Assemblyman Vince Fong. (Photo: Kevin Sanders for California Globe)
Assemblyman Vince Fong on Hot Seat – Can’t Run For Assembly and Congress on One Ballot
Fong first declines, then announces candidacy following Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s Resignation announcement
By Katy Grimes, December 13, 2023 2:55 am
Republican Bakersfield Assemblyman Vince Fong has just done a switcheroo and announced he will run to replace Kevin McCarthy in the U.S. House of Representatives, after only a few days ago, declined to run, saying it wasn’t his time.
Assemblyman Fong, who is serving his fourth term in the California State Assembly, released the following statement December 7th on his plans for the 2024 election cycle:
“Representing the residents of the Central Valley is an honor and privilege. In the past 24 hours, I have been humbled to receive an outpouring of encouragement to run for Congress. I want to thank everyone who reached out for your kind words and offers of support.
“After giving it thoughtful and prayerful consideration, my family and I have decided that now is not my time, and I will not be running for Congress in 2024.
The apparent “heir apparent” to McCarthy’s congressional seat has always been assumed to be State Senator Shannon Grove, a Bakersfield Republican. But Sen. Grove announced late Sunday that she would “not seek election to Congress in 2024.” She’s been in the California Legislature since 2010, first in the Assembly 2010-2016, then the Senate 2018-present.
By December 11th, Fong announced he would after all jump in to succeed Congressman Kevin McCarthy as the representative of California’s 20th District in Congress.
There is a problem however, with Fong’s latest announcement – Fong already filed paperwork to run for the Assembly. As Politico notes, “Fong had already declared he was running for reelection for Assembly, and California law does not allow candidates to appear on the same ballot twice for different jobs. It also prohibits contenders from dropping out of a race after the filing deadline closes, which for incumbents like Fong was last Friday.”
They report that the California Secretary of State was unequivocal, stating that “no withdrawal is allowed, and a person cannot run for more than one office in the same election.”
Fong will likely need to go to court and have a judge decide if he can decline the Assembly race in order to run for Congress.
Not all are happy with Fong’s announcement.
“The America First movement learned its lesson,” a source who asked for anonymity told the Globe Tuesday. “We won’t be duped by people who privately attack Donald Trump while publicly endorsing him. Fong has told many people that he doesn’t like Trump’s style and doesn’t want him as President.”
Another source concurred:
“It is disingenuous for any politician to ‘thoughtfully and prayerfully’ decide now is not their time for Congress—only to reverse course in under 96 hours. Our nation is in dire need of leaders with convictions, not flip-floppers.”
“Overnight he’s decided now is his time—just like overnight he’s decided he’s now a fan of Donald Trump. He has been critical of President Trump and his alleged harm to our Party but now he wants nothing more than his endorsement to propel him to Congress. Shameless.”
It sounds as if Fong has some important issues to work out – and if he is Kevin McCarthy 2.0 or Vince Fong – and in particular, who Vince Fong really is.
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February 23, 2022
While I do not directly know Mr. Fong, I know that many of the principles that he supports I agree with. In moments like this the system creates flip flops and gives the SOS power in certain situations. If Mr. Fong did not file for the seat that he currently is in he would have not been able to run for the same seat in the next election after the original filing period ended (offices only go to extension if the incumbent does not file to run). With McCarty waiting to give formal notice to vacate his office it has penalized incumbents of other offices from running. There should be a provision in situations like this for Mr. Fong to withdraw from the race that he has filed for and file for McCarthy’s seat. In regard to flip flopping on Trump I fall into that category as well. In 2015 I thought that Trump was a New York liberal looking for the easiest path to the Presidency (Arnold 2.0). By the end of his 1st term, I was convinced that he was a man of his word and has the best interest of this nation at heart.