Special election to replace Kevin McCarthy in House heads to a runoff in California – Washington Examiner

The special election to replace former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is headed to a runoff after none of the candidates reached the 50% threshold on Tuesday.

California Republican Assemblyman Vince Fong, the frontrunner in the race, was unable to pocket enough votes to fend off challenges from Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux and Democrat Marisa Wood.

Now Fong and Boudreaux, both Republicans, will compete in the May 21 runoff election to fill McCarthy’s former seat for the remainder of his term. Fong secured 42% of votes compared to Boudreaux’s 24% with 98% of votes counted, according to the Associated Press.

The runoff election also means House Speaker Mike Johnson will not yet get an extra Republican vote, as he maintains a narrow 219-213 majority in the House.

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Republican Assemblymembers Bill Essayli, left, of Corona, and Vince Fong, of Bakersfield, confer during the first day of the California legislative session in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. Fong is on the March ballot seeking to replace former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who resigned from the House. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Fong previously won the primary to replace McCarthy for a full term starting January 2025 on March 5 and is set to face Boudreaux, who came in second place, in November.

Wood, the Democrat, finished in third place with 21.3% but due to California’s jungle primary — where the top two finishers, irrespective of party affiliation, move on to the general election — is ineligible to run for McCarthy’s seat full-term.

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Fong’s failure to garner enough votes in the primary comes amid Trump’s record of endorsements after a dismal 2022 midterm performance. The endorsement was meant to boost Fong among MAGA Republicans in the reliably red 20th Congressional District.

McCarthy had long supported Fong’s congressional bid to fill his former seat as the two have been allies for a long time.

Despite not receiving Trump’s endorsement, Boudreaux has run ads showing him shaking hands with the former president.

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