” Kus said.

The next update will be 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Rob Fuentes, an assistant U.S. attorney, has launched his website for a Fresno City Council in 2026. Affordable housing is the on the top of his to-do list. Fuentes is a former city planning commissioner who is now a State Center Community College District trustee.

Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula paid $182 from his campaign account for his chief of staff, Eusevio Padilla to stay Dec. 18-20, 2024 at the DoubleTree hotel in Fresno. His campaign told Politics 101 Padilla comes down to Fresno occasionally for official and campaign work. State funds are not allowed for the latter.

The post Fresno Business Advocate AJ Rassamni Will Enter Council Race appeared first on GV Wire.

Thomas is a two-term Fresno Unified school board trustee, winning elections in 2018 and 2022, representing the Edison High area.

“Why am I running for city council? I have broad range of community and other supporters and, as of now, a lot of voices in the community have felt that their needs have not been heard,” Thomas said in a text to Politics 101.

“I have been a champion for our community where education and some city issues are concerned. My reputation speaks for itself. I know Southwest. I live, breathe and support Southwest Fresno. And as a lifelong resident, I also have concerns. This is only part of my ‘why?” she said.

Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula already announced he will run for the council seat that covers much of southwest Fresno and downtown. He has not filed any paperwork as of yet.

“To my knowledge, Joaquin Arambula has not indicated he is running, but I welcome all challengers. It will be a good campaign. I’ve never back down from a challenge,” Thomas said.

The councilmember for the district, Miguel Arias, is termed out after 2026.

Thomas reported $9,551 remaining in her 2022 school board campaign account as of Dec. 31, 2024. Armabula reported $26,865 cash on hand in his Assembly account.

Some notes of interest in Arambula’s last campaign filing: He paid $4,393, mostly for his wife Elizabeth Arambula to travel in a delegation to Japan in September 2024.

He also logged spending for hotels in Yosemite (“staff retreat”), Disney, and the DoubleTree in downtown Fresno. The latter two were for a legislative conference and meeting, respectively.

Bettencourt Accepts Job in Trump Administration

Hanford farmer Aubrey Bettencourt is returning to the Trump Administration.

Politico reported that Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins appointed Bettencourt as chief of the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

The Dust Bowl-era program helps farmers use soil and water more efficiently.

Bettencourt served in the first Trump Administration as state executive director of the Farm Service Agency. She has also held executive jobs with the California Water Alliance and, more recently, Netafim.

Signatures Could Determine Southeast Fresno Council Seat

There is no doubt that Brandon Vang and Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas are the top-two vote getters in last week’s special election for Fresno City Council District 5. But whether there is an outright Vang victory or a runoff may depend on 142 voters curing their signatures.

As of the last count on Thursday, Vang, a Sanger Unified trustee, had 50.14% of the vote — seven votes above a majority that would clinch the election outright. If that number drops to 50% or fewer, Vang and Jonasson Rosas will meet in a July 15 runoff.

Jonasson Rosas, a Fresno Unified trustee, is a solid second at 34.97%.

The March 18 special election was to fill the seat vacated by Luis Chavez, after he won an election to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. He is married to Jonasson Rosas.

Voters with signature problems — either not signing the ballot or a signature not matching what the election department has on file — may cure the signatures by April 2.

Curing will only count the ballot; the vote will not change.

In an unscientific review of the list, Politics 101 noticed 46 Hispanic names, 51 Hmong names, and 45 “other” names. 

Vang may get at least one of those votes. One on the signature cure list lives in Vang’s household, his son Dustin, the campaign confirmed.

Pedro Ramirez, Vang’s campaign manager, said it is more about geography than ethnicity. He believes more Sunnyside-area votes will go to Vang.

The next update is Wednesday before 5 p.m. Approximately 30 ballots remain to be counted, plus the signature curing, plus any ballots that arrive by mail — and postmarked by Election Day — arriving through Tuesday.

Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus plans to certify on April 4. Anyone can make a recount request up to five days after certification.

The post Keshia Thomas Wants the Same Fresno Council Seat Arambula Covets appeared first on GV Wire.

Vang stands at 50.14% as of Thursday afternoon. Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas is second with 34.97%, followed by Jose Leon Barraza (12.31%), Paul Condon (2.33%), and write-in Nickolas Wildstar (0.22%).

