Jump to content

Vince Fong

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vince Fong
Official portrait, 2024
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 20th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 3, 2024
Preceded byKevin McCarthy
Member of the California State Assembly
In office
December 5, 2016 – May 24, 2024
Preceded byShannon Grove
Succeeded byVacant
Constituency34th district (2016–2022)
32nd district (2022–2024)
Personal details
Born
Vincent Karchi Fong

(1979-10-24) October 24, 1979 (age 45)
Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAmanda Boschma[1]
EducationUniversity of California, Los Angeles (BA)
Princeton University (MPA)
WebsiteHouse website

Vincent Karchi Fong[1] (born October 24, 1979) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. representative for California's 20th congressional district since 2024. A member of the Republican Party, he previously represented the California's 32nd State Assembly district,[2] encompassing parts of the Central Valley.[3] Prior to his election to the Assembly in 2016, Fong served as district director to then-Minority Leader and Congressman Kevin McCarthy.[4]

Early life and education

[edit]

Vince Fong was born in Bakersfield, California on October 24, 1979.[5][6] He was raised in Bakersfield and graduated from West High School.[7][8] In 2001, Fong earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and government from the University of California, Los Angeles. In 2003, he earned a Master in Public Affairs degree from Princeton University.[6]

Early political career

[edit]

Fong started his career as an aide for Congressman Bill Thomas, who at the time was chair of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee.[8] In Thomas's office, Fong focused on international trade policy and opening up markets for United States farmers and small businesses.[8][7]

Fong then returned home to serve the residents of Kern County. For nearly a decade, he served as the district director to Congressman Kevin McCarthy,[6] later the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Fong has been active in Kern County nonprofits and community organizations. He has served as a board member for Goodwill Industries of South Central California, the Jim Burke Education Foundation and Honor Flight Kern County where he works to send World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam veterans to Washington, D.C., to see their memorials.[8] In addition, Fong was an elected member of the Kern County Republican Central Committee and is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.[8]

California State Assembly

[edit]
Fong's State Assembly portrait, 2016

Vince Fong was first elected to the California State Assembly to represent the 34th district in 2016, earning 73.2% of the vote. He was re-elected in 2018 with 70.6% of the vote. In 2022, Fong won the election unopposed for the newly drawn 32nd district, which comprises the majority of the prior configuration of the 34th.[9][10]

Due to the unusual timing of McCarthy's resignation, Fong had already filed for re-election for the Assembly seat. This led to the issue that Fong would be running in two elections at once, which the California Secretary of State objected to, but was overruled by the appellate court. Fong endorsed a write-in campaign for Bakersfield City Councilman Ken Weir and resigned his seat on May 24, 2024.[11][2]

U.S. House of Representatives

[edit]

Tenure

[edit]
Fong shaking hands with Speaker Mike Johnson after being sworn in

On June 3, 2024, Fong was sworn in as the U.S. Representative from California's 20th district.[12]

Committee assignments

[edit]

Election history

[edit]

2016

[edit]
California's 34th State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Vince Fong 57,915 60.3
Democratic Perrin Swanlund 23,429 24.4
Republican Ernie Gollehon 8,779 9.1
Republican Michael Garcia Biglay 5,886 6.1
Total votes 96,009 100.0
General election
Republican Vince Fong 123,959 73.2
Democratic Perrin Swanlund 45,305 26.8
Total votes 169,264 100.0
Republican hold

2018

[edit]
California's 34th State Assembly district election, 2018
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Vince Fong (incumbent) 65,323 76.4
Democratic Nick Nicita 20,221 23.6
Total votes 85,544 100.0
General election
Republican Vince Fong (incumbent) 103,346 70.6
Democratic Nick Nicita 43,048 29.4
Total votes 146,394 100.0
Republican hold

2020

[edit]
California's 34th State Assembly district election, 2020
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Vince Fong (incumbent) 83,909 71.61%
Democratic Julie Solis 32,922 28.10%
Democratic Regina Velasquez (write in) 343 0.29%
Total votes 117,174 100.0%
General election
Republican Vince Fong (incumbent) 146,611 68.1%
Democratic Julie Solis 68,716 31.9%
Total votes 215,327 100.0%
Republican hold

2022

[edit]
California's 32nd State Assembly district election, 2022[13][10]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Vince Fong (incumbent) 77,776 100%
Total votes 77,776 100.0%
General election
Republican Vince Fong (incumbent) 129,323 100%
Total votes 129,323 100.0%
Republican hold

2024 (special)

[edit]
Main article: 2024 California's 20th congressional district special election
2024 California's 20th congressional district special election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vince Fong 50.442 60.6%
N/A
Republican Mike Boudreaux 32,777 39.4%
N/A
Total votes 68,134 100.0%
Republican hold

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Vince Fong & Amanda Boschma March 11, 2023". Archived from the original on February 7, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Franco, Jose (May 24, 2024). "Vince Fong resigns from Assembly after CD-20 special election victory". KGET-TV. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  3. ^ "A closer look at Kern's candidates: Vince Fong". KGET-TV. February 8, 2022. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  4. ^ Garcia, Luis (December 11, 2023). "Grove out, Fong in: Assemblyman Vince Fong to run for Congress after all". KGET 17. Nexstar Media Group, Inc. Archived from the original on December 11, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  5. ^ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
  6. ^ a b c "Vince Fong". Vote Smart. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  7. ^ a b Harvey, Kyle (January 8, 2016). "Longtime McCarthy aide Vince Fong enters Assembly race". KBAK-TV. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Vince Fong". vincefong.com. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  9. ^ "Vince Fong announces re-election campaign for California's 32nd State Assembly district". MSN. January 12, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "General Election - Statement of Vote, November 8, 2022" (PDF).
  11. ^ Nelson, Laura (April 10, 2024). "A California candidate will be on the ballot twice in November. What if he wins both races?". LA Times.
  12. ^ Donegan, John (June 3, 2024). "Fong sworn into 118th Congress; predecessor McCarthy joins Bakersfield lawmaker for Capitol ceremony". Bakersfield.com. The Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
  13. ^ "Primary Election - Statement of Vote, June 7, 2022" (PDF).
[edit]
California Assembly
Preceded by Member of the California State Assembly
from the 34th district
2016–2022 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the California State Assembly
from the 32nd district
2022–2024 		Vacant
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 20th congressional district
2024–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
429th 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vince_Fong&oldid=1256103525"