By MICHAEL R. BLOOD | Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Democrat Adam Gray captured California’s 13th Congressional District on Tuesday, unseating Republican Rep. John Duarte in the final U.S. House contest to be decided this year.
Gray’s win in the farm belt seat that cuts through five counties means Republicans won 220 House seats this election cycle, with Democrats holding 215 seats.
Gray won by a margin of 187 votes, with election officials reporting Tuesday all ballots — more than 210,000 — had been counted.
Duarte captured the seat in 2022 when he defeated Gray by one of the closest margins in the country, 564 votes. He was often listed among the most vulnerable House Republicans given that narrow margin of victory in a district with a Democratic tilt — about 11 points 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.
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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.