Eleven Candidates Compete In California’s 20th Congressional District Primary

Eleven candidates are running in the top-two primary for California’s 20th Congressional District on March 5, 2024. Three candidates lead in media attention: Mike Boudreaux (R), Vince Fong (R), and David Giglio (R).

The primary is taking place after former Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s (R) resignation in December 2023. McCarthy resigned in the wake of an October 2023 vote that removed him as speaker of the House.

Boudreaux, a 37-year Tulare County Sheriff’s Department member, says he respects McCarthy’s record in office but would offer voters a new alternative. Boudreaux says he will draw from his experience as sheriff, including his policy disagreements with the state government, to advocate for the San Joaquin Valley in Congress.

Fong, a former McCarthy staffer running with McCarthy’s endorsement, says he will continue McCarthy’s record of service. Fong says his eight years in the California Assembly and work experience for both McCarthy and his predecessor, Bill Thomas (R), gave him the experience to deliver results.

Giglio describes himself as an America First candidate, a term often associated with the platform of former President Donald Trump (R) and candidates who say they support Trump’s agenda. Giglio says he is running to challenge McCarthy’s record and that he is the only candidate to enter the race before McCarthy announced he would not seek re-election. Giglio says he will be the most effective ally of former President Trump.

Also running in the primary are Ben Dewell (No party preference), Stan Ellis (R), T.J. Esposito (No party preference), Kyle Kirkland (R), Kelly Kulikoff (R), Andy Morales (D), Matt Stoll (R), and Marisa Wood (D). The top two finishers in the primary—regardless of partisan affiliation—will advance to the general election on Nov. 5, 2024.

As of Jan. 3, 2024, The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabato’s Crystal Ball each rated the general election Solid/Safe Republican. In the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won 61% of the vote in the 20th District to Joe Biden’s (D) 36%.

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