2022 California's 22nd congressional district special election

For broader coverage of this topic, see California's 22nd congressional district.

2022 California's 22nd congressional district special election

←  2020 June 7, 2022 November 2022  →
California's 22nd congressional district
Turnout	20.99% (primary) 27.92% (general)
Candidate Connie Conway Lourin Hubbard Matt Stoll Party Republican Democratic Republican Primary 30,559 35.1% 16,905 19.4% 14,075 16.2% Runoff 71,720 62.1% 43,701 37.9% Eliminated   Candidate Eric Garcia Michael Maher Elizabeth Heng Party Democratic Republican Republican Primary 12,556 14.4% 7,619 8.7% 5,391 6.2% Runoff Eliminated Eliminated Eliminated
First round county results Runoff county results Conway:     20–30%     40–50%     60–70%
U.S. Representative before election Devin Nunes Republican Elected U.S. Representative Connie Conway Republican

The 2022 California's 22nd congressional district special election took place on June 7, 2022, with the primary election on April 5, 2022. California's 22nd congressional district became vacant when Republican representative Devin Nunes resigned on January 1, 2022, to become the CEO of the Trump Media & Technology Group. ^[1]

Governor Gavin Newsom scheduled the special election for June 7, 2022, with the primary election on April 5, 2022. ^[2] The election was held using a nonpartisan blanket primary, a system where all candidates run in the same primary, and if no candidate receives a majority of votes, the top two candidates then advance to the general election. ^[3] No candidate received a majority in the primary, so Republican Connie Conway and Democrat Lourin Hubbard advanced to the runoff.

Nonpartisan blanket primary

Candidates

Advanced to general election

• Connie Conway (Republican), former Minority Leader of the California State Assembly and small business owner ^[4]
• Lourin Hubbard (Democratic), operations manager at the California Department of Water Resources ^{[5] [6]}

Eliminated in primary

• Eric Garcia (Democratic), U.S. Marine Corps veteran, therapist and independent candidate for this district in 2020 ^[5]
• Elizabeth Heng (Republican), candidate for California's 16th congressional district in 2018, former U.S. House staffer and small business owner ^[7]
• Michael Maher (Republican), aviation business owner ^[8]
• Matt Stoll (Republican), small business owner ^[8]

Disqualified

• John Estrada (Republican), businessman and perennial candidate ^[4]
• Noah Junio (American Independent Party) ^[8]

Withdrawn

• Phil Arballo (Democratic), financial advisor and candidate for this district in 2020 ^{[5] [9] [10]}
• Andreas Borgeas (Republican), state senator from the 8th district ^{[5] [11]}
• Nathan Magsig (Republican), Fresno County supervisor ^{[12] [13]}

Declined

• Mike Boudreaux (Republican), Tulare County sheriff ^{[14] [15]} (endorsed Magsig) ^[4]
• Steve Brandau (Republican), Fresno County supervisor ^{[16] [1] [15]}
• Luis Chavez (Democratic), Fresno city councilor ^[16]
• Jerry Dyer (Republican), mayor of Fresno ^[16]
• Shannon Grove (Republican), state senator from the 16th district and former Minority Leader of the California Senate (running for re-election) ^{[17] [14] [18]}
• Melissa Hurtado (Democratic), state senator from the 14th district (running for re-election) ^{[16] [1] [19]}
• Devon Mathis (Republican), state assemblyman from the 26th district (running for re-election) ^{[16] [1] [20]}
• Margaret Mims (Republican), Fresno County sheriff ^[16]
• Jim Patterson (Republican), state assemblyman from the 23rd district (running for re-election; endorsed Magsig) ^{[16] [17] [21]}
• Lisa Smittcamp (Republican), Fresno County District Attorney ^[16]
• Pete Vander Poel III (Republican), Tulare County supervisor ^[16]
• Tim Ward (Republican), Tulare County District Attorney ^[16]
• Bob Whalen (Republican), Clovis city councilor ^[16]

Endorsements

Connie Conway (R)

