Gray and Lincoln Advance to November Face-Off in Congressional District 13 Race

Democratic Rep. Adam Gray and Republican Kevin Lincoln will face each other in November’s general election for California’s 13th Congressional District, CBS News projects. The two candidates advanced from the June 2 primary, which also included Republican businessman Vin Kruttiventi and Democratic community organizer Daniel Garibay Rodriguez.

The district includes portions of Fresno County alongside parts of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Madera and Merced counties, stretching across the northern San Joaquin Valley. The race is running under new congressional lines approved by voters through Proposition 50 in November 2025 — a ballot measure that temporarily replaced California’s congressional map with one drawn by state lawmakers. The redrawn 13th District now extends into Stockton and is considered more favorable to Democrats than the previous boundary.

Gray won the seat in 2024 by 187 votes over Republican incumbent John Duarte, the last House race of that cycle to be decided. Two years earlier, Duarte had defeated Gray by 564 votes. Lincoln, Stockton’s former mayor, has secured endorsements from President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson.

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On water access — which Gray’s campaign lists as the district’s top issue — Gray’s platform says he has worked to secure more reliable deliveries for farmers, push for new water infrastructure and reduce regulatory barriers. Lincoln’s campaign lists “keeping the woke DEI agenda out of the Valley” as a priority, saying he would oppose Diversity, Equity and Inclusion mandates, transgender bathroom policies and gender-affirming care for minors.

The Breakdown

• California uses a top-two primary system: the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election, regardless of party.
• The 13th District’s boundaries changed after voters approved Proposition 50 in November 2025, temporarily replacing the congressional map with one drawn by state lawmakers rather than the independent redistricting commission.
• Gray currently represents the district; Lincoln is Stockton’s former mayor.
• The district’s campaign issues center on water access, housing affordability, healthcare access and cost of living across a region that includes part of Stockton, smaller Central Valley communities and agricultural areas.

What This Means for You

If you live in the portion of Fresno County included in the 13th Congressional District, your vote in November will decide who represents you in the U.S. House of Representatives. Gray’s margin of victory in 2024 was 187 votes. Your November ballot will determine the outcome of this race.

What to Watch

The redrawn district lines matter here. Proposition 50’s new map is considered more favorable to Democrats than the previous version. The question is whether Lincoln’s top-level Republican endorsements and his campaign’s focus on opposing DEI mandates and transgender policies will translate into votes in a district where water access and cost-of-living issues are among the central campaign issues, or whether Gray’s focus on agricultural water delivery will hold the seat. The two prior races were decided by margins of 187 votes in 2024 and 564 votes in 2022.