Democrat Adam Gray Takes Lead in Tight California Congressional Race

Former Democratic state Assemblyman Adam Gray has taken the lead over Republican incumbent Rep. John Duarte in the razor thin race for California’s 13th Congressional District by just 182 votes. Duarte had been leading by 202 votes Tuesday evening, but as of Wednesday morning Gray took a narrow lead. Close elections are nothing new for the district and the candidates. In 2022, the two men faced each other in a midterm election decided by 564 votes. Gray served California’s 21st Assembly District, which included all of Merced County and parts of Stanislaus County, from 2012 to 2022. A critic of state water management, Gray has said his priorities include water, agriculture, and improvements in education....