Vince Fong will not debate Mike Boudreaux for the May 21 special election to serve the remaining Congressional District 20 term. But the candidates did answer GV Wire questions about hot Washington topics.

GV Wire and The Maddy Institute invited both to square off in a forum so that voters could compare and contrast the candidates. However, Fong’s campaign declined to participate.

Fong, a Republican Assemblymember from Bakersfield, and Boudreaux, the Republican sheriff of Tulare County, not only face off on May 21, but also on Nov. 5 for the full-term seat that starts Jan. 3, 2025.

Both answered questions during separate interviews last week at the Fresno County GOP Lincoln Reagan dinner.

Do You Back Speaker of the House Mike Johnson?

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, succeeded Bakersfield Republican Kevin McCarthy last year. McCarthy subsequently quit Congress on Dec. 31, necessitating the special election.

Johnson is facing backlash from the right wing of the Republican party, which is threatening him with removal, as they succeeded in doing with McCarthy.

Fong, before winning office for Assembly in 2016, worked as McCarthy’s district director.

GV Wire asked Fong and Boudreaux if they would support Johnson.

Fong: “I don’t think we need any more chaos. So, I think we need to just try to govern and figure out what’s going on. I’m waiting to see what’s going on, but, I’m like, I’m on the outside looking in, trying to figure out what’s happening.”

Fong said that yes, he does support Johnson.

Boudreaux: “What I’m seeing in the Republican Party is embarrassing. We have to start unifying our party, working together, supporting each other. What’s happening, though, with some of the decisions that are being made, is so political that we have separated ourselves. … I believe we must support the Speaker of the House who’s a Republican. The unified Republican Party must come together and do what’s good.”

Boudreaux did have reservations about “signing off on this budget.” But, he does not support Johnson’s removal.

Where Do You Stand on FISA Renewal?

One area Speaker Johnson is at odds with others in the party is over renewing the FISA Act.

As described the Justice Department, the act “sets out procedures for physical and electronic surveillance and collection of foreign intelligence information. Initially, FISA addressed only electronic surveillance but (it) has been significantly amended to address the use of pen registers and trap and trace devices, physical searches, and business records.”

The act also established the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), a special U.S. Federal court that holds nonpublic sessions to consider issuing search warrants under FISA. The government is is the only part present during FISC proceedings.

Fong: “We need to renew it. I mean, we need to know what’s going on and connect the dots. … We need to figure out whether there’s terrorist activity going on in the United States. Now, there needs to be guardrails. And, we’ll look forward to seeing what’s going to happen on the Hill. I know there’s a lot of amendments and getting guardrails and, and a significant debate that’s going to happen.

Boudreaux: “I’m going to have to put … some serious thought into what I agree or disagree with at this point. … I’m not in completely in agreement with the renewal, but I have to tell you that what the decisions that I’m seeing on Capitol Hill, what I’m seeing, impacts real life people here at home.”

Are You in Favor of More Israeli Aid?

The House approved a $26 billion package for Israel that included humanitarian aid in Gaza. The overwhelming 366-58 vote in support came with 21 Republicans opposed.

The entire Central Valley delegation — Jim Costa, D-Fresno, David Valadao, R-Kings County, John Duarte, R-Modesto, and Tom McClintock, R-Roseville — voted in favor. So, too, would Fong and Boudreaux.

Fong: “I support Israel. I think I think we also need to look at everything, a step-by-step process, secure the border. We need all those things to happen.”

Boudreaux: “We must support Israel. … You have Israel surrounded by 22 other countries who just want to destroy and eliminate the people of Israel. That’s wrong.”

Boudreaux also advocated for supporting Taiwan “because the microchips in Taiwan are supporting everything that we do in the United States.”

UPDATE: President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he was immediately rushing badly needed weaponry to Ukraine as he signed into law a $95 billion war aid measure that also included assistance for Israel, Taiwan and other global hotspots.