Former Asm. Adam Gray (D–Merced) is launching a rematch bid for Congress in the 13th District.
Gray will face Rep. John Duarte (R–Modesto) in the March primary and will advance to the general election since they are the only two candidates who have filed to run.
The backstory: Duarte won election in the open 13th District in 2022 by a very slim margin, defeating Gray by 50.2 percent to 49.8 percent.
- Duarte’s victory came by only 564 votes – the second-closest race in the nation.
The big picture: Gray, who served in the Assembly for 10 years, will kick off his campaign in Merced on Saturday.
- While Duarte will come into the election with the advantages that come with being an incumbent, Gray is blaming his loss in 2022 on low voter turnout because the district was newly drawn.
- Gray expects voter turnout to be higher this year and swing in his favor.
What they’re saying: “It’s time for our Valley to be represented by someone who won’t bow to party bosses but will stand up for our Valley. It’s time for us to be heard,” Gray said in a statement. “It’s time for our Valley to be represented by someone who actually lives in the district.”
- Gray added, “The choice is pretty clear. Do you want to see more of the same dead-end political nonsense we’ve seen throughout the past year, or do you want to get things done? As my record proves, I get results.”
- Following Gray’s announcement, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Ben Petersen said, “The Valley already rejected self-serving Sacramento politician Adam Gray after he lived lavishly, collecting over a million dollars in taxpayer funded salary, while refusing to cast votes over 150 times. Families haven’t forgotten when Gray did bother to vote, he made them less safe and their gas and grocery costs skyrocket.”
