Democrat Adam Gray captures California’s 13th US House District, ousting Republican Rep. John Duarte
LOS ANGELES — Democrat Adam Gray captured California’s 13th Congressional District on Tuesday, unseating Republican Rep. John Duarte in the final U.S. House of Representatives election to be decided this year.
Gray’s victory in the farm belt seat that runs through five counties means Republicans won 220 seats in the House of Representatives this election cycle, while Democrats hold 215 seats.
Gray won by a margin of less than 200 votes, with election officials reporting Tuesday that all ballots had been counted.
Duarte won the seat in 2022 when he defeated Gray by one of the nation’s largest margins, 564 votes. He was often cited as one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the House of Representatives, given the slim margin of victory in a Democratic-leaning district — about 11 points over registered Republicans.
Gray said in a statement: “We always knew this race would be as close as it could get, and we expect a photo finish this year as well.”
Duarte told the Turlock Journal that he called for Gray to relent, adding, “That’s how it goes.”
“I am a citizen legislator and I did not intend to stay in Congress forever,” Duarte told the newspaper, although he did not rule out a possible future campaign.
In a difficult year for Democrats nationally, the party picked up three Republican seats in the California House of Representatives.
Both Gray and Duarte emphasized bipartisan credentials during the campaign.
Gray, a former lawmaker, has been critical of the state’s water management, placing water and agriculture at the top of his list of issues. He also said he wants improvements in infrastructure, renewable energy and education.
Duarte, a businessman and major grape and almond farmer, said his priorities included reducing inflation, crime rates and getting adequate water supplies to farmers in the drought-prone state.
There is a large Latino population in the district, similar to other Central Valley seats, but the most likely voters statewide are white, older, more affluent homeowners. Working-class voters, including many Latinos, are less consistent in their efforts to get to the polls.