Liam Conner
CBS News projects that State Assembly member Vince Fong, a California lawmaker supported by former President Donald Trump, has captured a special election to complete the remainder of the term of deposed former House Speaker Kevin McCarthywhich runs until January.
Fong — a McCarthy protégé who also had the former president’s support — defeated fellow Republican and Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux on Tuesday in the 20th Congressional District in the state’s Central Valley farm belt.
With 65% of the votes counted as of Tuesday night, Fong led Boudreaux by a margin of 60% to 39%.
Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images
McCarthy resigned last year after being deposed in the Chamber. His dramatic downfall – he is the only speaker in history to be voted out of office – left behind a messy race to succeed him, which 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.
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.
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 Biden in November.
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 They are currently 217 Republicans in the House, 213 Democrats and five vacancies. Those vacancies include McCarthy’s former seat.
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 special elections to fill McCarthy’s term.
The two conservative Republicans and Trump supporters occupy much of the same political ground. Boudreaux has highlighted his decades of experience in law and order and vows to toughen the country’s porous border. Fong also promises to “end the chaos” on the border with Mexico, while prioritizing water and energy needs in the agricultural belt.
Fong, a former McCarthy aide who also has the former speaker’s endorsement, entered the race with advantages beyond endorsements from Trump and McCarthy.
Fong won 42% of the vote in the March primary election, Boudreaux nearly 26%, with the remainder 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.