If Vang’s margin holds, a runoff election isn’t necessary. However, if his total falls below a majority, Vang — a Sanger Unified trustee — and Fresno Unified Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas will meet in a July 15 winner-take-all election.

With the vote update, Vang is seven votes above 50%.

At the end of counting on Election Day on Tuesday, Vang was 18 votes over the majority mark.

Thursday’s update saw 860 new votes counted. Vang took 48.6% of those votes, underperforming the first two updates on Tuesday. Jonasson Rosas scored 36.74% in the Thursday update, a better result for her than the first two reports.

The March 18 special election was to fill the seat vacated by Luis Chavez, after he won an election to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. He is married to Jonasson Rosas.

Several Votes Left to Count

Fresno County Election Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus reported 30 ballots are left to be counted: 10 conditional registration/provisional ballots and 20 damaged ballots needing duplication.

About 140 ballots have signature issues and voters have until April 2 to resolve them.

In addition, any ballot mailed by the deadline that the elections office receives by Tuesday, March 25, will be counted.

The next count update is Wednesday, March 26.

Election law mandates a 1% hand count tally. Because of the volume — fewer than 4,600 votes thus far — and the race being was the only item on the ballot, Kus said all ballots will be hand counted. That takes place next Monday starting at 9 a.m.

Kus will certify the votes by April 4. Then, the city council will adopt the results at its April 10 meeting, Fresno City Clerk Todd Stermer said.

On April 10, Vang will be sworn in or the council will set the July 15 runoff date. Elections must be called 90 days in advance and take place on a Tuesday, according to state law.

The post Vang Clings to Majority Lead After Latest Fresno Election Vote Count appeared first on GV Wire.

Democrats, meanwhile, want to defend their Valley seats while also ousting David Valadao, the resilient Kings County Republican who has won election to Congress six of the seven times he’s run.

Given that the Republicans hold a five-seat edge, 218- 213, with four vacancies in the House of Representatives, the Valley again will be a key battleground in 2026.

Meaning: Many millions of dollars in campaign and independent expenditures will be spent on races in our region and voters should expect to be bombarded with  television ads, mailers, social media posts, and people knocking at the door.

Gray Leads the NRCC’s Hit List

Atop the NRCC’s hit list is Rep. Adam Gray (D-Merced), who edged District 13 incumbent John Duarte by 187 votes last November.

In 2022, Duarte beat Gray by 564 votes. Gray has filed to run again in 2026. No Republican has yet filed.

“Out-of-touch Democrat Adam Gray continues to put the radical far-left agenda ahead of Californians. House Republicans are on offense and will hold Gray accountable; he will lose his seat next year,” NRCC spokesperson Christian Martinez said.

Gray is one of 26 Democrats the NRCC is targeting in 2026. Five are in California: Gray, Josh Harder, D-Tracy, George Whitesides, D-La Canada Flintridge, Derek Tran, D-Orange, and Dave Min, D-Irvine.

Targeting for the NRCC means support through direct financial contributions, and help with research, communications, and turning out the vote.

How the Dems Plan to Defend Their Seats

Those same five Democrats are also part of the the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Frontline” program to help defend the seats.

“Frontline is the DCCC’s battle-tested program to provide Democratic Members of Congress from competitive seats both the resources and support to execute effective reelection campaigns,” a DCCC news release states.

The DCCC has not announced its official target list yet, what it calls “Districts in Play.” But, a recent news release attacking Valadao provides a clue.

“House Democrats won in tough races across the country in 2024, powered by our battle-tested candidates such as Josh Harder and Adam Gray, who won despite the NRCC’s false bravado. These Frontliners will win again in the midterms,” DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton said.

Shelton also criticized Republicans for “running scared” and not holding town hall meetings.

In 2024, the DCCC targeted Valadao and Duarte, going 1-for-2.

One name absent from both sides is Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno. The veteran politician won his 11th term in Washington last year.

Politicker ….

Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea transferred $172,499 from her council fund to her 2026 account for state Assembly. Fresno Building Healthy Communities President/CEO Sandra Celedon also has filed to run for the 31st District seat. She is backed by the current occupant, Joaquin Arambula.

Ariana Martinez Lott filed to run for Fresno’s District 7 council seat in 2026. A former staffer for Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias, she was selected for a Fresno Community Journalism Fellowship last year and had thrown herself into community organizing.

Nav Gurm, a political consultant and also former City Hall staffer, previously filed to run for District 7. He started raising funds last year, reporting $43,525 in the bank as of Dec. 31, 2024.

