David Gerald Kelley (October 11, 1928 – September 24, 2025) was an American farmer and politician from California who was a member of the Republican Party.
A graduate of the Army and Navy Academy Class of 1947, Kelley attended California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, majoring in citrus fruit production. His education was interrupted by service as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict. A successful citrus rancher in the Hemet, California area for more than 40 years, he was active in the Riverside County Farm Bureau from 1955, and served as both president and vice president, as well as on the board of directors of the California Farm Bureau Federation.
Kelley also served as director of the Hemet-San Jacinto Basin Resource Conservation District.
Kelley died on September 24, 2025, at the age of 96.
State Assembly In 1978, Kelley ran for the 75th district in the California State Assembly and ousted 2-term incumbent Tom Suitt (D-Palm Springs) in what turned out to be a great year for down ballot Republicans across the state. Kelley would hold the seat (renumbered the 73rd after the 1981 reapportionment) with little trouble for 6 more terms. The only time a sitting elected official challenged Kelley was in 1984 when then Democratic Corona city councilman S.R. "Al" Lopez made the run, but failed to make an impression.
State Senate In 1992, Kelley decided to run for the redrawn (and open) 37th district in the California State Senate. He faced his assembly colleague Carol Bentley (R-El Cajon) in the primary, both candidates among the more mild-mannered legislators.California Journal Vol. XXIII, No.5 (May 1992) "Election 1992". StateNet Publications, July 1992 Nevertheless, the race became heated. Kelley repeatedly hit Bentley over her ethics, with his specific attacks over her "ghost voting" (leaving her voting card behind while she was away from the Capitol and allowing other members to vote for her) throwing her campaign off balance.California Journal Vol. XXIII, No.7 (July 1992) "Complete Primary Results". StateNet Publications, July 1992 Kelley prevailed with 52% of the vote.
He was reelected to the state senate in 1996 and served one additional term in the assembly (2001–03) before retiring from elective office.
Kelley was an Emeritus Trustee of the Army and Navy Academy.
Electoral history + Member, California State Assembly: 1978–1992; 2001–03 Member, California State Senate : 1992–2000YearOfficeDemocratVotesPctRepublicanVotesPct1978California State Assembly District 75 Tom Suitt42,19142.3%David G. Kelley57,44957.7%1980California State Assembly District 75Daryl Gill31,39724.6%David G. Kelley88,88468.7%1982California State Assembly District 73Julius Scher37,19636%David G. Kelley84,96364%1984California State Assembly District 73S. R. "Al" Lopez44,03732%David G. Kelley93,54568%1986California State Assembly District 73Byron Powell36,18433.5%David G. Kelley71,79565.5%1988California State Assembly District 73Erlinda Rodriguez Parker45,93029.9%David G. Kelley103,03867.1%1990California State Assembly District 73 Ray Strait54,71643.8%David G. Kelley70,16156.2%1992California State Senate District 37James Rickard101,87237.7%Carol Bentley 48%David G. Kelley 52%141,97052.5%1996California State Senate District 37Hans Alfred Schroeder75,94329.6%David G. Kelley157,09061.1%2000California State Assembly District 80Joey Acuna Jr.53,84944%David G. Kelley63,84852.2%
References
External links JoinCalifornia, Election History for the State of California