Newspapers

• The Fresno Bee ^[22]

Organizations

• California Republican Party ^[23]
• Fresno County GOP (co-endorsed with Maher) ^[24]

Michael Maher (R)

Organizations

• Fresno County GOP (co-endorsed with Conway) ^[25]

Nathan Magsig (R) (withdrawn)

State legislators

• Jim Patterson, state assemblyman from the 23rd district ^[21]

Declined to endorse

U.S. representatives

• Devin Nunes, U.S. representative from CA-22 (2013–2022); CA-21 (2003–2013) ^[26]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [27]	Likely R	December 7, 2021
Inside Elections [28]	Likely R	March 4, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball [29]	Likely R	February 23, 2022

Results

2022 California's 22nd congressional district primary ^[30]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Connie Conway	30,559	35.1
	Democratic	Lourin Hubbard	16,905	19.4
	Republican	Matt Stoll	14,075	16.2
	Democratic	Eric Garcia	12,556	14.4
	Republican	Michael Maher	7,619	8.7
	Republican	Elizabeth Heng	5,391	6.2
Total votes			87,105	100.0
Registered electors			415,021

By county

County Connie Conway Republican Lourin Hubbard Democratic Matt Stoll Republican Eric Garcia Democratic Michael Maher Republican Elizabeth Heng Republican Margin Total votes # % # % # % # % # % # % # % Fresno (part) 16,240 28.6 12,585 22.2 9,306 16.4 7,902 13.9 5,997 10.6 4,674 8.2 3,655 6.4 56,704 Tulare (part) 14,319 47.1 4,320 14.2 4,769 15.7 4,654 15.3 1,622 5.3 717 2.4 9,550 31.4 30,401 Total 30,559 35.1 16,905 19.4 14,075 16.2 12,556 14.4 7,619 8.7 5,391 6.2 13,654 15.7 87,105

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Inside Elections [31]	Solid R	April 14, 2022

Post-primary endorsements

Connie Conway (R)

U.S. Executive Branch officials

• Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States (2017–2021) ^[32]

Results

2022 California's 22nd congressional district runoff ^[33]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Connie Conway	71,720	62.14	+7.91
	Democratic	Lourin Hubbard	43,701	37.86	–7.91
Total votes			115,421	100.00
	Republican hold

By county
County Connie Conway Republican Lourin Hubbard Democratic Margin Total votes # % # % # % Fresno (part) 47,216 60.29 31,104 39.71 16,112 20.57 78,320 Tulare (part) 24,504 66.05 12,597 33.95 11,907 32.09 37,101 Totals 71,720 62.14 43,701 37.86 28,019 24.28 115,421

See also

• 2022 United States House of Representatives elections
• 2022 United States elections
• 117th United States Congress
• List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives

