California is hosting a special election to replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Here’s what to expect

California’s 20th Congressional District will hold a special election to replace former Representative and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy.

Mr McCarthy’s former seat has been open since December when he stepped down two months after the Republican party ousted him as Speaker. After several attempts to find a new speaker, Representative Mike Johnson won the title in October. Prior to retirement, Mr McCarthy had served in the same seat for 17 years.

Now, residents of the 20th District will vote on Tuesday to decide his replacement until January 2025. Here’s what to expect from the district just outside of Los Angeles:

All nine candidates running for Mr McCarthy’s former seat will appear on the same ballot this week, regardless of party.

There are two main outcomes of Tuesday’s election. If one candidate wins the majority of votes, they win the seat and will hold it until January 2025, the remainder of Mr McCarthy’s original term.

Representative Kevin McCarthy retired in December 2023 after he was ousted as Speaker of the House

If a single candidate doesn’t win the majority, the district will hold a run-off election between the top two candidates on 21 May.

While nine candidates are in the race, there are only a handful expected to be top contenders.

The two Republican front-runners are Vince Fong, a California assemblyman, and Mike Boudreaux, the Tulare County, California sheriff. A Republican Super PAC has backed Mr Fong, whom Mr McCarthy endorsed, with more than $650,000 since he entered the race, The Fresno Bee reports. Former president Donald Trump has also endorsed Mr Fong. Mr Boudreaux, on the other hand, has received mainly local support according to the Associated Press.

Mr Fong and Mr Boudreaux are facing