LOS ANGELES – Adam Gray, a Democrat, has won the election in California’s 13th Congressional District, leading to the defeat of Republican incumbent John Duarte. This was the final U.S. House race to be determined in this election cycle.
Gray’s victory in this agricultural region that spans across five counties has contributed to the Republicans securing 220 House seats in total, while the Democrats hold 215 seats.
Gray won by a margin of less than 200 votes, with election officials reporting Tuesday all ballots had been counted.
In 2022, Duarte won the seat by a slim margin of 564 votes when he defeated Gray. He was considered one of the most at-risk House Republicans due to his narrow win in a district where Democrats have an 11-point advantage over registered Republicans.
Gray said in a statement: “We always knew that this race would be as close as they come, and we’re expecting a photo finish this year, too.”
Duarte told the Turlock Journal he had called Gray to concede, adding “That’s how it goes.”
“I’m a citizen legislator, and I didn’t plan on being in Congress forever,” Duarte told the newspaper, though he didn’t rule out a possible future campaign.
In a tough year for Democrats nationally, the party picked up three GOP-held House seats in California.
Both Gray and Duarte stressed bipartisan credentials during the campaign.
Gray, a former legislator, was critical of state water management and put water and agriculture at the top of his issues list. 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 curbing inflation, crime rates and obtaining adequate water supplies for 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 tend to be white, older, more affluent homeowners. Working-class voters, including many Latinos, are less consistent in getting to the polls.
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