Leading candidates to replace Devin Nunes list key issues in DC. First, a June runoff

The two candidates on the path to a June 7 runoff for the 22nd Congressional seat of Devin Nunes Wednesday outlined their priorities should they advance to Washington for the remainder of Nunes’ term.

Republican Connie Conway and Democrat Lourin Hubbard received the most votes among six candidates Tuesday in a special primary election that was called after Nunes resigned his seat in December to head a social media site launched by former President Donald Trump.

PROVISIONAL BALLOTS NOT YET COUNTED

There are still mail-in and provisional ballots to be counted before the vote is certified on April 14, but Conway, with 34.8 percent of the vote, and Hubbard, with 19.7 percent, were well ahead when the count was concluded Tuesday night. Former Navy F/A-18 pilot Matt Stoll, a Republican, was third with 15.1 percent of the vote, followed by Democrat Eric Garcia, a therapist, with 15 percent. Two Republicans brought up the rear, former Navy submariner and FBI agent Michael Maher with 8.9 percent and Elizabeth Heng, who previously ran against Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, with 6.5 percent.

Whoever assumes the 22nd District seat will only serve in Congress until the first week of January. Both Conway and Hubbard stressed water and agricultural issues as top priorities to be addressed in the short time span.

WATER REMAINS TOP ISSUE

Said Conway:

“No matter what side of the aisle you are on, water is important: Not just for agriculture, but for cities.”

Conway, 71, a former state Assemblymember, Tulare County supervisor and Department of Agriculture appointee under former President Donald Trump, called agriculture is a national security issue.

“We feed the world,” she said.

She added that border security was also of high import due to guns, drugs, and human trafficking. While the U.S. should be open to immigration, she said, security issues shouldn’t be seen as partisan.

HIT THE GROUND RUNNING

“I plan to hit the ground running,” said Conway. She called constituent services, like veteran affairs, Social Security, the U.S. Postal Service and military appointments a crucial part of congressional service that has been neglected while the district was without a representative.

Hubbard, 33, a native of Bakersfield, a political science graduate from Fresno State and a water resources manager, also said he would focus on constituent services during the short term in the nation’s capitol, and “not just for those who voted for me.

“I want to really highlight the issues of the Valley. We grow one-half of the nation’s food, but we are second in food insecurity.

“We have contaminated water, (and air pollution).

A NEED FOR GREEN ENERGY

“We need to be a leader in green energy.”

It is the first run for public office for Hubbard, and he said he highly enjoyed the experience.

“It was cool getting out and meeting people and talking to them. Republicans or Democrats, we’re not that different,” he said. People are concerned about their safety and the future for their children, he noted.

This story was originally published April 6, 2022 at 4:12 PM.