The recent court ruling in California allows Assemblymember Vince Fong, a Republican, to appear as a candidate in two races on the November ballot. Fong is running for ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s former U.S. House seat, as well as for the state Assembly seat that McCarthy plans to vacate if he is elected to Congress. This decision was seen as a victory for Fong, who is a former McCarthy aide and the preferred successor in the Central Valley’s 20th Congressional District. Fong stated that the ruling gives district voters the right to select the candidate of their choice.
The situation arose after McCarthy announced his retirement in December, following his ouster as speaker. This led to a dispute between Fong and Democratic Secretary of State Shirley Weber over Fong’s participation in both races. Fong initially filed for re-election in the Assembly but changed his plans when the opportunity to run for the House seat arose. Despite his campaign’s claim that he is only running for Congress, Fong will also appear in the Assembly contest on the ballot.
In December, a state court ruled in favor of Fong, allowing him to run in both the House and Assembly races in the primary election. He also qualified for a separate special election to complete the remainder of McCarthy’s term. Fong advanced to the general election for the House seat and will face Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, another Republican candidate, in both contests. The recent appeals court ruling upheld the earlier decision, allowing Fong to continue his House campaign.
Secretary of State Shirley Weber expressed disagreement and disappointment with the ruling, stating that it breaks from established practice and could lead to chaos, gamesmanship, and voter disenfranchisement. Weber’s office is considering all options in response to the court’s decision. She believes that allowing Fong to run in multiple races puts other candidates at a disadvantage and undermines the integrity of the election process. Despite Weber’s objections, the court rulings have cleared the way for Fong to proceed with his candidacy for the House seat in the upcoming election.
The ruling in favor of Fong to run in multiple races on the November ballot has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of the election process. While Fong sees the decision as a victory that allows voters to choose their preferred candidate, opponents argue that it creates a situation of confusion and disadvantage for other candidates. The outcome of this legal battle will likely have ripple effects on future elections and the way in which dual candidacies are approached and regulated in the state of California.
