McFarland Mayor Saul Ayon has launched a campaign for California's 35th Assembly District, pitching his years in local government and law enforcement against Bakersfield City Councilmember Andrae Gonzales in a race that will be decided November 3. Ayon, a Republican, is running on affordability, public safety, water infrastructure and immigration, while Gonzales, a Democrat, has built his campaign around healthcare access, affordable housing and investment in the Central Valley.
Ayon was born and raised in the Central Valley and spent years with the Kern County Sheriff's Office before entering public life, according to 23ABC News Bakersfield. Accounts of his tenure with the department differ: 23ABC reports he worked there for 23 years, while bakersfieldnow.com cites nearly 25 years of service that he says would translate directly to the state Legislature. Ayon went on to become a teacher at McFarland High School before he was elected to McFarland City Council and later became mayor.
Describing himself as a retired sheriff's deputy, Ayon won a City Council seat in 2020 and rose to the mayor's office in 2022, according to Axios. In 2025, he announced a bid for the seat being vacated by Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains.
A Campaign Built on Local Fixes
Ayon says Kern County needs a strong voice in Sacramento because policymakers there have shaped local affordability and industries, and he argues his record in McFarland shows what that voice should sound like. He has pointed to his pursuit of funding for infrastructure and public safety in the city, including help from U.S. Rep. David Valadao in securing money for road projects, the report notes. He wants to expand housing, improve access to reliable, clean water and change state policies that he says have made daily life more expensive.
Water has been a persistent local issue: McFarland's Browning Road well has been shut down since October 1, 2023, forcing the city to rely on its two remaining wells, as reported by 23ABC News Bakersfield. Ayon has cited improving access to clean water as part of his platform heading into the statewide race.
Bipartisan Claims and a Legislative Win
Ayon says he has worked across party lines with Democratic elected officials to bring resources to Kern County, calling that kind of collaboration critical if he is elected to Sacramento. He points specifically to Assembly Bill 133, where he said that cooperation helped secure $8 million for the county, according to bakersfieldnow.com's interview with the mayor. To address rising costs, Ayon has said he would support suspending the state gas tax and reducing regulations, the station reports.
On immigration, Ayon wants to address both public safety and enforcement, and has said he supports a pathway for eligible undocumented residents to earn a green card or work visa. He says he wants to bring what he calls “firm but fair” leadership to Sacramento, according to bakersfield.com.
Where Gonzales Stands
Gonzales, a Democrat and Bakersfield city councilmember, has centered his campaign on healthcare expansion and increased state investment in the Central Valley, according to 23ABC News Bakersfield's coverage of his entry into the race. He has proposed expanding affordable housing by leveraging state money to meet consumer demand, and says his top healthcare priority is protecting local clinics that are already facing major cuts. Gonzales has also said he wants to protect the Central Valley's core businesses, including oil refineries and agriculture.
Affordability is clearly a top issue heading into the Nov. 3 election, and bakersfield.com notes that Ayon and Gonzales each offer a different approach to keeping costs down for Kern County residents. California's median value of owner-occupied housing was $734,700, and 26.9% of residents in Assembly District 35 were foreign-born.
Common Ground and Sharp Divides
Despite running on opposing tickets, Ayon and Gonzales found some agreement during a debate hosted by KGET. Both candidates said federal immigration enforcement tactics need to change, and both agreed that California and Kern County need more energy and oil production. They also agreed that Sacramento should take strong action to regulate artificial intelligence statewide.
But the debate exposed sharp disagreements too. KGET reports the two sparred over how to curb homelessness in the district, whether California's minimum wage should be increased, and the impacts of the Trump administration's healthcare legislation on the Central Valley. Asked to grade Governor Gavin Newsom, Gonzales gave him a B while Ayon gave him an F or F-minus. On who should succeed Newsom, Gonzales said he would vote for Xavier Becerra, while Ayon said he would cast his ballot for Steve Hilton.
