LOS ANGELES (AP) Vince Fong, a California State Assembly member backed by former President Donald Trump , won a special election Tuesday to complete the remainder of the term of deposed former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy , which runs through January.

A McCarthy protege who also had the former speakers endorsement, Fong defeated fellow Republican and Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux in the 20th Congressional District, in the states Central Valley farm belt.

Because of Trumps involvement, the race will be watched as a possible proxy vote on the former presidents clout as he heads toward an all-but-certain matchup against President Joe Biden in November.

With the campaign over, the real work now begins, Fong said in a statement, adding that he will focus on border security, supporting small business and investing in water storage critical to the regions agriculture.