I am honored to have spent my life serving and defending our country and state. But most of all, I am proud to live in and represent the central valley to the rest of California. I was born and raised here and am grateful that I am still able to call this amazing place home.

I was raised by a single mother and have four brothers and sisters. I saw the struggles that families faced in order to make ends meet. I am fighting to make sure that families, farmers and businesses have the tools they need to thrive in our changing state.

I am proud of the accomplishments I achieved when I served you in the State Assembly, but I know there is unfinished business. California continues to enact laws that make necessities like gasoline and food cost more, while ignoring their impact on hardworking families. Sacramento politicians do not understand the central valley and what is best for us.

That is why I am working to represent you in our Capitol, to make sure that the 16th Senate District has a voice and to bring our needs front and center. We need to prioritize water for all of Kern, Tulare and San Bernardino counties, reduce red tape for small businesses, reform broken laws that let greedy attorneys extort local businesses. Most importantly, we need to defend those with developmental disabilities from being used as bargaining chips when budgets get tight.

I have dedicated my life to improving the central valley, and I am committed to keeping that promise. I raised my children in Bakersfield, and I am working to make sure they and their families have a better future than the generation before them. I hope you’ll support me in making the 16th Senate District a better place to work and live.

Shannon Grove