Merced Councilmember Darin DuPont Runs for State Senate on Water and Cost-of-Living Issues

MERCED, Calif. — November 3, 2026.Darin S. DuPont is on the November 3 ballot for California’s 14th state Senate district, bringing his Merced City Council and water-law background into a race against Democratic Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria.

Merced roots and water policy

In a recent interview with Mid Valley Times, DuPont discussed his childhood in Merced County, legal career and election to the City Council in 2024. He said his interest in water law is tied to the pressures that farmers, businesses and communities face over California water supplies. His campaign argues for expanded water infrastructure and more oversight of state water decisions.

DuPont has also identified gasoline taxes, housing costs and mandates imposed on city governments as policy targets. In that interview he supported reforming California environmental review procedures to speed housing development while keeping the review framework. These are DuPont’s proposals, not changes that have already taken effect.

Who is running against him?

Soria, a former Fresno councilmember now serving in the Assembly, focuses her campaign on working families, hospitals and economic opportunity. District 14 spans multiple Central Valley counties, including Merced, Madera and Fresno communities; it is not limited to Merced city.

Election Day social-media evidence

DuPont identifies DupontForSenate.com as his campaign site in the county’s candidate statement. California58 has not authenticated a November 3 social-media video proving that DuPont voted in a particular location, at a particular time or by a particular method. Those details are therefore not claimed here.

Sources: Mid Valley Times candidate interview; DuPont campaign; Certified-candidate roster.

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