Republicans are expected to hold the seat easily, and the party’s fragile majority in the chamber is not at stake. The district, which cuts through the Central Valley farm belt including parts of Bakersfield and Fresno, is the most strongly Republican seat in heavily Democratic California. Fong and Boudreaux have advanced to the November election in that contest. The special election only covers the time remaining in McCarthy’s term, running through early next year. But there is an insider-outsider aspect to the race: Fong is McCarthy's handpicked choice and a product of his political operation, while the sheriff is not.

---

Persons: Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Vince Fong, McCarthy, Mike Boudreaux, Joe Biden, —, Fong, Marisa Wood, Boudreaux, Boudreaux's, ” Fong, Ryan Gardiner, Trump, ”, Ric Grenell, Sen, Shannon, McCarthy's Organizations: ANGELES, GOP, Republicans, Republican, Trump Locations: California, Tulare County, Bakersfield, Fresno, Democratic California, Shannon Grove, Kern County, Tulare, Kings, Fresno County