Washington — Voters in California's 20th district are going to the polls Tuesday to fill the vacancy left by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as House Republicans eagerly await an additional vote in the chamber after his departure late last year.
Among the group of candidates vying to fill the vacancy left by McCarthy are State Assembly member Vince Fong, who has the former speaker's endorsement and the backing of former President Donald Trump, and Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux.
The solidly conservative district is all but certain to deliver the House another Republican. But how quickly that happens remains to be seen.
A candidate has to win more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff election. If no candidate wins a majority of the vote in the district, the top two candidates, regardless of party, will move on to an election on May 21. The winner will serve until Jan. 3, 2025, or the remainder of McCarthy's House term.
The upcoming special election in California's 20th Congressional District may lead to some confusion among voters. This election comes just two weeks after the primary election, which was held for a full term in the same district. California Governor Gavin Newsom has set the date for the special election on March 19, creating a tight timeline for voters to stay engaged.
Despite the proximity of the two elections, candidates Fong and Boudreaux have already secured a spot on the ballot for the November election for the full term representing the district. The special election, on the other hand, will determine who will serve out the remainder of the former House Speaker's term.
In December, McCarthy announced his departure from Congress, stating his intention to "serve America in new ways." This decision came two months after he made history as the first speaker in U.S. history to be removed from his position.
