Current:Home > NewsCalifornia court affirms Kevin McCarthy protege’s dual candidacies on state ballot -MacroWatch
California court affirms Kevin McCarthy protege’s dual candidacies on state ballot
View
Date:2025-04-12 11:56:48
LOS ANGELES (AP) — In a decision that could leave voters doing a double take, a California court ruled Tuesday that a state legislator can appear as a candidate in two races on the November ballot — one for ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s former U.S. House seat, and the other for the state Assembly seat that he plans to vacate if elected to Congress.
The ruling marked a victory for Assemblymember Vince Fong, a Republican who is a former McCarthy aide and the one-time speaker’s preferred successor in the Central Valley’s 20th Congressional District.
The decision will give district voters the “right to select the candidate of their choice,” Fong said in a statement.
The unusual dual candidacies stemmed from McCarthy’s decision to announce his retirement in early December, two months after his historic ouster as speaker and shortly before the deadline for candidates to file to run for the seat.
The announcement set off a swirl of political maneuverings that eventually led to a dispute between Fong and Democratic Secretary of State Shirley Weber over whether he could appear twice on the ballot. He earlier filed for reelection in the Assembly, but then changed direction when the coveted House seat came into play.
His campaign says he is only running for Congress, even though he also will appear in the Assembly contest.
A state court agreed with Fong in December. That ruling resulted in him appearing as a candidate in the House and Assembly races in the March 5 primary election, and also as a candidate in a separate, March 19 special election to complete the remainder of McCarthy’s term, which runs through January.
He advanced to the general election in the race for a full House term, and also advanced to a May election for the remainder of McCarthy’s term. He faces Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, another Republican, in both contests.
Weber had challenged the December decision and on Tuesday a state appeals court agreed with the earlier ruling, clearing the way for Fong to continue his House campaign.
“This decision puts to end the unnecessary and ill-advised campaign in Sacramento to deprive voters of a real choice in this election,” Fong added.
Weber said her office disagreed and was disappointed in the ruling, which she said broke from established practice. Her office is considering all options, she said.
Both court rulings open the way for “chaos, gamesmanship and voter disenfranchisement,” while disadvantaging other candidates, Weber said in a statement.
veryGood! (9)
Related
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Texas AG Ken Paxton is back on job after acquittal but Republicans aren’t done attacking each other
- Forecasters cancel warnings as Lee begins to dissipate over Maritime Canada
- Chiefs overcome mistakes to beat Jaguars 17-9, Kansas City’s 3rd win vs Jacksonville in 10 months
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Drew Barrymore pauses her talk show's premiere until strike ends: 'My deepest apologies'
- How dome homes can help protect against natural disasters
- Thousands of Czechs rally in Prague to demand the government’s resignation
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- Author Jessica Knoll Hated Ted Bundy's Story, So She Turned It Into Her Next Bestseller
Ranking
- South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
- Ukraine is the spotlight at UN leaders’ gathering, but is there room for other global priorities?
- Relative of slain Black teen calls for white Kansas teen to face federal hate crime charges
- Shohei Ohtani's locker cleared out, and Angels decline to say why
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- NASCAR playoffs: Where the Cup Series drivers stand entering the second round
- Shohei Ohtani's locker cleared out, and Angels decline to say why
- Barry Sanders once again makes Lions history despite being retired for 25 years
Recommendation
Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
Coach for Tom Brady, Drew Brees has radical advice for parents of young athletes
Small plane crashes in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, killing all 14 people on board
Poland is shaken by reports that consular officials took bribes to help migrants enter Europe and US
A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
Low Mississippi River limits barges just as farmers want to move their crops downriver
Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter taken to hospital during game after late hit vs CSU
Timeline leading to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s acquittal in his impeachment trial