Rep. Adam Gray’s campaign responded Tuesday to last week’s endorsement by President Donald Trump for one his opponents for the 13th Congressional District seat next year.
Trump officially backed former Stockton mayor Kevin Lincoln, who failed last year to unseat Rep. Josh Harder (D-Tracy), in a bid for the 9th Congressional District seat.
According to campaign spokesperson Ben Rodriguez, Gray was not surprised by the president’s move.
“The only surprising thing here is that Kevin Lincoln would actually want this endorsement,” said Rodriguez, “Tariffs, health care cuts, and a rising cost of living — that’s the record. Valley families deserve better and Congressman Adam Gray is delivering. He’s fighting to lower costs and protect access to affordable health care.”
Over the past two election cycles, the 13th has been the most competitive district in the nation. Gray defeated Republican John Duarte for the seat by just 187 votes in 2024, after losing to Duarte by 564 votes in 2022.
Lincoln seemed poised for a rematch with Harder in the fall until California voters approved Proposition 50 last month. That ballot measure shifted the boundaries of the 13th District — the heart of which is Merced County but also includes about half of Stanislaus County — to include a finger jutting into San Joaquin County and Stockton. The shift was designed to make the district more blue, which would help Gray’s chances of retaining a seat in a region that has bounced from left to right over the years.
Two days after Prop. 50 passed, Lincoln switched his focus from Harder to Gray.
Gray was sitting on a war chest of $1.73 million as of Sept. 30, the end of the previous reporting period, while Republican Vin Kruttiventi had raised less than a third of that — $486,973. Lincoln reported funds of $278,809.
Alvarado-Gil announces 2026 committee assignments
State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil (R-Jackson) has accepted her new assignments on the following committees:
· Vice chair of the Agriculture Committee — Oversees legislation relating to agriculture, including farming, food production, and related industries.
· VIce chair of the Revenue and Taxation Committee — Has primary jurisdiction over the Revenue and Taxation Code, reviewing bills concerning state and local taxes, revenue policies, and fiscal matters.
· Governmental Organization Committee — Handles bills related to state government organization, horse racing, public gaming, alcoholic beverages, public safety emergencies and disaster response, and the use of state-controlled lands.
· Joint Committee on Fairs Allocation and Classification — Examines the state’s fair industry, oversees the allocation of state funds to fairs, reviews fair classifications, and addresses regulatory and funding challenges to support agricultural traditions and community events.
These assignments Alvarado-Gil said, will advance key issues for her rural district and the state.
“Thank you to our new Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón for your leadership and trust with these appointments,” said Alvarado-GIl. “I’m looking forward to representing the families, farmers, and communities of Senate District 4.
Alvarado-GIl is facing a primary challenge from two local Republicans.
Former Congressman Duarte’s wife, Alexandra Duarte, has launched a her campaign to oust the incumbent. Jeramy Young, Chief of Police in Livermore and the former mayor of Hughson, also is seeking the seat.
Tuolumne County Supervisor Jaron Brandon (D-Columbia), another District 4 candidate, held a meet-and-greet Tuesday night at Crust & Crumb in Turlock.
Reporting from the Garth Stapley of the Modesto Focus was included in this story.
