LOS ANGELES – Vince Fong, a member of the California State Assembly supported by former President Donald Trump, won a special election on Tuesday to complete the remainder of the term of ousted former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who will Until january.
A McCarthy protégé who also had the former president’s endorsement, Fong defeated fellow Republican and Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux in the 20th Congressional District in the state’s Central Valley agricultural belt.
Because of Trump’s involvement, the race will be seen as a possible proxy vote on the former president’s influence as he heads toward an almost certain showdown against President Joe Biden in November.
“With the campaign over, the real work begins now,” Fong said in a statement, adding that he will focus on border security, supporting small businesses and investing in water storage essential to the region’s agriculture.
It was not immediately clear when Fong would take office — that decision rests with current House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Turnout appeared weak in the unusual May elections, for which mail-in voting began last month.
Trump endorsed Fong in February, calling him “a true Republican.” Boudreaux’s supporters include Richard Grenell, former acting director of national intelligence in the Trump administration, and Republican state Sen. Shannon Grove of Bakersfield, Fong’s home territory.
Republicans hold just 11 of the state’s 52 seats in the U.S. House. With the district once controlled by McCarthy remaining in GOP hands, this will give Republicans 12 seats in the state delegation and increase the party’s fragile lead in Congress by a single vote.
There are 217 Republicans in the House, 213 Democrats and five vacancies, including McCarthy’s former seat.
The special election only covers the remaining time of McCarthy’s term. Fong and Boudreaux will repeat in November for a full two-year term in the district, although the winner of the special election will gain the term advantage.
In a statement, Boudreaux said he congratulated Fong over the phone, thanked volunteers and donors for their support and signaled he was already preparing for November.
“California faces a crime crisis unlike any other in its history. That’s why I will intensify the fight for a safer Valley and a safer California,” Boudreaux said.
Some voters may be confused, since Fong and Boudreaux have already appeared on two House ballots this year — the March 5 state primary for the full House term and the March 19 primary in the special election to fill the House term. McCarthy.
The two conservative Republicans and Trump supporters occupy much of the same political ground. Boudreaux highlighted his decades of law and order experience and promised to toughen the country’s porous border. Fong also promised to “end the chaos” on the border with Mexico, while prioritizing water and energy needs in the agricultural belt.
Fong, a former McCarthy aide, entered the race with advantages beyond endorsements from Trump and McCarthy.
He won 42% of the vote in the March primary, with Boudreaux getting nearly 26% and the rest split among other candidates. Fong comes from the most populous part of the district, Kern County, and outspent the sheriff about 3-to-1 in campaign funds, according to federal records through the end of March.
McCarthy’s dramatic fall from the House — he is the only speaker in history to be voted out of office — left behind a confusing race to succeed him that exposed rivalries within his own party. He worked behind the scenes to promote Fong’s candidacy — a political action committee linked to McCarthy directed more than $700,000 to the 20th District race to boost Fong’s campaign.
McCarthy resigned last year after being removed as speaker of the House.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
