"California Governor Newsom Sets Date for Special Election to Fill Vacant McCarthy House Seat"

California Governor Gavin Newsom has set a mid-March special election date to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, with the primary date scheduled for March 19. The solidly Republican 20th Congressional District is expected to stay in GOP hands, and if no candidate wins a majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advance to a May 21 matchup to fill the seat. McCarthy's departure set off a scramble to replace him, with a court ruling allowing a McCarthy protégé, Republican Assemblyman Vince Fong, to appear on the ballot for the seat, despite filing for reelection for his Assembly seat.