Playing Favorites with Vacant Seats: Duncan Hunter vs. Kevin McCarthy

Oh, look, it’s Governor Gavin Newsom, master of inconsistency, juggling congressional vacancies like a circus clown with a vendetta. Let’s dissect this latest twist in the saga, shall we? When Republican U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter resigned in January 2020 amid a corruption scandal—think campaign funds funneled into extramarital affairs—Newsom, with a sly grin, decided to not call a special election to replace Hunter. The seat stayed vacant until the general election, leaving California’s 50th District in limbo. Fast forward to 2023, and when Republican Kevin McCarthy resigned as Speaker of the House and vacated his 20th Congressional District seat, Newsom suddenly found his democratic spirit, calling for a special election with a primary in March 2024. Curious, isn’t it?

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: Kevin McCarthy is no Democrat. He’s a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, a Trump ally who resigned after a messy ouster as Speaker. So, the hypocrisy angle tied to replacing a “Democratic seat” doesn’t quite fit—unless Newsom’s playing a longer game. Digging deeper, the pattern suggests political opportunism rather than party loyalty. In Hunter’s case, the district leaned Republican, and with Trump’s pardon in December 2020 wiping the slate clean, Newsom might have seen little gain in rushing a special election, especially with a Democratic-controlled state legislature already juggling priorities. Contrast that with McCarthy’s district—a GOP stronghold where voters backed Trump and Newsom’s recall—where a special election could tilt the balance or at least flex Democratic muscle in a ruby-red zone.

The Winner of the 20th District Special Election

Let’s cut through the political fog, shall we? Following Kevin McCarthy’s resignation on December 31, 2023, after his tumultuous exit as Speaker of the House, California’s 20th Congressional District needed a new occupant. Governor Newsom, ever the opportunist, called for a special election, with the primary held on March 19, 2024, and a runoff on May 21, 2024, since no candidate secured a majority in the first round.

The victor? Vince Fong, a Republican state assemblyman and former McCarthy protégé, who clinched the seat with over 60% of the vote in the runoff. Fong, riding endorsements from McCarthy, Trump, and a slew of California GOP figures, beat out Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, who had narrowly edged into the runoff. This special election outcome handed Fong a temporary term until the next general election, setting him up nicely for a full term win in November 2024, which he also secured.

So, no Democratic surprise here—just a Republican replacing a Republican in a district that’s reliably red. Newsom’s haste in calling this election, compared to his inaction with Duncan Hunter’s vacancy, still reeks of selective strategy, but the result kept the partisan line intact. Fong’s now the man, and McCarthy’s shadow lingers over Bakersfield like a bad aftertaste.

The Gotcha: Weather Emergencies and the Aid Money Grift

But let’s pivot to the real circus act: Newsom’s endless weather emergency parade. As of December 27, 2025, at 09:57 AM CST, California’s been battered by late December storms, prompting Newsom to proclaim states of emergency across multiple counties—Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and more—on December 23 and 25, 2025. Floods, landslides, and mudslides in burn scar areas? Check. Pre-deployed resources and National Guard on standby? Check. And, of course, the inevitable plea for federal aid, a tune he’s hummed after every disaster since his tenure began.

Web records show a pattern: after the Los Angeles fires in January 2025, Newsom begged for $33.9 billion in federal recovery funds, only to be snubbed by FEMA and the Trump administration. This time, with atmospheric rivers drenching an already soaked state, he’s likely licking his chops for another handout. His December 23 proclamation unlocks state resources and hints at seeking federal assistance for road repairs, while his December 25 update expands the emergency scope—yet again positioning California as the damsel in distress needing Uncle Sam’s wallet.

The gotcha? This isn’t a one-off; it’s a recurring script. From tsunamis in Del Norte to monsoons in Imperial, Newsom’s declared emergencies for six severe weather events in 2025 alone, each time with a hand outstretched for aid. Critics might argue it’s prudent governance, but the dry truth is he’s turned California into a perpetual beggar state, crying wolf—and cash—while his selective election meddling (Hunter vs. McCarthy) shows he’s more about control than competence. Caught red-handed on December 27, 2025, Gavin’s weather grift is as predictable as the next storm.

Total Aid Requests by Gavin Newsom

Let’s tally up Gavin Newsom’s begging bowl, shall we? Based on available web data and his tenure’s disaster-prone narrative, here’s the grim count of times he’s asked for federal aid money. Starting with the 2020 wildfire season, Newsom requested a federal disaster declaration after battling 367 fires, though specifics on dollar amounts are murky until Trump’s eventual approval. In February 2025, post the Los Angeles wind-driven fires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, he sought $40 billion for recovery. By December 2025, after the recent storms, he’s implied aid requests with his emergency proclamations on December 23 and 25, though no exact figure is public yet—expect another multi-billion plea soon. Add the $33.9 billion request in January 2025 for the LA fires, and earlier unquantified asks for the 2020 tree die-off emergency and the August 2020 wildfire aid rejection-turned-approval. That’s at least five documented instances, with a conservative total exceeding $73.9 billion if we exclude the vaguer 2020 requests. This man’s aid requests are stacking up faster than California’s mudslides—caught red-handed as a serial supplicant.

Oh Look, Gavin’s House of Cards Collapses

So here we stand, staring down the wreckage of Gavin Newsom’s reign. From electoral puppetry to ceaseless cries for cash, he’s built a house of cards on quicksand—teetering with every storm and scandal. The people of California deserve better than this circus of self-interest vs inaction on the issues that matter, like crime. The clock’s ticking fast on his exit. Time to pack up, Gavin—your reign’s a punchline, and the audience is done laughing. This is like Showtime at the Apollo, and here comes Howard "Sandman" Sims with his comedic props just to shove you right off your soapbox. Bye, clown, and good riddance to bad rubbish!