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California’s most conservative congressional district just experienced its own version of a “Groundhog Day” time loop. After two elections held two weeks apart, the same two candidates advanced to the next two elections.
Republicans Vince Fong and Mike Boudreau are in a runoff election in the state’s 20th Congressional District that will decide who will finish out the term of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who resigned from Congress last year shortly after being ousted from leadership. obtained the right to participate. post.
Mr. Fong and Mr. Boudreau had already had the chance to run in November’s general election for a two-year term starting in January 2025. The decision was made in the preliminary election held on March 5, Super Tuesday.
But in Tuesday’s special election, Fong, a state lawmaker and former McCarthy aide backed by former President Donald J. Trump, received more than 42% of the vote. Boudreau, the longtime Tulare County sheriff, received about 26% of the vote. With neither candidate receiving 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will compete again on May 21 to determine who will serve out McCarthy’s term.
On Tuesday, Democrat Marisa Wood came in third with about 23% of the vote. (Mr. Wood also placed third in the March 5 primary.) The Associated Press did not learn of the race being called until Friday.
Voters in the district, located in California’s Central Valley, will have two months before being asked to vote again for either Fong or Boudreau. He will then take more than five months off before voting for a Republican in November. The winner of the May runoff will enter the November election with an incumbency advantage, albeit a relatively new one.
Turnout in Tuesday’s special election was significantly lower than on March 5, as tens of thousands of voters chose to stay home, but it appears to have done little to change the outcome.
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