Gray and Lincoln Face Off in Tightened Valley House Race

Voters in California's 13th Congressional District will decide the fate of a tightly contested House seat on November 3. The election pits Democratic incumbent Adam Gray against Republican challenger Kevin Lincoln. Both candidates agree that the cost of living is the primary concern for residents in the San Joaquin Valley, yet they propose different solutions to address high prices for housing, gas, and food.

Gray secured the seat two years ago in one of the narrowest victories in recent history. He defeated Republican representative John Duarte by 187 votes out of 210,921 ballots cast. Lincoln, who served as mayor of Stockton, previously ran in the 9th District in 2024 against Josh Harder. He switched his bid to District 13 after Proposition 50 redrew the district boundaries.

The new map covers the agricultural heart of the valley and extends south along Interstate 5 to the Coalinga area. State records from 2023 indicated that 42.3% of registered voters in the district were Democrats and 28.5% were Republicans. Financially, Gray holds a substantial advantage. Federal Election Commission data from June 30 shows Gray raised $4.2 million in contributions and loans. Lincoln reported $2.2 million during the same period.

Lincoln campaigns with the explicit backing of President Donald Trump. The president posted on Truth Social in December that he gives Lincoln his complete and total endorsement. Lincoln calls the support an honor and features it prominently on his campaign website. He also recorded a video for the National Republican Congressional Committee. In the clip, he highlights his service as a Marine in the White House Military Office from 2001 to 2005 and his work as an executive pastor at LifeSong Ministries until 2020.

Lincoln states that his main goal is to restore the American dream by making home ownership more affordable. At a September rally, he said he wants to lower the cost of gas, food, and utilities while creating jobs. He accused Gray of voting to raise taxes repeatedly. Gray, a native of Merced, counters that he served as a whip for the Blue Dog Coalition. He told the Sacramento Bee that voters want an independent voice rather than a strictly partisan one.

Gray points to his legislative record as evidence of his focus on affordability. He stated that he worked to reverse Medicaid cuts and introduced measures to limit tariffs without congressional approval. He also cited his efforts to reduce regulations around thermal energy. Lincoln challenges Gray's record by noting that the representative increased the gas tax by 113% per gallon while serving in the California Legislature.

Democrats in the district believe that high gas prices and aggressive immigration enforcement will benefit Gray. They argue that these national issues will hurt a candidate carrying the president's endorsement. Lincoln maintains that his experience in local government and his military service prepare him to fight for the valley's residents. The campaign will conclude with a general election vote on November 3.