On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump endorsed Assemblymember Vince Fong as the chosen successor for Kevin McCarthy’s House seat, providing Fong with a significant advantage in a strongly Republican Central Valley district.
Fong, a Republican from Bakersfield, has been perceived as the leading candidate in the race, benefiting from his extensive connections to McCarthy’s political network.
However, his campaign has also been shaped by anti-establishment sentiment among GOP voters, with his opponents positioning themselves as the genuine representatives of Trump’s party.
Trump’s support provides Fong with a significant boost in credibility among supporters of the MAGA movement.
McCarthy’s Influence on Trump’s Endorsements
McCarthy has wielded considerable influence in shaping Trump’s endorsements previously. Notably, he played a role in persuading the former president not to endorse a challenger to GOP Rep. David Valadao in a neighboring Central Valley district in 2022, despite Valadao’s vote to impeach Trump following the events of January 6th.
Fong and other candidates are competing in the primary elections scheduled for March 5th, as well as a special election primary on March 19th to fill the remainder of McCarthy’s current term.
Trump’s endorsement deals a notable blow to Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, who has positioned himself to the right of Fong as a conservative emphasizing law and order and advocating for change away from the influence of the McCarthy political machine.
Boudreaux had secured endorsements from Trump administration figures such as acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell, as well as from David Giglio, a staunchly conservative candidate who threw his support behind Boudreaux after exiting the race.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump specifically praised Giglio as a “wonderful man who recently withdrew.”