Los Banos, CA (February 13, 2026) — Merced City Councilmember Darin DuPont has announced his candidacy for California State Senate District 14, a Central Valley district that includes Merced County, Los Banos, and portions of Fresno, Madera, and Tulare counties.
DuPont currently represents District 1 on the Merced City Council. He was elected in November 2024 and began serving shortly thereafter. If elected to the State Senate, he would represent communities across a broad agricultural and urban region that includes much of Merced County, including Los Banos.
DuPont is a Merced County native and graduate of Buhach Colony High School in Atwater. He attended Merced College before transferring to George Mason University in Virginia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration with a concentration in public policy. He later earned a Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, where his studies included water and environmental law.
Professionally, DuPont is an attorney and partner at a Merced-based law firm. His legal work has included municipal law, water law, litigation, and business matters, areas that intersect with policy issues frequently debated in the Central Valley.
DuPont is seeking the California State Senate District 14 seat currently held by Sen. Anna Caballero, who is term-limited and cannot seek reelection in 2026. He faces competition from Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, a Democrat from Fresno who currently serves in the California State Assembly and has formally announced her Senate campaign, and Esmeralda Hurtado, a Democrat who serves on the Sanger City Council and has also declared her candidacy. Earlier in the cycle, Fresno City Councilmember Nelson Esparza entered the race but later withdrew and endorsed Soria.
The California State Senate is one of two chambers in the state Legislature, along with the State Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 members, each representing roughly one million residents. State senators draft and vote on proposed laws, approve or reject the state budget, confirm certain appointments made by the governor, and conduct oversight of state agencies and programs. Senators serve four-year terms and are limited to two terms. For a bill to become law, it must pass both the Senate and the Assembly and then be signed by the governor.
In campaign materials and public statements, DuPont has identified affordability, water policy, and economic development as key issues in his campaign. He has stated that he intends to focus on cost of living concerns, water resource management, and support for working families and local businesses.
District 14 has historically leaned Democratic in voter registration, though Central Valley districts have seen competitive statewide races in recent years. Voter turnout and cross-party support are expected to play a role in the outcome.
Merced County has had representation in the State Senate through various district alignments over the years. Most recently, Sen. Anna Caballero has represented the region. Prior to that, former Sen. Anthony Cannella represented a district that included Merced County from 2010 to 2018.
DuPont’s candidacy marks a relatively early move into statewide politics following his recent election to the Merced City Council. As of early 2026, he has served approximately one year in local elected office.
The primary election for the State Senate seat is scheduled for June 2026, with the general election to follow in November.
Voters in Los Banos and across Merced County will ultimately decide who will represent the region’s interests in Sacramento for the next four-year term.
