Republican candidate leads race to represent Merced, Fresno-area assembly district
Former Merced Mayor Mike Murphy will likely face Fresno County Supervisor Brian Pacheco in the November runoff to represent a district representing parts of Fresno, Madera and Merced counties.
As of 9:54 p.m. Tuesday, Murphy, a Republican, secured 45.8% of the vote, with about 35,936 votes counted.
Pacheco, a Democrat, pulled down 40.8% of the vote, while Japjeet Singh Uppal, a Livingston council member and Democrat, secured 13.4% of the vote., according to California Secretary of State records.
“I am very pleased with the outcome so far tonight. We have a tight race in an important seat for the Central Valley. I look forward to continuing to talk to voters and turning my focus to winning in November,” Murphy said in a statement to The Bee.
The seat is currently represented by Asm. Esmeralda Soria, a Democrat from Fresno, a former Fresno city council member who’s wrapping up her second term representing the 27th district. She is currently a frontrunner in a bid for the 14th State Senate District seat, currently held by Democratic Sen. Anna Caballero.
Murphy a business attorney served as mayor of Merced for two terms from 2016 to 2020. Pacheco, a fourth-generation dairy farmer, is supported by Soria, the current seat-holder.
“With ballots still being tallied, we are incredibly optimistic about the early numbers and the momentum behind this campaign. Voters have rallied around our campaign to bring proven, local leadership and someone who knows how to fight and win for the Valley to Sacramento,” Pacheco’s campaign said in a statement to The Bee.
Murphy and Pacheco appear to be moving forward to the runoff in the general election on November 3.
In a statement to The Bee, Singh Uppal said there are still thousands of votes left to count, but that voters have made their decision clear. “I called Mike Murphy and congratulated him for being the top vote getter tonight. I have a lot of respect for Mike and the way he shows up to work,” Singh Uppal said. He also congratulated companies and groups such as utility companies, oil and gas companies, tobacco giants, and dairy industry leaders which Singh Uppal said either directly contributed to his opponent’s campaigns, or indirectly supported them through independent expenditures.
“They’re one step closer to purchasing our Assembly seat in District 27,” he said.
Where is the district?
The 27th district encompasses parts the western side of Fresno and Madera counties, as well as much of Merced County, including the city of Merced. Other cities and communities within the district include: Biola, Cantua Creek, Caruthers, Coalinga, Firebaugh, Fresno, Huron, Kerman, Mendota, Chowchilla, Madera, Madera Acres, Atwater, Delhi, Dos Palos, Le Grand, Livingston, Los Banos and Planada, among others.
Out of more than 500,000 residents in the majority-Latino district, 238,236 were registered to vote as of early April, according to California Secretary of State data. More than half of the district’s registered voters reside in Merced County.
Of the total registered voters in the district, 39.6%, or 94,350, are Democrat, and 28.91%, or 68,872, are Republican. About 24% of the district voters are No Party Preference voters.
This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 9:16 PM with the headline "Republican candidate leads race to represent Merced, Fresno-area assembly district."
