Assemblyman Fong wins runoff race for Congress

Republican Vince Fong, the Bakersfield assemblyman who began his political ascension as a district director under former Rep. Kevin McCarthy, handily won Tuesday's special runoff election to serve out the remainder of the term vacated by his longtime mentor.

With 83% of votes tabulated as of 8:42 p.m. Tuesday, preliminary results had Fong winning California's 20th Congressional District race with 60.5% to 39.5% for Tulare Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, a Springville Republican. The Associated Press declared Fong the winner as the first round of returns came in.

Following a months-long campaign that pitted him against 10 other candidates and even the California Secretary of State, which challenged his eligibility, Fong emerged from the fold the front-runner in every contest. In both March primary races — one to fill McCarthy's seat for the months left in his term, one to replace him in January — he secured more than 40% of the votes.

McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, vacated his seat Dec. 31 after his October ouster as speaker of the House.

Fong, stuck in session at the Capitol on Tuesday night, said in a statement that he is “filled with humility and gratitude.”

“With the campaign over, the real work now begins,” Fong wrote. “In Congress, I will remain focused on solving the tough issues facing our community— securing the border, supporting small business, bringing investment in water storage and infrastructure, unleashing our energy industry and keeping the United States safe amidst the grave security threats facing our nation.”

Surrounded by his family and peers Tuesday night, Boudreaux acknowledged his defeat, saying that assuaging Kern voters remained his toughest obstacle in claiming the district. The district, which includes parts of Kern, Tulare, Kings and Fresno counties, has about 449,000 registered voters. About 51% of these are in Kern County.

“I entered this campaign in December because we faced a crisis: the very real potential of losing critical, seasoned representation in Congress at a time when our region and nation's public safety is threatened,” Boudreaux wrote.

Boudreaux said he will provide updates on his campaign in the coming weeks.

“If we’re within 5 (percentage) points, that’s a different scenario moving into November,” Boudreaux said Tuesday afternoon. “If he beats me by 20 points, then reasonably I got to take a good, hard look at what’s best for the Republican Party, what’s best for America and, really, what’s best for supporters who would want to write me a check.”

Both Republicans with similar visions for the country and region, the two competed over a langorous voter base — as of Tuesday afternoon, Kern Elections department received 30,000 returns from the estimated 220,000 ballots they sent out. About 1,100 people voted in person, Clark said.

In Kern County alone, the special primary, including the May runoff, cost taxpayers up to $1.3 million. Similar costs were seen in the other three counties that form the district.

Fong and Boudreaux differed on very little: Both oppose abortion and vied for stronger border protections. But Fong raised issues on water access, the state budget and oil production in the Central Valley, while Boudreaux touted his penmanship in helping to write anti-human trafficking legislation alongside state Sen. Shannon Grove, a Bakersfield Republican who stunned voters in her endorsement for Boudreaux months ago.

Boudreaux resonated with much of the Republican movement in the 20th District post-McCarthy, as many were left vexed by the nature of the congressman’s departure.

Others described the race as a David-and-Goliath contest: The most recent filings released by the Federal Election Commission, Fong’s campaign reported raising 157 donations totaling more than $300,000 in March, compared with $20,000 among 22 donations for Boudreaux.

A solidly red district — 48% Republican and 21% unaffiliated — in contrast with its neighbor to the northwest, California’s 20th has not seen a serious contest since 1978, when then-freshman Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Bakersfield, defeated Bob Sogge with 59.3% of the vote.

Since that time, the district — then the 18th — has been redrawn four times and held by the same two Republicans, Thomas and his successor, McCarthy, who together cruised through 22 election cycles without serious competition.

Results must be certified by the California Secretary of State by June 28.