Republican Assemblyman Vince Fong has advanced to the general election to replace former Rep. Kevin McCarthy in November.
The Associated Press made the call that Fong will advance to the general election in California‘s 20th Congressional District on Monday night, nearly a week after polls closed in the Golden State. Fong declared victory on Wednesday, five days ahead of the race call.
I am humbled and grateful that so many Central Valley residents have put their trust in me to represent them in Congress. While there are still many ballots to count, voters have sent a clear message that they are ready for experienced, trusted, tested leadership in Washington… pic.twitter.com/NeWXZy3Hxa
— Vince Fong (@vfong) March 6, 2024
“I am humbled and grateful that so many Central Valley residents have put their trust in me to represent them in Congress,” Fong said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “While there are still many ballots to count, voters have sent a clear message that they are ready for experienced, trusted, tested leadership in Washington D.C.
“Throughout my years in public service, I have delivered results for the Central Valley,” he added. “In Congress, I will continue to fight to secure the border, to fund water infrastructure, and to protect local energy producers. That message is clearly resonating as Central Valley voters demand meaningful solutions.”
As of Tuesday, only 62% of the votes had been counted, of which Fong leads the field with 38%. In California, the top two candidates, regardless of party, advance to the general election, and the AP has yet to declare who the other person advancing is.
Republican Mike Boudreaux leads Democrat Marisa Wood in the battle for second place. Boudreaux has 25.8%, while Wood is close behind with 22.1%.
Fong, who was McCarthy and Trump’s pick to succeed the former House speaker, endured a legal battle to remain on the ballot for the seat.
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber initially ruled Fong ineligible to run for the seat, after he had already filed paperwork to run for reelection to his State Assembly seat. By the time Fong had filed to run for the congressional seat, the deadline to remove his name from the ballot for the Assembly race had passed. Weber argued that state law did not allow the same person to appear on one ballot for two separate offices.
Fong sued to be allowed on the ballot for the congressional seat, prevailing when the Sacramento Superior Court ruled in his favor last December.
Because McCarthy resigned before his term expired, a special election to finish that term is slated to occur in the coming weeks as well. The primary for the special election will be held in a week, and Fong is confident he will continue his momentum into that second primary.
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“I look forward to continuing this momentum through the March 19th special election and all the way to November,” Fong said in his post on X. “I also want to thank each of my opponents for running spirited campaigns. Together, we will work to fight for the Central Valley.”
The general election for which Fong has qualified is slated for Nov. 5, while the general election for the special election is scheduled for May 21.