Chaos Ensues After Sudden Retirement of CA Rep. McCarthy Leaves Open Seat
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Longtime GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy is exiting Congress on Dec. 31, leaving confusion over who can run to replace him in his conservative Central Valley district.
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McCarthy's chosen successor, GOP state Sen. Shannon Grove, was barred from the ballot, prompting a lawsuit against the California secretary of state.
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Nearly a dozen candidates have jumped into the race for the open seat, including some prominent local Republicans like Assemblyman Vince Fong.
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Election officials extended the filing deadline after McCarthy's retirement announcement, allowing last-minute candidates to enter, creating further chaos.
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It's unclear if a special election to fill the seat on an interim basis can be scheduled in time for the March 5 state primary.