Republican Vince Fong announces bid for McCarthy seat in California

California state Assemblyman Vince Fong, a Republican, on Monday announced a bid for retiring Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) House seat in the Golden State. 

“It is my strong belief that the Central Valley must continue to be represented by proven, conservative leaders in Congress. In light of recent developments and in an attempt to unite our community in this critical moment in our nation’s history, I have decided to run for Congress in 2024,” Fong said in a statement. 

Fong had reportedly announced days earlier that he would not run for Congress. He said in his latest statement that he initially thought “the best way” to serve his community after McCarthy announced his plans to retire at the end of his term was to continue working in the State Assembly — but now he plans to run to succeed the former Speaker. 

State Sen. Shannon Grove, another Republican who represents the Central Valley, also announced hours before Fong’s update that she would not run for Congress.

McCarthy, a former Speaker and the first to be ousted from the top House role, announced last week that he’ll leave the lower chamber at the end of his current term “to serve America in new ways.”

“I will continue to recruit our country’s best and brightest to run for elected office. The Republican Party is expanding every day, and I am committed to lending my experience to support the next generation of leaders,” McCarthy wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed.

Though California is expected to see a small handful of competitive House contests next year, McCarthy’s district — which he’s represented since 2006 — is likely to stay in Republican hands.