California sets a special election for US House seat left vacant by exit of former Speaker McCarthy

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday set a mid-March special election date to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

In a statement, Newsom set the March 19 primary date for the 20th Congressional District contest. If no candidate wins a majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters would advance to a May 21 matchup to fill the seat.

The solidly Republican district is anchored in Bakersfield, which cuts through parts of several counties in the state's interior farm belt. The seat is expected to stay in GOP hands.

McCarthy announced in early December that he would step down, two months after his historic ouster as House speaker. The announcement capped a stunning end to a House career for the onetime deli counter owner, who ascended through state and national politics to become second in line to the presidency, until a cluster of hard-right conservatives engineered his removal in October.

McCarthy is the only speaker in history to be voted out of the job.

Newsom scheduled the election two weeks after the state's March 5 presidential primary, which will give candidates additional time to campaign for the vacant seat and reduce the chance for voter confusion with the primary election for the presidential race and other 2024 contests, including state legislative seats.

The term for the seat vacated by McCarthy runs through January 2025.

McCarthy's departure set off a scramble to replace him that is being sorted out in court. A state judge earlier ruled that a McCarthy protégé, Republican Assemblyman Vince Fong, could appear on the ballot as a candidate for the former speaker's seat, even though he earlier filed for reelection for his Assembly seat. That decision is being appealed by the state.

FILE - Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., pauses as he addresses reporters about efforts to pass appropriations bills and avert a looming government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, set a mid-March special election date to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by former Speaker McCarthy. In a statement, Newsom set the March 19 primary date for the 20th Congressional District contest. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE - Reporters encircle Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as debt limit negotiations continue, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, May 25, 2023. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, set a mid-March special election date to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by former Speaker McCarthy. In a statement, Newsom set the March 19 primary date for the 20th Congressional District contest. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

FILE - Former Speaker of the House Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., smiles as he prepares to speak as Republicans try to elect Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a top Donald Trump ally, to be the new House speaker, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, set a mid-March special election date to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by former Speaker McCarthy. In a statement, Newsom set the March 19 primary date for the 20th Congressional District contest. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

FILE - Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., as Republicans try to elect Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a top Donald Trump ally, to be the new House speaker on a second ballot, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, set a mid-March special election date to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by former Speaker McCarthy. In a statement, Newsom set the March 19 primary date for the 20th Congressional District contest. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

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