Eleven candidates want to replace Kevin McCarthy. Here is The Bee’s endorsement | Opinion

For the first time since 2006, Kern County voters will be represented in Congress by someone other than Kevin McCarthy.

Voters in Tulare County and parts of Fresno and Kings counties are choosing that representative as well. The right to represent the sprawling 20th District is on the March primary ballot, thanks to McCarthy deciding that Dec. 31 would be his last day in the House of Representatives.

McCarthy had long represented his hometown of Bakersfield. He began 2023 with a hard-fought victory to become speaker of the House. But he stayed in that role only nine months. A rebellion by far-right members led a vote to vacate the speaker’s office. In return, he decided to call it a career.

Now 11 people are seeking to replace McCarthy: two Democrats, two no-party preference and seven Republicans. The top two finishers will then move forward to the November general election.

The March 5 primary balloting and the November election are for the regular two-year term that would start in January 2025. A separate special primary election will be March 19 to determine who will serve out this year. If no clear winner emerges, a runoff will be held May 21. It is a confusing, but required, process for voters to go through. This part of the San Joaquin Valley will be repeating what occurred when Rep. Devin Nunes of Tulare resigned in early January 2022 before his term was over.

The race for the 20th District is one of the most crowded in the state, and just getting the ballot organized involved twists and turns. Bakersfield-area Assemblyman Vince Fong initially turned in nomination papers for his Assembly seat and said he had no interest in McCarthy’s congressional post. Then he reconsidered and filed papers for Congress. Now the Republican’s name will appear twice, in two different races, for some voters.

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber determined that Fong could not run for the District 20 seat. Fong sued and won in Sacramento Superior Court. Weber appealed that ruling. The March 5 primary will go forward, and if the appeals court overturns the trial court judge, Fong will not advance to the November general election even if he finishes in the top two.

Fong declined The Bee Editorial Board’s invitation for an interview. Three other candidates — Republicans Kelly Kulikoff of California City and Stan Ellis of Bakersfield and Democrat Andy Morales of Clovis — did not respond to invitations.

While Fong may be the most formidable candidate in the race — he has good name recognition and McCarthy’s backing — the Editorial Board will not recommend anyone who does not meet with it.

Of the remaining candidates, the Editorial Board believes that Republican Mike Boudreaux, currently Tulare County’s sheriff, is best suited for Congress, and recommends voters support him.

Mike Boudreaux’s background

Mike Boudreaux is a native of Porterville and began working for the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office as a cadet when he was 19. He has investigated murders, drugs and human trafficking. Now in his 37th year with the department, he was elected sheriff 12 years ago, and since then Boudreaux has managed one of the county’s largest agencies and worked with lawmakers throughout the state.

He is president of the California State Sheriffs Association, and attended the prestigious FBI National Academy. He holds a master’s degree in justice administration.

His positions on key issues are straight out of the GOP playbook.

Boudreaux wants to close the nation’s southern border to undocumented people. “I believe we have people who have come across that border who want to hurt us,” he told the Editorial Board. He would first secure the border. He then proposes a graduated program of dealing with those illegally entering: caught the first time, a DNA sample goes into a national database. Caught a second time, a mandatory prison term of 10 years. If caught bringing a child into the country for sex trafficking, a prison term of 25 years.

He backs Second Amendment rights to own guns; believes climate change is overstated and that nuclear power should be part of the energy plan; supports Israel in its war with Hamas forces in Gaza; and would consider impeaching President Biden if evidence showed wrongdoing involving the financial affairs of his son Hunter.

Boudreaux also backs Donald Trump in his campaign. On Boudreaux’s campaign website is a video showing him shaking hands with then-President Trump on a border tour.

As a Republican, Boudreaux fits into the political make up of the district: About 46% of voters are registered GOP, while 27% are Democrats and 18% are no party preference.

Boudreaux pledges to work with Democrats in the House, even to the point of touring a Democrat member’s district, then hosting that representative on a visit to the 20th, so as to break down political barriers. If he is serious, such bipartisanship would be valuable.

Other candidates

▪ The Democrats on the ballot are Morales, a security guard from Clovis, and Marisa Wood, a Bakersfield-area teacher. She campaigned in the general election two years ago against McCarthy, who defeated her by getting 67% of the votes.

▪ Other Republicans are: David Giglio of Madera Ranchos, a small business owner; tech entrepreneur Stan Ellis of Bakersfield (who now backs Fong); Kyle Kirkland of Clovis, who co-owns the Club One casino; and Matthew Stoll of Visalia, a former Navy pilot who now sells real estate and owns a yard service company.

▪ Campaigning as no-party-preference candidates are meteorologist Ben Dewell of Stallion Springs, near Tehachapi; and T.J. Esposito of Bakersfield, who owns a political marketing company.

Bee recommendation

Mike Boudreaux has the experience of being accountable to voters as an elected sheriff. In that capacity, he has managed a large organization that required him to work with Democratic legislators in Sacramento for the benefit of his county. While he is clear on his Republican positions, Boudreaux expresses willingness to work with other representatives.

It is also past time to have a representative from the northern part of the district.

For these reasons, The Bee Editorial Board recommends Mike Boudreaux for the 20th District.

This story was originally published February 4, 2024 at 5:30 AM.