References

1. Korte, Lara (December 6, 2021). "Devin Nunes' retirement could mean an opening for California Democrats. Who might run?". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
2. Brassil, Gillian (January 9, 2022). "These 5 candidates want a shot at Devin Nunes' seat, even if it lasts only 6 months". www.fresnobee.com. The Fresno Bee . Retrieved January 9, 2022.
3. "Elections Code Division 10 Part 6 Chapter 1". California Legislative Information. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015.
4. "Conway Runs for Nunes' Seat. Clue Points to State Senate Bid for Soria". January 14, 2022.
5. Miller, Thaddeus (December 11, 2021). "With Devin Nunes set to leave Congress, here's the field of potential candidates so far". www.fresnobee.com. The Fresno Bee . Retrieved December 11, 2021.
6. Taub, David (December 8, 2021). "First Confirmed Candidate Emerges in GOP Bid to Hold Nunes' House Seat". GV Wire. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
7. Taub, David (December 17, 2021). "Heng Enters House Race Even as the Lines Keep Changing". www.gvwire.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
8. Taub, David (January 29, 2022). "Who Will Replace Nunes? GOP Holds Congressional Forum Tuesday". GV Wire. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
9. "Phil Arballo announces run for Congress, adding name to growing list trying to replace Devin Nunes". ABC30. December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
10. Brassil, Gillian (January 20, 2022). "Former Devin Nunes challenger announces new plan for 2022, targets open congressional seat". The Fresno Bee . Retrieved January 21, 2022.
11. Taub, David (January 6, 2022). "Borgeas Won't Run for Congress, Mulls State Senate Re-election Options". www.gvwire.com. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
12. Walker, Justin (December 8, 2021). "Nathan Magsig announces candidacy for Congress". www.yourcentralvalley.com. KSEE . Retrieved December 8, 2021.
13. Ward, James (January 31, 2022). "Candidate to replace Devin Nunes drops out of race, making GOP's Conway clear frontrunner". Visalia Times Delta. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
14. Taub, David (December 14, 2021). "Soria Considering Assembly Run. Tulare Sheriff Boudreaux for Congress?". GV Wire. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
15. Taub, David (January 10, 2022). "Why Newsom Picked the Last Date to Fill Nunes' Vacancy". www.gvwire.com. GV Wire. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
16. Taub, David (December 8, 2021). "First Confirmed Candidate Emerges in GOP Bid to Hold Nunes' House Seat". www.gvwire.com. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
17. Mehta, Seema; Haberkorn, Jennifer (December 6, 2021). "California Rep. Devin Nunes leaving Congress to head Trump social media group". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 8, 2021.
18. Taub, David (December 22, 2021). "Borgeas' Choices: Run vs. Grove or McClintock?". GV Wire. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
19. Taub, David (December 29, 2021). "Hurtado Will Run Against Caballero in Dem Battle Royale". www.gvwire.com. GV Wire. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
20. Taub, David (December 21, 2021). "Costa Will Run for Re-election in New Fresno-Centric District". GV Wire. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
21. Gligich, Daniel (December 14, 2021). "Jim Patterson opts against Congressional bid, backs Magsig to replace Nunes". The San Joaquin Valley Sun. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
22. "Six people want to replace Devin Nunes in Congress. Here is who should get that chance". The Fresno Bee . March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
23. Endorsements Archived November 9, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
24. @FresnoCountyGOP (March 4, 2022). "Endorsement Alert: Fresno County Republican Party endorses Connie Conway for the Special Election for California's 22nd Congressional District. #CA22" (Tweet). Retrieved March 27, 2022– via Twitter.
25. @FresnoCountyGOP (March 4, 2022). "Endorsement Alert: Fresno County Republican Party endorses Michael Maher for the Special Election for California's 22nd Congressional District. #CA22" (Tweet). Retrieved March 27, 2022– via Twitter.
26. Taub, David (January 13, 2022). "Nunes Talks About His Trump CEO Job, Won't Endorse in Race for Successor". www.gvwire.com. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
27. Dave Wasserman (December 7, 2021). "Nunes Resignation Doesn't Change 2022 House Math" . Retrieved December 7, 2021.
28. Gonzalez, Nathan L. (March 4, 2022). "California 22 Special: Short Term Assignment". The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
29. Kondik, Kyle (February 23, 2022). "Notes on the State of Politics: Feb. 23, 2022" . Retrieved February 23, 2022.
30. "Final Official Election Results - Congressional District 22". California Secretary of State . Archived from the original on April 16, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
31. Rubashkin, Jacob (April 14, 2022). "Report Shorts (April 14, 2022)". The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
32. Taub, David (May 3, 2022). "Trump Endorses Connie Conway for Congress". GV Wire. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
33. "Unofficial Election Results - Congressional District 22". California Secretary of State . Retrieved June 10, 2022.

External links

Official campaign websites

• Connie Conway (R) for Congress Archived December 25, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
• Eric Garcia (D) for Congress Archived November 12, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
• Elizabeth Heng (R) for Congress Archived April 9, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
• Lourin Hubbard (D) for Congress Archived January 17, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
• Michael Maher (R) for Congress
• Matt Stoll (R) for Congress Archived March 24, 2022, at the Wayback Machine