Giglio suspends congressional campaign, endorses Boudreaux
David Giglio, the Madera businessman who branded himself a pro-Trump maverick willing to rail against former Rep. Kevin McCarthy and the Republican establishment, announced Friday he will suspend his campaign to represent California’s 20th Congressional District.
He endorsed Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux for the seat.
“After careful prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for Congress in California’s 20th Congressional District,” Giglio wrote in a statement, “and urge my supporters to join me in backing Sheriff Mike Boudreaux.”
Giglio entered the race in October, the seventh candidate to file his paperwork to run for the seat.
He ran on a campaign that praised former President Donald Trump and lambasted McCarthy, who resigned from the seat Dec. 31. With his exit, Giglio joins T.J. Esposito, another 20th District candidate who suspended his campaign Wednesday and endorsed Boudreaux.
Despite some initial concerns over “Sheriff Boudreaux’s motives for entering this race,” Giglio wrote, he is confident that Boudreaux aligns most with his values of “stopping the radical Left and disrupting the status quo.”
“I can now say with complete certainty that he is a good man and is in this race for the right reasons,” Giglio wrote. “Mike and I have had the chance to form a friendship over the last few weeks, and I know he both understands and shares my passion for change.”
In a separate statement released shortly afterward on Friday morning, Giglio criticized Western Pacific Research Inc. President Cathy Abernathy as part of the local political machine, and urged voters to consider new leadership.
“As the only candidate in this race to challenge former Speaker Kevin McCarthy directly, I understand how important this opportunity to defeat the McCarthy/ Abernathy machine is,” Giglio wrote. “Now is our moment to chart a new course for the Central Valley, and we must be willing to do everything possible to ensure we are successful, even if that means I must step aside.”
In the same release distributed by Boudreaux’s campaign, the Tulare County sheriff characterized Giglio as a “dogged advocate” for the Central Valley.
“Since entering the race, I have had the opportunity to get to know him in between candidate forums and other events,” Boudreaux wrote. “He is a terrific family man who will be an exceptional addition to the next generation of emerging Valley leaders. I welcome all of David’s loyal supporters to Team Boudreaux and look forward to working together to deliver a stronger, safer Valley that puts America first.”
California’s 20th Congressional District is home to communities in Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare counties.