California Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy announced late last year that he was resigning from Congress after being ousted as House speaker.

The former speaker's removal didn't just cause waves in Washington, as McCarthy's departure has also had an impact on his home state. 

California State Assembly member ran to replace Kevin McCarthy

As Cal Matter contributor Ryan Sabalow explained in an article published earlier this week, it kicked off a convoluted series of events involving a politician named Vince Fong.

Fong is a longtime McCarthy ally, and this past December he unveiled plans to run in a special election for the former speaker's House seat.

However, Fong had already filed the necessary paperwork to run for another term in the California State Assembly, where he was first elected in 2016.

Sabalow noted that Democratic California Secretary of State Shirley Weber moved to block Fong's name from appearing on the congressional ballot.

Judge ruled that Fong could run for two offices at once

In support of her position, Weber pointed to how elections officials have long maintained that California law prohibits candidates from running for more than one office simultaneously.

Yet Fong successfully challenged Weber's efforts in court, leading to a reluctant ruling from Sacramento Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne Chang.

Chang acknowledged that Fong's dual candidacy "may result in voter confusion and the disenfranchisement of voters if Fong is ultimately elected for both offices but does not retain one."

"Moreover, it somewhat defies common sense to find the law permits a candidate to run for two offices during the same election," she added before concluding, "However … the Court is compelled to interpret the law as it is written by the Legislature."

Fong wins assembly seat despite endorsing rival

Not only did Fong remain on the ballot for his seat in the California State Assembly, but he ultimately ended up winning the race.

Kern and Tulare county taxpayers are on the hook for a special election after Republican Vince Fong won his Congressional seat along with an Assembly seat he no longer wanted. https://t.co/MGhVKDzPeD

📝 Ryan Sabalow

— CalMatters (@CalMatters) November 19, 2024

As Sabalow pointed out, this was despite the fact that he actually told constituents not to vote for him, instead endorsing fellow Republican Ken Weir, who serves on the Bakersfield city council.

Nevertheless, Fong's situation will likely be the last of its kind, as California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill which prevents candidates from appearing on the same ballot in more than one race.