California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday set a special election date for mid-March to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
In a statement, Newsom set a preliminary date for the 20th Congressional District election for March 19. If no candidate receives a majority of votes, the top two vote-getters will advance to a May 21 matchup to fill the seat.
The solidly Republican district is based in Bakersfield, which runs through parts of several counties in the state's interior agricultural region. The seat is expected to remain in Republican hands.
Gavin Newsom blasts effort to block Trump from California ballot: 'We will defeat candidates at the polls'
McCarthy announced his resignation in early December, two months after his historic ouster as Speaker of the House. The announcement brought a surprising end to the House career of the one-time deli counter owner, who rose through state and national politics to become second in line to the president, but is now a far-right conservative. A group of people plotted to have him removed from office in October.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy takes a break during a press conference at the Capitol on September 29, 2023 in Washington. Governor Gavin Newsom announced that a special election will be held on March 19th to fill the House seat vacated by former Speaker McCarthy. . (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
McCarthy is the only speaker in history to be voted out of office.
Mr. Newsom has scheduled an election two weeks after the state's March 5 presidential primary, which will give candidates more time to campaign for open seats and lead to presidential and state legislative elections. It would reduce the chance of voter confusion with primaries for other races in 2024, including the seat. .
After McCarthy resigns, the Republican majority in the House will officially fall to three seats.
McCarthy's vacated seat will run until January 2025.
McCarthy's resignation has sparked a battle to replace him, which is currently being considered in court. A state judge earlier ruled that Republican Rep. Vince Fong, a McCarthy protégé, could appear on the ballot as a candidate for the former House speaker despite previously seeking re-election to the House seat. It was decided that there was. The state is appealing this decision.
