Nearly a month after the election on November 5, the Democratic nominee for California’s 13th Congressional District was finally declared the winner in a very close race that was the last to be called. Gray defeated incumbent John Duarte (R-CA) by less than 200 votes, according to the Associated Press.
It was the second straight congressional election in which Duarte and Day faced off, and the second straight election won by the slimmest of margins. In 2022, Duarte defeated Gray by less than 600 votes.
“We always knew that this race would be as close as they come, and we’re expecting a photo finish this year, too,” Gray said in a statement in November.
Duarte’s defeat marks the latest setback for Republicans in California. Reps. Mike Garcia (R-CA) and Michelle Steel (R-CA) were also defeated by Democratic opponents in the 2024 election. Steel’s race also took several weeks to call, with her defeat only officially being announced on November 27.
Duarte called Gray to concede the race late Tuesday night, according to reports.
“That’s how it goes,” Duarte said on Tuesday night. “I’m a citizen legislator, and I didn’t plan on being in Congress forever.”
Gray is considered a centrist Democrat, according to reports, and campaigned on topics such as renewable energy sources and agricultural matters such as water shortages, a critical issue for farmers in California, Fox News reported. Duarte’s platform also tackled agrarian matters in the state while focusing on hot-button concerns such as crime and inflation.
Gray posted a statement on X after being officially declared the winner, stating that the “work has just begun.”
“The final results confirm this district is ready for independent and accountable leadership that always puts the Valley’s people ahead of partisan politics,” Gray posted.
“But the work has just begun,” read Gray’s statement. “In Washington, I’ll work everyday [sic] to deliver the resources that the Valley needs: clean water, better educational opportunities, stronger infrastructure, and more good-paying jobs. And you can count on me to build bipartisan relationships to accomplish these goals.”
“Now, let’s get to work,” Gray declared.
With Gray’s victory, Republicans currently hold a 5-seat lead in the House. This will change in the coming weeks after certain House members were nominated to be in President-elect Trump’s Cabinet.
