Congressional candidate David Giglio dropped out of the race to succeed Speaker Emeritus Kevin McCarthy on Friday.
Giglio announced that he is endorsing Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux for Congressional District 20.
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The backstory: Giglio was the first candidate to enter the race for the 20th District, jumping in shortly after McCarthy was removed as Speaker, but well before he announced his retirement at the end of the year.
- Running as an America First Republican, Giglio challenged McCarthy from the right and positioned himself as a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump.
- He also had the support of conservative consultant Roger Stone and former Trump National Security Advisor General Michael Flynn.
The big picture: Giglio’s path to Congress was tough in the crowded field of candidates, which includes Boudreaux, Asm. Vince Fong (R–Bakersfield), Kyle Kirkland, Marisa Wood and Andy Morales, among others.
- In a poll last month from Inside California Politics and Emerson College, Giglio came in at 1.7 percent, far behind 27 percent for Fong and 11 percent for both Boudreaux and Wood.
- Friday’s announcement caps a strong week for Boudreaux, who also gained the support of Sen. Shannon Grove (R–Bakersfield) and Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood.
What they’re saying: Giglio said in a statement that supporting Boudreaux is the best option to stop the radical left and disrupt the status quo, specifically calling out McCarthy and Bakersfield Republican consultant Cathy Abernathy as part of the problem.
- “Despite initially expressing some concerns regarding Sheriff Boudreaux’s motives for entering this race, I can now say with complete certainty that he is a good man and is in this race for the right reasons,” Giglio said. “Mike and I have had the chance to form a friendship over the last few weeks, and I know he both understands and shares my passion for change.”
- Giglio added, “America is a nation at war. The radical Left seeks to fundamentally transform our nation into another failed leftist state. To stop them, we must elect strong Republicans with the courage to confront this threat head-on. I believe that Sheriff Boudreaux possesses this courage, and I expect him to make the Central Valley and me proud.
- Boudreaux called Giglio a “dogged advocate” for the Central Valley and America during his campaign.
- “Since entering the race, I have had the opportunity to get to know him in between candidate forums and other events,” Boudreaux said. “He is a terrific family man who will be an exceptional addition to the next generation of emerging Valley leaders. I welcome all of David’s loyal supporters to Team Boudreaux and look forward to working together to deliver a stronger, safer Valley that puts America first.”
