State Sen. Shannon Grove (R–Bakersfield) is in her final term in the Legislature, as she will be up against the term limits, leaving a number of Republicans who are priming themselves for a run at her seat in District 12.
Thus far, only a few candidates have launched a campaign for the seat, but several other Republicans are rumored to be interested in the race.
Here’s a look at potential candidates for Grove’s seat.
So who’s in?
- Nathan Magsig
- Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig has filed paperwork with the state to open a fundraising account for a State Senate run in 2026.
- Magsig has served on the Board of Supervisors since 2017, representing eastern Fresno County and Clovis.
- The Fresno County lawmaker challenged Rep. Tom McClintock (R–Elk Grove) for Congress in 2022 but did not make it out of the primary, placing third behind McClintock and Democrat Mike Barkley.
- David Couch
- Kern County Supervisor David Couch confirmed to KGET and the Bakersfield Californian last week that he is considering a run for the Senate seat and will make a decision in the coming weeks.
- “I’m strongly considering it,” Couch told The Californian. “I’ve considered it a couple of times. We’ve always had good reps. I’ve always been happy with either who was in the Assembly or Senate. I am now, but there’s a seat coming open and I think I’d be a good fit.”
- Couch has served on the board since 2013 and won reelection in 2018 and 2020 after his district was redrawn to have a Latino majority, both times by around five points.
- Last year, Couch sailed through the primary for District 4 by outpacing his nearest opponent by 36 points, securing his reelection once again.
- His district was the target of a 2018 court order that threw out the 2010 redistricting lines in Kern County for its distribution of Latino voters.
- Michael Maher
- Maher twice unsuccessfully attempted to unseat Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) in a Congressional seat that partially overlaps with Grove’s sprawling Senate seat.
- The Kingsburg resident is a Navy veteran and former FBI special agent who now leads a private aviation firm.
Who’s rumored?
- Stan Ellis
- Ellis, freshly elected to the California State Assembly seat Grove once held, could easily transition and launch a bid for Senate in 2026, given the significant Kern County base of voters in the 12th district.
- Ellis, a career entrepreneur, also hasn’t shied away from leveraging his personal resources to mount a campaign. During his special election victory, the Bakersfield lawmaker loaned his campaign $75,000 to kickstart the successful effort, per campaign filings.
- Phillip Peters
- Supervisor Phillip Peters has been the other rumored candidate to come from the Kern County Board of Supervisors.
- He represents District 1 and has been on the board since 2021. Peters was reelected last year by nearly 35 points.
- Cynthia Zimmer
- Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer, one of the most visible elected officials in the Golden Empire, has long been rumored to be interested in running for a higher office.
- Zimmer didn’t jump into the race for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s seat in Congress, which ultimately went to Fong, but Grove’s seat could be the opportunity to move to a state office.
- She has been the District Attorney since 2018 and was unopposed in her reelection bid in 2022.
- Mike Boudreaux
- Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux could likely stay in his current position for as long as he’d like to, given his popularity in the region and among his fellow law enforcement officers.
- But Boudreaux has already set his eyes on another office. He ran in the special election to replace McCarthy last year and advanced out of the primary but lost to Fong.
- Boudreaux then suspended his campaign in the general election for the full term, clearing the path for Fong to secure his hold on the seat.
