WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Vince Fong of California was sworn into Congress on Monday after winning a special election to complete the remainder of the term of ousted former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy.
Fong served in the California State Assembly before running for the House of Representatives. He was supported by former President Donald Trump and McCarthy, who attended the ceremony in person from the floor of the House of Representatives. Fong’s swearing-in gives Republicans a 218-213 majority.
Fong said that while traveling through his Central Valley congressional district, he heard that Congress must do more to address the U.S.-Mexico border, halt the rising costs of daily necessities and work to keeping communities safe, among other priorities.
“I know our concerns are very familiar with the concerns that all of you have heard,” Fong said. “We must do more to find solutions and achieve results.”
Fong defeated fellow Republican and Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux last month in a special election in the 20th Congressional District, in the state’s farm belt.
McCarthy is the only speaker in history to be voted out of office. About two months after that historic vote, he chose to resign rather than serve the remainder of his term. He has worked behind the scenes to promote Fong’s candidacy — a political action committee tied to McCarthy has sent more than $700,000 to the 20th District race to boost Fong’s campaign.
Fong said he wanted to especially thank McCarthy, calling him a mentor and friend and saying “he has worked tirelessly for decades on behalf of the voters of California’s Central Valley and our nation.”
