Democrats clinched the final congressional seat of the 2024 election cycle on Tuesday as Adam Gray, a Merced Democrat, narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Rep. John Duarte in California’s Central Valley. Gray’s victory in California’s 13th Congressional District marks a critical win for Democrats in a tightly contested race that came down to the wire.
The district was the last unresolved race for the U.S. House of Representatives and ended as the closest contest nationwide. With only 187 votes separating the two candidates, Duarte conceded on Tuesday evening after weeks of suspenseful vote counting. Gray’s victory flips a key seat and underscores the volatile political dynamics of the region.
Initially trailing Duarte in the first three weeks of ballot counting, Gray gained momentum as mail-in ballots, which leaned heavily in his favor, were tallied. On November 26, he overtook Duarte and maintained a slim lead until the race was called. The 47-year-old expressed gratitude in a prepared statement, thanking his supporters and campaign team. “This district is ready for independent and accountable leadership that always puts the Valley’s people ahead of partisan politics,” Gray said. He emphasized plans to prioritize bipartisan collaboration and address critical issues such as clean water, education, infrastructure, and job creation.
Duarte, a first-term congressman, acknowledged his defeat with grace. “That’s how it goes,” he told the Turlock Journal. “I’m a citizen legislator, and I didn’t plan on being in Congress forever. But whenever I think I can make a difference, I’ll consider public service in different forms, including running for Congress again.”
With Gray’s win, the Republican Party retains a slim majority in the House, holding 220 seats compared to Democrats’ 215. This razor-thin margin underscores the high stakes for both parties as they prepare for legislative battles in the coming year. The GOP majority will temporarily narrow further in January, as Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz recently resigned, and other Republican members are expected to step down for positions in the incoming Trump administration.
California’s 13th Congressional District, spanning areas from Coalinga to Modesto and including Merced County, is politically unique. Though Democrats hold a 42% registration advantage over Republicans at 29%, the region often bucks expectations. Conservative Democrats frequently cross party lines, making the district a competitive battleground. In the 2022 election, Duarte narrowly defeated Gray by just 564 votes, setting the stage for this year’s rematch.
Throughout the 2024 campaign, both candidates emphasized their centrist credentials. Duarte, whose family owns a large farm in the San Joaquin Valley, campaigned on lowering gas prices and addressing the cost of living. He positioned himself as a moderate Republican, distancing himself from his party on issues like abortion and immigration while advocating for pragmatic solutions. Gray, a former state Assembly member, countered by portraying himself as a “radical centrist” capable of bipartisan collaboration. He criticized Duarte and House Republicans for failing to deliver tangible benefits for working families.
Gray’s win was part of a broader Democratic effort to regain ground in California’s congressional map. The party flipped two other Republican-held districts, with Derek Tran defeating Rep. Michelle Steel in Orange County and George Whitesides unseating Rep. Mike Garcia in northern Los Angeles County. Democrats also held onto a key open seat in Irvine, where state Sen. Dave Min defeated Republican Scott Baugh. However, Republicans secured victories elsewhere, including in the Central Valley’s 22nd District, where Rep. David Valadao defeated Democrat Rudy Salas by a comfortable margin.
The outcomes highlight California’s complex political landscape, where deep-blue metropolitan areas are counterbalanced by more conservative rural and suburban regions. The 13th District’s mix of agricultural communities and urban areas mirrors this dichotomy, making it a microcosm of the state’s broader political tensions.
Gray’s victory underscores the shifting dynamics in swing districts and the importance of grassroots organizing. As he prepares to join Congress, Gray faces the challenge of delivering on his promises while navigating a deeply divided House. His win not only caps the 2024 election but also sets the stage for future battles in one of the nation’s most competitive districts.
