BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Four candidates seeking to win the U.S. House of Representatives seat once filled by Kevin McCarthy will take to the debate stage Thursday in a bid to win your vote.
The debate hosted by Nexstar's KGET and KGPE will be held in Bakersfield. The candidates will debate live from the KGET TV studios on Feb. 22 between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. The debate will also be streamed live on KGET.com and the KGET 17 News app.
The debate is the first televised debate among the four candidates who qualified for the debate stage: Assemblymember Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield), Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux (R), Marisa Wood (D) and Andy Morales (D).
The debate will air on Nexstar television stations covering California's Central Valley: KGET-TV in Bakersfield and KGPE-TV in Fresno.
The debate will air Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. on these Nexstar Central California stations and their digital platforms.
The race kicked off with controversy with Vince Fong's candidacy for the office which remains contested in court -- but Fong's name will appear on the ballot. Fong entered the race after filing for reelection to the 32nd District in the California Assembly. A judge allowed Fong to appear on ballots for both offices -- a move the Secretary of State is contesting in court. Fong has said he is focusing on the Congressional District 20 seat.
Last week, long-time Kern County political allies Sen. Shannon Grove and Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood announced they are endorsing Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux over Fong. Boudreaux has racked up endorsements recently as two challengers in the race dropped out and announced their support for Boudreaux.
A January poll showed 26.7% of likely registered voters would vote for Vince Fong, 10.8% would vote for Boudreaux and 10.6% would vote for Marisa Wood. More than third of respondents however, were undecided.
The 20th Congressional District includes portions of Kern, Tulare, Fresno and Kings counties.