Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux announced Monday that he has suspended his campaign for California’s 20th Congressional District. Video screengrab

Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux announced Monday that he has suspended his campaign for California’s 20th Congressional District and is endorsing Rep. Vince Fong for the seat in the Nov. 5 general election.

“I’ve known Congressman Fong and worked closely with him and his team for more than a decade. While we were on opposite sides of this campaign, at the end of the day, we’re Republicans, we’re family men, and fighters who are committed to protecting individual liberty, reducing the cost of living, and maintaining safe communities for our neighbors,” Boudreaux said in a statement.

“That’s why I am suspending my campaign for the 20th Congressional District and endorsing Congressman Vince Fong.”

Boudreaux issued the news in a video to supporters.

Boudreaux entered the race for the open seat in December amid legal uncertainty over the qualification of leading candidates — namely Fong.

Ultimately, the Tulare County Sheriff advanced as a top-two finisher in the March 5 Primary and March 19 Special Primary elections, winning incredible support from all four counties of the 20th Congressional District, according to a new release.

Rep. Fong went on to prevail in the May 21 Special Election run-off to serve in the seat through the remainder of 2024 following the retirement of Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

In his announcement, Boudreaux announced that he will be committing the remainder of 2024 to supporting common sense, public safety-focused candidates across the San Joaquin Valley and California through a new grassroots organization, Golden State Justice.

“It’s time to bring our region together and deliver big wins for the Valley,” Boudreaux said.

In response to Boudreaux’s withdrawal from the November runoff election, Rep. Fong released the following statement:

“I thank Sheriff Boudreaux for his leadership in Tulare County and for the hard-fought campaign he ran for this seat.

“I am honored to represent our community in Congress. We are working hard every day to deliver results for the residents of the 20th Congressional District.

“I intend to continue reaching out to voters and will embrace the opportunity the November election provides to discuss the key issues facing our district and present real solutions to improve our safety, economy, and quality of life.”