GOP state legislator Vince Fong advances to runoff election for McCarthy's seat

California Republican state legislator Vince Fong has advanced to a May election in his home state that will determine who will take the seat of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. 

McCarthy announced last year that he would be resigning from Congress. He was the first House speaker in U.S. history to ever be removed from the leadership position when eight Republicans sided with Democrats to oust him in early October.

Other contenders who ran for the seat were Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux and Democratic candidate Marisa Wood.

Fong is a former McCarthy aide who got the endorsement of his former boss and former President Donald Trump, according to the Associated Press.

A Republican is expected to keep McCarthy's seat, according to political analysts.

"With 47% Republican, it would be difficult to challenge whoever comes out on top. It's a good race; I hope it's a clean race," a GOP analyst told a local outlet before the results came in.