Democrats lost supermajority control of the state Senate on Friday with the sudden resignation of Bakersfield Sen. Michael Rubio. But they almost certainly will regain their two-thirds advantage in May if not sooner.

With Rubio’s immediate departure, there are now 26 Democrats in the state Senate to 11 Republicans. Tax increases and certain other legislation requiring a supermajority need 27 votes for approval.

However, two other Senate vacancies are already set to be filled in special elections later this year and both of those districts lean Democratic, as does Rubio’s. The primaries for those seats are scheduled for March 12. If any candidate in either race receives more than 50 percent of the vote, that candidate would automatically win the seat. Otherwise, there would be a runoff on May 14.

Rubio, 35, surprised the Capitol community with his sudden resignation Friday morning. In a press release titled “Family Comes First,” the Democrat said, “My time serving … has been a blessing, but it has also been a challenge. I have missed too many family dinners, bedtime stories and parent-teacher conferences.”

Noting that his youngest child has “special needs,” Rubio said he was stepping down, effective immediately, “to be home for those who are most important to me.” Rubio said he will be joining Chevron Corporation as manager of California government affairs.

Known as a moderate Democrat in the mold of Santa Ana state Sen. Lou Correa, Rubio has been a leading voice for reforming the California Environmental Quality Act, which businesspeople say needlessly hampers development. Both Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff of Diamond Bar and Rhys Williams, press secretary for Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, called Rubio’s departure a big loss, with Huff noting that Rubio was widely expected to be an ally of the GOP this year.

No legislation requiring a two-thirds vote was slated to be brought up in the coming weeks, although several tax proposals have been introduced. Huff said Rubio’s departure likely will just delay Democrats from pushing through their bills.

“Wonderful thing,” Huff said of the Democrats losing their supermajority, “until the special elections kick in.”