The drama surrounding Kevin McCarthy’s resignation has created a messy succession battle in the Republican Party. | Francis Chung/POLITICO
SACRAMENTO — A Republican vying to replace outgoing Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is threatening legal action to stop McCarthy’s chosen successor from appearing on the ballot, throwing the race for the vacant congressional seat into further uncertainty.
David Giglio, a far-right conservative candidate, is challenging the highly fluid situation in California’s Twentieth congressional district, where McCarthy’s resignation has led to a messy succession battle that exposes deep fractures within the Republican Party.
Assembly member Vince Fong initially opted out of the race for McCarthy’s seat and filed for re-election. However, Republican state Sen. Shannon Grove’s decision not to run for Congress surprised many, prompting Fong to change course and enter the House contest with McCarthy’s backing.
This move has pushed Fong into potentially tricky legal territory. The California secretary of state’s office initially stated that “no withdrawal is allowed” and candidates cannot run for two seats simultaneously, but later softened that stance, citing “unique circumstances” that warranted further review.
Giglio also argues that Fong is ineligible to run for Congress and pledged to pursue legal action if the secretary of state allows Fong to remain in the race.
The candidate criticized McCarthy’s move to handpick his successor, echoing the sentiments of conservative Republicans who played a role in his ousting from the speakership.
Giglio, a staunch Donald Trump supporter who had clashed with McCarthy previously, portrayed Fong’s candidacy as an attempt by “McCarthy, spineless RINOs, and special interest groups” to “steal another deep red seat from President Trump and MAGA.”
“Former Speaker McCarthy and Mr. Fong’s unethical actions are yet another example of the corrupt Washington cartel acting outside the bounds of the law,” Giglio said in a statement.
Representatives for Fong’s campaign and the secretary of state’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. » …
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