Boudreaux suspends campaign for Congress, endorses Fong

Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux is suspending his campaign for Congress, and instead is endorsing Rep. Vince Fong in the Nov. 5 election.

In a video released to supporters Monday, Boudreaux acknowledged "things came up short for us in the May 21 special election" for California's 20th Congressional District, a race the Tulare County sheriff lost by 21 percentage points.

The 20th District seat opened up unexpectedly when former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy resigned at the end of last year following his ouster from the speakership.

Fong, then a California assemblyman, initially said he would not run for the suddenly vacant 20th. But he soon changed his mind.

Fong would ultimately prevail in the special election run-off to finish out McCarthy's term through the remainder of 2024.

"I've known Congressman Fong and worked closely with him and his team for more than a decade," Boudreaux said in the video. "While we were on opposite sides of this campaign, at the end of the day, we're Republicans, we're family men, and fighters who are committed to protecting individual liberty, reducing the cost of living and maintaining safe communities for our neighbors.

"That's why I am suspending my campaign for the 20th Congressional District and endorsing Congressman Vince Fong."

Boudreaux said that he will spend 2024 supporting public safety-focused candidates across the San Joaquin Valley and California through a new organization called Golden State Justice.

Boudreaux's announcement leaves Fong with a clear path in a district widely considered a safe district for Republicans.

"I thank Sheriff Boudreaux for his leadership in Tulare County and for the hard-fought campaign he ran for this seat," Fong said in a statement Monday.

"I am honored to represent our community in Congress. We are working hard every day to deliver results for the residents of the 20th Congressional District.

"I intend to continue reaching out to voters and will embrace the opportunity the November election provides to discuss the key issues facing our district and present real solutions to improve our safety, economy, and quality of life," Fong said.

Fong, who was elected to the state Assembly in 2016, previously served as district director to then-Minority Leader McCarthy.