Mike Johnson swears in McCarthy replacement Rep. Vince Fong bringing slim GOP majority up by one

Fong, 45, beat out local sheriff Mike Boudreaux in a run-off race on May 22. His swearing-in brings the House breakdown to 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats, allowing for just two GOP defections on party-line legislation. 

Fong will now serve in Congress for the next seven months and have the incumbent advantage in the November election. 

The Bakersfield Assemblyman is a former top aide of McCarthy, who retired in December after being ousted from the speakership, a role he worked his entire career to achieve and held for nine months. 

McCarthy was present on the floor for Fong's swearing-in and was applauded by most Republicans - except his Freedom Caucus detractors as Fong thanked him. 

Speaker Mike Johnson swore in Rep. Vince Fong to replace Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday in a boost for House Republicans' razor-thin majority

'I want to thank my wife, Amanda, for her love and support. I want to thank my parents, my mother-in-law, my sister and all of our family for always being by my side, and a special acknowledgement to my niece Evie, who is celebrating her ninth birthday with us today. I also want to especially thank my mentor and friend, Speaker Kevin McCarthy.'

Fong, 44, served as McCarthy's district director for more than a decade. 

McCarthy had taken the seat in 2007 after the retirement of his former boss, Rep. Bill Thomas, then chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Fong worked for Thomas alongside McCarthy for a time. 

The full force of McCarthy's campaign dollars, fundraisers, consultants and affiliated PACs made the race against Boudreaux not particularly close. 

Fong also won former President Donald Trump's endorsement, with McCarthy's help, in a district where 47 percent of registered voters are Republicans and 27 percent are Democrats. 

Fong will face off against Boudreaux again in the November race for the full term. 

Fong, 45, beat out local sheriff Mike Boudreaux in a run-off race on May 22. His swearing-in brings the House breakdown to 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats, allowing for just two GOP defections on party-line legislation

Fong pictured with his wife Amanda 

Fong laid out his priorities in his first speech on the House floor: 

'We need to address the border crisis, stop the rising costs of everyday essentials that are squeezing family budgets, and work to keep our community safe. We must strengthen our crumbling infrastructure, find long term solutions to water and energy resources, especially out west, and create more career and educational opportunities. We must support our military installations.' 

He acknowledged the divisiveness of this Congress while calling for collaboration. 

'I certainly anticipate passionate discourse that is expected of us. There are certainly no shortage of challenges facing our nation, my state of California and my district, but this is also the moment where we together can make the most positive impact.'