California’s District 13 Race: Adam Gray Gains Lead as Vote Count Nears Conclusion

California Congressional Race Update

Three weeks after Election Day, the District 13 congressional race in California has become highly competitive. Democrat Adam Gray has taken the lead over Republican Rep. John Duarte, with Gray ahead by 182 votes as of 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The Associated Press estimates that the vote count for this Central Valley district has reached over 99%, suggesting Gray may secure victory as the last ballots are counted.

This race is the closest in the nation. In 2022, Duarte won by less than half a percentage point. A similarly tight race in District 45, which spans Orange and Los Angeles counties, also remains undecided. While that contest has not yet been certified, the Democratic challenger has claimed victory.

Both District 13 and District 45 feature Republican incumbents trailing their Democratic challengers by less than 1%. If Gray and the Democratic challenger in District 45 maintain their leads, the Republican Party will lose 25% of its Congressional delegation in California.

Before the elections, Republicans held 12 of California’s 52 congressional seats. Rep. Mike Garcia lost his seat to Democratic challenger George Whitesides by nearly 8,000 votes in District 27. In District 45, Republican Rep. Michelle Steel was trailing Derek Tran by 613 votes, with Tran’s lead standing at 50.1% to 49.9%.

Tran, a consumer rights attorney, expressed optimism about his community’s needs for affordable healthcare, housing, and economic inclusion. His lead increased gradually after initially trailing by over 11,000 votes, and he declared victory on Tuesday.

As of the latest updates, Republicans control the U.S. House of Representatives with 219 seats. Three races remain undecided: California’s 13th and 45th districts and Iowa’s District 1, where the Republican incumbent leads by 800 votes. Recounts are likely in all three races.

California is known for slow ballot counting after elections. Laws in the state have improved accessibility for voters but delayed final tallies. Several reforms, including an all-mail voting system, contribute to the slower process. In 2022, about half of the state’s votes were counted after Election Day.

Lawmakers aim to maximize voter participation by extending mail ballot deadlines and allowing ballots to be counted if postmarked by Election Day. This year, ballots can arrive up to a week late, making it difficult to determine final counts until Nov. 12.