California state assembly member Vince Fong has secured the special election to complete the remaining term of former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) after McCarthy stepped down from his position at the end of last year.
Fong triumphed over Tulare Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, with Fong receiving 60.5% of the vote with 83% of ballots counted. The Associated Press announced the results at 11:18 p.m. EST.
This win enables Fong to represent California’s 20th Congressional District for the rest of this Congress, positioning him favorably to claim a full term in the general election in November.
Fong’s victory is considered a win for Speaker Mike Johnson’s predecessor, McCarthy, who was ousted in October and subsequently retired from Congress three months later. Fong, who previously served as a staffer for McCarthy, campaigned on values similar to his former boss, aligning with the Republican establishment.
McCarthy significantly supported Fong’s campaign, participating in fundraising events and securing an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. Additionally, a political action committee linked to McCarthy contributed $450,000 to a pro-Fong super PAC to enhance his campaign and target Boudreaux in the March primaries.
Fong’s victory increases the Republican majority to 218-213, slightly expanding their current one-vote majority to two. This additional seat offers Johnson (R-LA) some relief as he manages a historically narrow majority alongside a faction of hard-line conservatives willing to oppose GOP leadership to achieve their goals.
Replacing McCarthy partially addresses the House’s efforts to fill several other recently vacated seats. These include those left by Republican Reps. Bill Johnson, Mike Gallagher, and Ken Buck, who all resigned before their terms ended, as well as the seat vacated by Democratic Rep. Donald Payne, who died late last month.
These races are generally viewed as non-competitive and are expected to slightly bolster the Republican majority once filled. In the interim, Johnson is contending with resistance from some hard-line members, including a recent unsuccessful ouster attempt by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) earlier this month.