The incumbent, Nelson Esparza, terms out after the 2026 election. He is running for state Senate in District 14.

The post GOP and Dems Target the Valley in 2026 Fight to Control Congress appeared first on GV Wire.

If Vang’s margin holds, a runoff election isn’t necessary. However, if the total falls below a majority, Vang — a Sanger Unified trustee — and Fresno Unified Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas will meet in a July 15 winner-take-all election.

Vang garnered 1,859 of 3,681 counted as of 9 p.m. Tuesday night, or 50.5%. Jonasson Rosas is second with 34.6%, followed by Jose Leon Barraza (12.2%), Paul Condon (2.5%), and write-in Nickolas Wildstar (0.22%).

The next update from the Fresno County election office is Thursday by 5 p.m.

Clerk/Registrar of Votes James Kus reported a total of 690 votes left to count — most, 550, from vote-by-mail ballots received on Tuesday. The total does not count any votes received in the mail through March 25. That number is not known.

Of the 690 votes, Vang would need 47% to maintain the majority.

Pedro Ramirez, Vang’s campaign manager, said they are taking a wait-and-see approach.

Both sides vow see a victory ahead if the election goes to a runoff.

“I think there is a strong chance this will go to runoff. And if this goes to runoff, I believe we will ultimately win,” said Jason Carns, campaign manager for Jonasson Rosas.

“If her campaign didn’t see the numbers yesterday … more than half, the majority of voters already voted against her decisively,” Ramirez said. He added they would likely pick up Leon Barraza and Condon voters.

Will All Votes Count?

Of the 690 votes remaining, 10 are conditional or provisional ballots, meaning people who registered late. Another 20 ballots were damaged and need to be duplicated. Kus said those totals will not be known until March 26.

Additionally, 110 ballots have signature issues — which may mean missing signatures or signatures that don’t match what is on file. Voters have until April 2 to cure those signatures.

The election department will reach out to those voters to notify them of the signature issue. Ramirez said his campaign plans to reach out to those voters at well.

“We feel pretty good that most of those folks are going to be our voters. So I think … once we get the list, we’ll probably talk to everybody,” Ramirez said.

Of the votes tabulated so far, 37 were either undervotes (blank) or overvotes (more than one selected). Those do not count toward the election total.

Election law mandates a 1% hand count tally. Because of the volume — less than 4,000 — and the city council race was the only item on the ballot, Kus said all ballots will be hand counted. That takes place next Monday starting at 9 a.m.

If any campaign, or anyone for that matter, wants to challenge a ballot, there is a formal recount process, Kus said.

“It’s something to consider (requesting a recount), depending on how close it is. But again, that is something we’ll have to evaluate based on the final results,” Carns said.

Ramirez said the Vang campaign will also consider asking a recount if it means ensuring an outright victory.

“(We’d) rather pay a couple of thousand dollars to the election department staff to do good work, right, than to waste money going into a runoff,” Ramirez said.

Kus said 204 ballots were cast in person at one of three locations. More than 100 of those were cast at the United Health Centers office at Minnewawa and Kings Canyon, which was open for Election Day only.

Kus will certify the votes by April 4. Then, the Fresno City Council will adopt the results at its April 10 meeting, Fresno City Clerk Todd Stermer said.

On April 10, either Vang will be sworn in, or the city council will set the July 15 date — elections must be called 90 days in advance and take place on a Tuesday, according to state law.

Vang Emotional at Campaign Party

Vang held his campaign party Tuesday at the house of his late father-in-law, which also doubled as campaign headquarters. Several family members attended. GV Wire spotted Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias, as well as former City Councilmember Blong Xiong at the party.

Xiong was the first of Hmong descent to serve on the council. Vang could be the second.

Around 10 p.m., Vang addressed his guests, emotionally talking about his wife, May Lee, and his late parents. His mother just recently passed away.

“I am here today because of my wife. She has been the strongest person in this campaign,” Vang said. “We’ve gone through this before, obviously, with my cancer. And I thought she was Wonder Woman. Now she’s a Superwoman.”

Earlier this month, the dark money group Fresno Future Forward sent out mailers attacking Vang, accusing him of statutory rape from 1993.

In an interview with GV Wire, Vang and May Lee said she was 15 and he was 20 when they had their first child. They married in 1995 and have been together ever since. There was never any investigation or charges of rape.

