Fresno Bee: How Sanger Democrat Melissa Hurtado came to be California’s youngest state legislator
As it grew dark on Election Day, Melissa Hurtado flipped on a flashlight and continued to knock on doors. The polls would close at 8 p.m., meaning she still had a few hours left to change a few more minds.
But the 30-year-old Sanger city councilwoman soon found she didn’t have to do much convincing as she asked for her neighbors’ vote in California’s 14th Senate District.
“People said, ‘Yes, I’m supporting you. I already voted for you. I am on my way to vote for you,’ ” Hurtado said in a Dec. 5 interview with The Bee. “I felt such a positive energy up to the last hour of voting. When I got to the watch party and saw long lines at the polls – that just told me we’re going to win.”