(ConservativeInsider.org) – The winner of the special election for the seat of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was announced on May 22 as California State Assembly member Vince Fong.
Fong, a Republican, will serve the rest of McCarthy’s term, which will last until January 2025. He had previously served as an aide to McCarthy. Following McCarthy’s resignation in December, McCarthy endorsed his former aide in the race. Former President Donald Trump also endorsed Fong, leading many to closely watch the race.
He will be up for re-election in November. California has an unusual voting system wherein every candidate, regardless of their party affiliation, appears on the same primary ballot. The two candidates who receive the most votes are then put on the general election ballot. As California’s 20th District is heavily Republican, the two candidates who received the most votes were Fong and Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, who is also a Republican. Boudreaux released a statement saying that he personally congratulated Fong on his victory and also thanked his supporters and volunteers.
Boudreaux will face off against Fong again in November in the general election, though Fong will maintain the incumbent advantage, as well as Trump’s and McCarthy’s endorsements. The general election in November will be the third election battle between the two California Republicans, with the first being the primary in March and the second being the May special election that Fong won.
Though California has 52 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, only 12 are held by Republicans. When Fong is sworn in, the House will have 213 Democrats, 218 Republicans, and four vacant seats, giving Republicans a slightly stronger edge and giving Speaker Mike Johnson more safety as some of the more conservative members of his party push back against him.
Following the special election in California, there will be two more special elections for House seats within the next two months, including the 6th Congressional District in Ohio and the 4th District in Colorado.
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