Republican Vince Fong has resigned his seat in the California Assembly as he prepares to fill former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s position in Congress.
The Bakersfield politician had the backing of former President Donald Trump and Mr. McCarthy when he won a special election May 21 to fill out the remainder of Mr. McCarthy’s term in the 20th Congressional District, beating Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, also a Republican.
The candidate survived several court challenges by the California secretary of state who initially removed him from the ballot because he had already filed for reelection to the Assembly.
Mr. Fong’s last day in the Assembly was May 24.
In a message to constituents May 24, Mr. Fong said it was an “honor and a privilege” to serve them at the State Capitol.
He encouraged his constituents to contact him in Washington, D.C. There, Mr. Fong will represent the state’s Central Valley farm belt.
“With the campaign over, the real work now begins,” Mr. Fong said in a statement after the special election results were in. He said he plans to focus on border security, supporting small business, and helping agricultural businesses by investing in water storage.
Mr. Fong leaves the Assembly, where Democrats hold a three-fourths supermajority with 62 seats to the GOP’s 17.
According to Jim Stanley, press secretary for the Assembly’s Republican Caucus, Mr. Fong’s Assembly seat will remain open until his successor is chosen by voters in the November general election. Until then, Mr. Stanley said, his office will remain staffed to offer constituent services.
When he officially fills the House seat, Mr. Fong will increase the slim majority of 218-213 held by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives. His term runs through January.
It wasn’t immediately clear when Mr. Fong will be sworn in. Protocol dictates such will be scheduled by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
With the addition of Mr. Fong, Republicans now hold 12 of California’s 52 seats in the House.
Both of the state’s U.S. Senate seats are held by Democrats.
Mr. Fong and Mr. Boudreaux will face off again in November when district voters decide who will fill the seat for the next two-year term, which starts in January.
“There are many challenges ahead,” he said in his letter to constituents. “I have and will continue to work hard each and every day to make California a better place to live and work.”
Mr. Boudreaux has served as sheriff since 2013. He was endorsed by Richard Grenell, former acting director of National Intelligence under Mr. Trump, former Deputy Director of National Intelligence Kash Patel, and State Sen. Shannon Grove.
