■Special election for Congressional District 20 concludes Tuesday.

■Winner will serve remainder of term until Jan. 3, 2025.

■Vince Fong and Mike Boudreaux finished 1-2 in the March 5 election.

Just two weeks after voters made one decision about the future of Congressional District 20, a special election concludes this Tuesday, March 19.

Nine candidates are on the ballot to complete the term vacated by Kevin McCarthy, who quit Dec. 31. The term starts shortly after election results are known, and ends Jan. 3, 2025.

If no candidate receives a majority, the top-two vote earners face off in a May 21 runoff.

Almost 100,000 returned ballots thus far in the three of the four counties of the district — Kern, Fresno, Tulare and Kings counties.

Voters were sent mail-in ballots, that can be returned with postage already paid. Drop boxes are spread throughout the district. Some voting centers, at least in Fresno County, are open.  A Fresno County map can be found here.

Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, finished first in the March 5 regular primary, for the term starting Jan. 3, 2025. He will face Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, R-Springville, in the Nov. 5 general election.

Fong and Boudreaux are the logical favorites to finish 1-2 again. Educator Marisa Wood, D-Bakersfield, is likely the top Democrat on the ballot.

The turnout is expected to be lower than in the regular primary election, which would further benefit the Republican heavy district.

The question is whether a candidate can get more than 50%.

What if Fong Wins?

If Fong does win, he would likely resign his Assembly seat for Washington. If that is the case, the seat could remain vacant until after the November general election concludes.

State law does not require the governor to call for a special election if there is a vacancy, because it is the last year of a term. The new term starts Dec. 2, 2024.

Fong’s name will still be on the November ballot, for both Congress and Assembly. Ken Weir, a Bakersfield city councilmember and Republican, will also be on the ballot. Weir qualified as a write-in, with Fong’s support.

Who is on the March 19 Ballot?

• Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield; state Assemblyman*
• Mike Boudreaux, R-Springville; Tulare County Sheriff*
• Kyle Kirkland, R-Clovis; owner of Club One Casino*
• Marisa Wood, D-Bakersfield; educator*
• Benjamin Dewell, NPP-Tehachapi; Eastern Kern APCD variance board member*
• Harmesh Kumar, D-Concord; clinical psychologist
• Anna Zoë Cohen, R-Bakersfield; high school employee
• David Fluhart, NPP-Caliente; cannabis grower
• James Cardoza, NPP-Fresno; real estate photographer

*Also ran in the March 5 election for the full-term seat.