Bakersfield Republican Vince Fong answers questions on border, crime in run for Congress
Two candidates are on the ballot for California’s 20th Congressional District. One is asking for votes.
Congressman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, is seeking re-election after winning the seat in a May special election. Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, also a Republican, dropped out of the race in July and endorsed Fong after losing the special election.
California’s 20th, a solidly-red district, encompasses parts of Kern, Tulare, Kings and Fresno counties.
Former Congressman Kevin McCarthy, a Bakersfield Republican, had represented the area for almost two decades when he opted to resign in December 2023: He left the House of Representatives two months after his October ousting as speaker, a role he long coveted and held for nine months.
Given the timing of McCarthy’s departure, there was a special election primary and runoff to complete the rest of this term, which ends in January 2025. That race, also featuring Fong and Boudreaux, was separate from the November election for a two-year term that starts in January.
Fong, McCarthy’s chosen successor, was representing California’s 32nd Assembly District before winning the special congressional election. He resigned his Legislature seat and was sworn into Congress in June.
Before becoming an Assemblyman, Fong had been McCarthy’s district director for nearly a decade.
As Boudreaux is not actively competing for California’s 20th Congressional District in November, The Bee only asked Fong to fill out a candidate survey. His responses were checked and slightly edited for spelling and grammar.
Vince Fong
Party: Republican
Age: 44
Birthplace: Bakersfield
Residence: Bakersfield
Occupation: U.S. Representative
Education: Princeton University (Master’s in Public Affairs); University of California, Los Angeles (Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and government)
Offices held: U.S. Representative (2024-present); California State Assemblyman (2016-2024)
Campaign website address: vincefong.com
Q. What steps will you urge to improve cost of living and quality of life for people?
The first and foremost thing that we can do in California to lower the cost of living is address the high tax burden facing our residents. Throughout my career, I have been steadfast in opposing new taxes and upholding critical protections like Prop. 13.
It is also essential that we rein in federal spending and return to budgetary discipline in Washington D.C. We will not truly get inflation under control until we take a reasonable and responsible approach to federal spending.
Q. What changes, if any, do you support for immigration and border policy?
The chaos on the southern border must end. Our border security issues are not just about immigration, they are also about national security — terrorists are entering the country and drug cartels are trafficking human beings and smuggling fentanyl into our communities.
To solve this crisis, we must empower border patrol agents, complete construction of walls and physical barriers on the border, hire more agents, invest in surveillance and monitoring technology and end the policy of “catch and release.”
Q. Other than cost of living, immigration and the border, what is one of the greatest issues Californians are facing and what tangible measures do you propose Congress take to address it?
Public safety. In Congress, I am continuing to work on public safety issues by bringing more resources to local law enforcement and holding Sacramento accountable for their failures. Most importantly, I am supporting Prop. 36 in November, to bring balance to California and start holding criminals accountable again.
Investing in water storage and infrastructure and allowing more domestic energy production. The Central Valley is the food and energy production capital of California and I am fighting to defend our water and energy resources so that our region can continue to grow and prosper.
This story was originally published October 6, 2024 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Bakersfield Republican Vince Fong answers questions on border, crime in run for Congress."
