Asm. Vince Fong (R–Bakersfield) is leading the pack to replace Speaker Emeritus Kevin McCarthy in 20th Congressional District .
A new poll from Inside California Politics and Emerson College shows Fong in front by a wide margin, although a plurality of voters still remain undecided.
The big picture: According to the poll, Fong leads with 27 percent of likely voters, with Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, a fellow Republican, and Democrat Marisa Wood tied for second at 11 percent each.
- Democrat Andy Morales is in the fourth position at eight percent, with Fresno businessman Kyle Kirkland, a Republican, trailing behind at four percent.
- Republican David Giglio was the only other candidate to crack one percent, as he is at 1.7 percent.
- A total of 35 percent of voters remain undecided, according to the poll.
Go deeper: While Fong is on the ballot after a ruling from a Sacramento County judge late last year, California Secretary of State Shirley Weber has appealed the ruling, leaving the door open for him to be disqualified from the ballot.
- Half of the voters polled oppose Weber’s effort to remove Fong, while 31 percent support her.
- If Fong is removed, 33 percent of voters would support Boudreaux while 13 percent would vote for Kirkland.
What they’re saying: “Fong’s support is 17 points higher among men than women, 36 percent to 19 percent,” said Spencer Kimball, Executive Director of Emerson College Polling. “Forty-six percent of women are undecided compared to 24 percent of men. Women voters are more supportive than men of Wood, 13 percent to eight percent.”