“We are stronger than we were two weeks ago. Not only as a family, but as a community, all of us,” Vang said.

Related Story: Fresno Candidate Brandon Vang and Wife May Lee Emotionally Respond to Attack ...

The post Will Vang Win Fresno Council Seat Outright? It Could Go Down to the Wire appeared first on GV Wire.

Results thus far show Vang with 50.5% of the vote for District 5. Vang garnered 1,859 votes, ahead of his closest competitor, Fresno Unified Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas. Jonasson Rosas received 1,272 votes. Nonprofit leader Jose Leon Barraza trailed with 449 votes, Paul Condon earned 92 votes, and write-in candidate Nickolas Wildstar had 9 votes.

Vang told GV Wire he felt “ecstatic” after the results.

“It’s been a long three months. It looks like it’s going to come to a conclusion within the next hours or the next couple of days,” Vang said.

The 3,718 votes cast are 10.31% of total ballots in the southeast Fresno council district. In the most recent District 5 election in the 2022 midterm election, voter turnout came to just below 20% of voters.

If Vang’s lead above 50% stands, he will have won the election. The Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters will certify the election on April 4.

Only 580 ballots remain to be counted and 110 need correcting. Fresno County Registrar of Voters James Kus doesn’t expect another count before Thursday.

Fresno City Council Candidate Brandon Vang talks about his early lead. He’s a shade over 50% in the special election for the vacant district 5 seat in southeast #Fresno. pic.twitter.com/A9S4k2NQQq

— David Taub (@TaubGVWire) March 19, 2025

District 5 Election Turns Controversial Quickly

The special election is to replace former Fresno City Councilmember Luis Chavez who won the 2024 election for Fresno County supervisor. Vang ran against Chavez in the 2022 race.

The District 5 election turned controversial after an attack mailer against Vang alleged the Sanger Unified trustee had committed statutory rape when he had a child with then-15-year-old May Lee when he was 20 years old. Vang is still married to Lee.

Related Story: Fresno Candidate Brandon Vang and Wife May Lee Emotionally Respond to Attack ...

Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz launched an investigation that resulted in a $1,000 fine to dark money group Fresno Future Forward and its only reported officer, Riley Moore.

Political figures also leveled accusations against Jonasson Rosas and Chavez. Former state Assemblymember Juan Arambula and former Fresno Unified trustee Luisa Medina alleged in a complaint that a newsletter from Chavez paid for with district funds was more of a campaign mailer, violating state and federal election laws.

Related Story: Fresno Council President Says It’s Not Worth Investigating ...

They also claim Chavez directed staff to distribute that newsletter.

Chavez  vehemently denied those claims, saying they were politically motivated.

Vang, Jonasson Rosas Less Than $1,000 From Each Other

If money plays any role in elections, Vang and Jonasson Rosas were nearly neck-at-neck in fundraising. Vang’s $121,754 barely surpassed Jonasson $120,860. Barraza reported $21,350. Condon did not report any contributions. Wildstar reported $90 in donations.

Related Story: Fresno Supervisor Luis Chavez, Trustee Jonasson Rosas Allegedly Use ...

Most of Vang’s listed contributions came from individual donors, with many giving more than $1,000, some more than $5,000. Jonasson Rosas donors came largely from organizations, including labor groups.

Carpenter, plumber, engineer, and firefighter unions all donated to Jonasson Rosas. She also received endorsements from many city figures, including Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer.

What Do D5 Voters Say?

GV Wire went out to Sal Mosqueda Community Center to speak with District 5 voters. Most voters said homelessness was top of mind.

Debby Montoya, who voted for Jonasson, said in addition to homelessness, she wanted the city to take care of the dogs and cats roaming the street.

Juan Hernandez didn’t want to disclose whom he voted for but identified public safety as his biggest issue.

James Burchette didn’t want to say whom he voted for, either, but said homelessness is a big issue for the area. He said housing programs encourage more unhoused people to come to the area.

“What are we going to do, it’s a bad thing for this part of the city to have that,” Burchette said.

Alexander Orozco said he saw far more more mailers supporting the Jonasson Rosas campaign than from Vang’s. He only got one flyer from Barraza. He also said homelessness is the biggest issue the city faces. He wants a compassionate response from the city to answer the problem.

The post Vang Appears En Route to Outright Special Fresno Council Election Win appeared first on GV Wire.