Power Moves: Republicans' and Democrats' Top Brass Focus on Key Valley Congressional Race

Local Elections

By The Merced Focus

Published 6 months ago on

October 16, 2024

At left, California Senate candidate Rep. Adam Schiff meets with fellow Democrat Adam Gray, who is running in California's 13th District. At right, House Speaker Mike Johnson and fellow Republican Rep. John Duarte. (X Screenshot/Rachel Livinal/The Merced Focus)

High-profile visits from Adam Schiff and Mike Johnson underscore the importance of the 13th District race.
The rematch between Duarte and Gray promises to be tight, with the 2022 race decided by just 564 votes.
An upcoming debate at the State Theatre in Modesto on Oct. 25 will be a key moment in the campaign.

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You don’t have to be a GOP or Democratic strategist to see it’s starting to get real in Congressional District 13, with the Nov. 5 election less than a month away.

Victor A. Patton

The Merced FOCUS

Top leaders from both parties have made in-person appearances in the Valley to support their respective candidates.

For example, California Senate candidate Rep. Adam Schiff stopped at UC Merced on Wednesday, Oct.9, to meet with Democrat Adam Gray, who is in a tight race against incumbent District 13 Rep. John Duarte.

Meanwhile, earlier last week House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared in Modesto with Rep. Vince Fong to galvanize Republican support behind Duarte in the 13th District.

Johnson posted about the Modesto meeting on his X account.

The road to growing our House majority runs through California, where families are eager to lower costs, lower crime, and secure our border.@KevinLincolnCD9, @Duarte4Congress, and @dgvaladao are among the Californians who will help us do just that. Great to see all three today… pic.twitter.com/bq3aD4ESrS

— Mike Johnson (@MikeJohnson) October 9, 2024

Similarly, Schiff posted about his visit to Merced, speaking to Gray’s university class.

Speaking with some of the students in @ucmerced’s Legislative Simulation Course.

What an impressive group of students and powerful way to learn.

Thanks to former Assemblymember Adam Gray for the invite! pic.twitter.com/0ylgJVD9FY

— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) October 10, 2024

Obviously, the Valley visits by high-level Republicans and Democrats aren’t to take advantage of our extended summer weather.

Republicans want to maintain power in the House of Representatives, while Democrats want to take back the majority.

Republicans hold 220 of House seats to the Democrat’s 212, with three vacancies. Winning the 13th Congressional District will be key to gaining or retaining power.

The race between Duarte and Gray is a rematch. In 2022, Duarte beat Gray by a mere 564 votes, or less than half a percentage point, out of over 133,000 ballots cast.

The 13th Congressional District stretches across five counties, including San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera and Fresno.

Gray and Duarte are scheduled to face off later this month at the “Debate At The State.”

The event is scheduled for Oct. 25 at the State Theatre, 1307 J St. in Modesto. Admission is free; register at the State Theatre website. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the debate starts at 7:30 p.m.

The debate is being sponsored by the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, The Maddy Institute and UC Merced Cape Center. The debate will be broadcast live on CapRadio (91.3 FM in Modesto/Stanislaus County) and KVPR (89.3 FM Merced and Fresno).

KVPR/Merced FOCUS reporter Rachel Livinal contributed to this report.

About the Author

Victor Patton is editor-in-chief of The Merced FOCUS.