Vince Fong
Vince Fong | |
---|---|
![]() Official portrait, 2024 | |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 20th district | |
Assumed office June 3, 2024 | |
Preceded by | Kevin McCarthy |
Member of the California State Assembly | |
In office December 5, 2016 – May 24, 2024 | |
Preceded by | Shannon Grove |
Succeeded by | Vacant |
Constituency | 34th district (2016–2022) 32nd district (2022–2024) |
Personal details | |
Born | Vincent Karchi Fong October 24, 1979 Bakersfield, California, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Amanda Boschma[1] |
Education | University of California, Los Angeles (BA) Princeton University (MPA) |
Website | House 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]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Vince_Fong.jpg/150px-Vince_Fong.jpg)
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]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Vince_Fong_and_Mike_Johnson_%282024%29.jpg/220px-Vince_Fong_and_Mike_Johnson_%282024%29.jpg)
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]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]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]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]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 |
See also
[edit]- List of Asian Americans and Pacific Islands Americans in the United States Congress
- Asian American and Pacific Islands American conservatism in the United States
- Asian Americans in United States politics
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Vince Fong & Amanda Boschma March 11, 2023". Archived from the original on February 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Franco, Jose (May 24, 2024). "Vince Fong resigns from Assembly after CD-20 special election victory". KGET-TV. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- ^ a b c "Vince Fong". Vote Smart. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d e "Vince Fong". vincefong.com. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
- ^ "Vince Fong announces re-election campaign for California's 32nd State Assembly district". MSN. January 12, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
- ^ a b "General Election - Statement of Vote, November 8, 2022" (PDF).
- ^ Nelson, Laura (April 10, 2024). "A California candidate will be on the ballot twice in November. What if he wins both races?". LA Times.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Primary Election - Statement of Vote, June 7, 2022" (PDF).
External links
[edit]- Congressman Vince Fong official U.S. House website
- Vince Fong for Congress campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- 1979 births
- 21st-century American legislators
- 21st-century California politicians
- Members of the United States House of Representatives of Asian descent
- Asian conservatism in the United States
- California politicians of Chinese descent
- California Republicans
- Living people
- Politicians from Bakersfield, California
- Princeton School of Public and International Affairs alumni
- Republican Party members of the California State Assembly
- Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California
- United States congressional aides
- University of California, Los Angeles alumni