Newly-elected Democrats gather in Downtown Hanford to thank election volunteers

Kings County’s Jimmy Carter Club, a local Democratic organization, sponsored the event. Cathy Jorgensen, the Jimmy Carter Club chair and a former Kings County Democratic Central Committee chair, told The Leader that the club has been thinking of a way to thank volunteers. “We started talking about doing some kind of celebration thanking everyone who had volunteered and worked on the campaigns,” she said. “It was going to be small, but just got bigger because there were so many people involved in those three campaigns.”

She said the volunteers helped to elect Democrats to the state and federal offices. “It’s really kind of thrilling that Kings County has a Democratic congressman, a Democratic senator, and a Democratic assemblyman.”

Assemblymember Rudy Salas talks to supporters at a celebration sponsored by the Kings County Jimmy Carter Club. The event was held at Porches, a Hanford business.

Among the antiques and curios in the colorful, friendly confines of Hanford’s Porches, a crowd of about 100 got to meet and greet its new state and federal leadership, all of whom made the trek to Hanford to speak with the group of enthusiastic Kings County supporters.

On hand to greet the primarily Democratic throng were longtime State Assemblymember Rudy Salas, incoming Congressman TJ Cox, and newly-elected State Senator Melissa Hurtado. The still youthful-looking Salas was the old timer in the room, having won his fourth term in the California State Assembly on Nov. 6. 

Hurtado defeated Vidak, the Hanford farmer first elected to the 16th Senate District seat in a 2013 special election and who later won a second term in 2014. Hurtado’s victory was, by some, considered an upset, but the former Sanger City Councilmember, despite losing to Vidak in Kings County, easily beat the Hanford incumbent district-wide.

Like Hurtado, Salas lost Kings County in the general election but crushed his opponent, Hanford City Councilmember Justin Mendes, in Kern County to win by about 13 percent. Hurtado and Salas have already been sworn in. Cox, who has already spent several days in Washington D.C. preparing for his new term, will take his seat on Jan. 3.

The trio spoke to the friendly audience and thanked the crowd for its support in the recent elections. They also spoke of their hopes for the future and promised to get something done for their district, which includes Kings County.

Cox, who defeated three-termer David Valadao in the 21st Congressional District, said he’s looking forward to serving in Washington D.C. and talked about his recent orientation to the nation’s capital and his meetings with lawmakers. Cox beat Valadao in a come-from-behind effort that wasn’t decided until early December.

“It’s not about getting re-elected,” Cox told his audience Thursday night. “It’s about getting something done for the District.” He added that he was proud of the Democratic caucus and insisted there were men and women of all kinds who make up the Democratic Party. "It's really the face of America. They're not just diverse; they're very talented too. We all know why we’re here, to speak for the people.”