In a special election held on Tuesday, two Republican candidates in California are facing off to determine who will complete the remaining term of former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy, who was recalled and whose term will end in January of next year. The candidates are State Assemblyman Vince Fong, endorsed by former President Trump, and Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, who has pledged to fight for a safer border.
The election is taking place in California’s 20th Congressional District, located in the Central Valley farm region, encompassing parts of Bakersfield and Fresno, which is one of the most solidly red districts in the predominantly blue state of California.
With Trump’s involvement, this election is seen as another test of the former president’s influence, as he is almost certain to face off against current President Biden again in November.
Trump endorsed Fong in February, calling him a “true Republican.” Boudreaux’s supporters include former Acting Director of National Intelligence under the Trump administration, Richard Grenell, and Republican State Senator Shannon Grove.
Out of the 52 U.S. House seats in California, Republicans hold only 11. If the district once represented by McCarthy continues to be controlled by Republicans, the party will have 12 seats, bolstering its slim majority in Congress.
Currently, the U.S. House of Representatives has 217 Republicans, 213 Democrats, and 5 vacant seats, including the one previously held by McCarthy.
This special election only covers the remainder of McCarthy’s term. Fong and Boudreaux will compete again in November for a full two-year term, although the winner of this special election will have the incumbent advantage.
These two Republican candidates align on many policies. Boudreaux has been emphasizing his decades of law enforcement experience and has pledged to enhance national border security. Fong also promises to end the “chaos” at the U.S.-Mexico border, while prioritizing the water and energy needs of the Central Valley farm region.
Fong, a former aide to McCarthy, has garnered support from the former Speaker. After being ousted from the speakership, McCarthy resigned from Congress at the end of last year.
In the March primary, Fong won 42% of the votes, Boudreaux garnered nearly 26%, while the remaining votes were distributed among other candidates.