With special election days away, Fong and Boudreaux talk policy, politics
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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – For voters in California’s 20th Congressional District, Tuesday’s election is the third time they’ve had the chance to vote for either Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux or Bakersfield area Assemblymember Vince Fong.
“Every vote matters. Please don’t let that ballot just sit on the countertop,” Boudreaux said.
Both Fong and Boudreaux were the top two vote-getters in the March 5 primary ahead of November’s general election- as well as during the March 19 special primary ahead of May 21’s special election.
Now, whoever wins on Tuesday will go to Washington D.C., and fill the remainder of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s term.
“This is a critical election, May 21st. They get to select a representative to hit the ground running,” Fong said.
Then, the candidates are set to once again face off in November 2024, for the next full congressional term.
Boudreaux, who’s served as sheriff since 2013, has been with the department for decades. He says his background in law enforcement, rather than politics, is what sets him apart.
“I’ve had 38 years of dealing with people who are impacted by bad legislation. And that being those living in poverty, we have people in this district right here in the Central Valley who don’t eat every day. That’s important for us to understand that I deal with those people on a personal level. I’ve arrested human traffickers and I’ve looked human trafficking victims in the eyes. What I bring to the table is real-life experience, what I am not is a politician,” Boudreaux said.
Fong currently serves in the state assembly for District 32, representing parts of Kern and Tulare counties. He says his experience working as a legislator here in California prepares him for the challenges he’d face in Congress.
“It is someone to make national policy that will affect the lives of every single resident of the 20th Congressional District. Who is the most knowledgeable, who has the proven track record on a whole wide range of issues, whether it’s health care, supply chain, agriculture to energy, forest management, the list goes on and on? Who has already been doing the job of passing good public policy? I believe I’m the best candidate because I’m the experienced, tested, and trusted individual in this situation,” Fong said.
However, it has also been a huge point of contention in this race. Before filing to run for Congress, Fong had already filed to run again for his assembly seat. California’s Secretary of State ruled that California state law doesn’t allow one candidate to run for more than one office at once. However, the court sided with Fong.
“Well, not only do I believe that we should be on the ballot, but the courts agreed with me. We were successful in court twice. Unanimous decisions- and the Supreme Court unanimously decided in the appeals court. At the end of the day, the argument that we’ve made and that the courts agree with is that the voters get to decide,” Fong said.
As sheriff, Boudreaux has strong name recognition and polling within Tulare County, but less so in the Bakersfield area. He says he’s spent the last few months working to close in on the lead Fong currently has in Kern County. Boudreaux said it’s all about meeting with voters face-to-face.
“You know, when it comes to the fundraising, when it comes to the amount of money that is spent on these types of campaigns, me personally, I feel it’s important that people see who I am, meet me personally,” Boudreaux said.
Fong has key endorsements from former President Donald Trump and McCarthy himself. Boudreaux says he thinks the endorsements he has matter too. Boudreaux says he has been endorsed by Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, the Bakersfield Police Officer’s Association, five members of the Clovis City Council, and State Senator Shannon Grove.
“Does Donald Trump really know Vince Fong? Most of us believe that they don’t, and we believe that that endorsement came through Kevin McCarthy. Now he has it- and has it hurt me? Maybe in the in the voting, and maybe it has. Because I think voters need to educate themselves on how he received that endorsement,” Boudreaux said.
However, Fong says his team had been in contact with some of Trump’s team as he was deciding to run and was in part encouraged by them. McCarthy who is also from Kern County has long been one of Fong’s political allies. Fong says he had met Trump a few years ago at an event in Bakersfield.
“It’s very humbling to have to have President Trump’s endorsement. And we have endorsements from over 29 members of Congress. We also have we, more importantly, we have endorsements from people throughout the community,” Fong said.
When it comes to immigration, Boudreaux said he believes in tough border security. However, he said his experience as sheriff lets him understand the nuances of all the people who end up calling the Central Valley home.
“I don’t believe that we should circumvent the system or cut in line to be here. But what about the migrant worker that’s been here for 20 years, living on a dairy, and has raised his family? Is that who we deport first? It’s not who we deport first. There needs to be a process and how we evaluate those who are truly a threat to us here in California, in the United States,” Boudreaux said.
Fong also agreed that the border needs to be the top priority for lawmakers.
“We need to increase the Border Patrol. We need to build a wall and physical barriers. We need to end catch and release. Those are the key items, the key foundations of what we need to do policy-wise. I travel to the border. What the average person doesn’t see. You can’t even imagine,” Fong said.
Another big topic is funding for Israel and Ukraine. Boudreaux said he fully supports Israel and stresses we should give them aid. However, he isn’t sure if he’d vote to send any more money to Ukraine.
“I say, before we go to Ukraine, why are we not spending money on our mental health crisis? Why do we not spend money on our homeless crisis that’s plagued all across the country? And why are we not spending money on more border control and security when we know that countries that are attacking Israel want to attack us,” Boudreaux said.
Like Boudreaux, Fong also says he supports Israel fully, and said if he was in Congress, he would vote to make sure they get aid. However, he wouldn’t vote to send Ukraine aid unless it’s paired with border security.
“Certainly, we needed to support Israel. We needed to support Taiwan. And so, when it comes to putting that package together, I might have some minor differences. But the biggest issue is that we have to tackle the border,” Fong said.
The special general election is on May 21.
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