What happens to Devin Nunes’ empty Fresno-area seat when he retires from Congress?

The announcement from Rep. Devin Nunes that he’ll retire from his seat at the end of this year leaves the potential for an early special election or an empty seat in 2022 in the San Joaquin Valley.

The Tulare Republican who has represented parts of Fresno, Tulare and other Valley counties for nearly two decades in the U.S. House of Representatives said Monday he would leave after being presented a new opportunity.

The same day he was named the chief executive officer of the Trump Media & Technology Group, a conservative social media outlet that the former president aims to launch, the company said.

Nunes’ 22nd District seat was set to be up for election again in 2022, but will be empty at the start of the year.

Congressional seats must be filled through elections, per the U.S. Constitution, meaning that Nunes’ seat would need to be filled with either a special election or remain vacated until it is filled in the 2022 midterm elections.

Under California law, the governor must call a special election within two weeks of the vacancy for a primary that would occur within 20 weeks and, later, a general election. That means the seat would not be filled until the summer at earliest.

Nunes’ departure opens up a potential battleground in California as Republicans hope to win the House majority in the 2022 midterm election. Depending on redistricting, Democrats could have a serious chance at winning the seat, political watchers say.

An independent commission is redrawing California voting districts for the once-a-decade process that follows the U.S. census. Final maps are due by Dec. 27 and California’s primary election is scheduled for June 7, 2022.

Potential candidates

Fresno Democrat Phil Arballo announced in January he would be challenging Nunes again. The small business owner ran against Nunes in 2020, coming within nine points.

Newcomer Lourin Hubbard made his announcement in June. The Fresno Democrat, who was born in Bakersfield, works for the California Department of Water Resources.

A spokesman for State Sen. Andreas Borgeas, R-Fresno, said he is considering a run for the seat. Fresno City Councilman Garry Bredefeld, a conservative Republican, also said he’s weighing a potential run.

Assemblyman Devon Mathis, R-Visalia, and State Sen. Melissa Hurtado, D-Sanger, both tweeted they are watching to see how the new district shakes out.

Other Fresno-area politicians that could potentially run include Fresno County Supervisors Steve Brandau and Nathan Magsig, who both live in the district.