Democrat Adam Gray has ousted incumbent Republican Rep. John Duarte in California’s 13th congressional district.
Duarte won the seat in 2022 defeating Gray by 564 votes. This time around the race is even closer. When Duarte conceded Tuesday he was losing by just 187 votes.
“That’s how it goes,” Duarte 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.”
Gray said in a statement that he was honored to be elected and thanked the volunteers, voters, donors, campaign staff and family members.
“This district is ready for independent and accountable leadership that always puts the Valley’s people ahead of partisan politics,” Gray said, according to Los Angeles Times.
Republicans have already regain control of the House after winning 220 seats in the November election, to Democrats 215, including Gray’s seat.
It is a much smaller margin that the party’s current majority in the House and could get even narrower for a few months as two members leave to join Trump’s cabinet and a third, Rep. Matt Gaetz, says he will not be returning to Congress after withdrawing himself from consideration to serve as Trump’s attorney general amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
