California Democrat Adam Gray dumps Republican as final House race decided | US elections 2024

Democrat Adam Gray captured California’s 13th Congressional District on Tuesday, ousting Republican John Duarte in the final U.S. House race that will be decided in the 2024 election.

Gray’s victory in the farm belt, which spans five counties, means Republicans have gained 220 seats in the House 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 captured the seat in 2022 when he defeated Gray by one of the narrowest margins in the country, 564 votes. He was often ranked among the weakest Republicans in the House, given his narrow margin of victory in a Democratic-leaning district — about 11 points ahead of registered Republicans.

Gray said in an earlier statement: “We always knew this race would be as close as it could be and we expect a photo finish this year too.”

Duarte told the Turlock Journal he urged Gray to relent, adding, “That’s how it goes.”

“I am a citizen lawmaker and I did not plan 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 secured three House seats in California held by the Republican Party.

Both Gray and Duarte emphasized bipartisanship during the campaign.

Gray, a former lawmaker, criticized the state’s water management and put 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 wine and almond grower, said his priorities included curbing inflation, reducing crime rates and ensuring adequate water supplies for farmers in the drought-prone state.

Similar to other Central Valley seats, the district has a large Latino population, but the most likely voters statewide are white, older and wealthier homeowners. Working-class voters, including many Latinos, are less consistent in voting.