Adam Channing Gray (born September 23, 1977)[1] is an American politician who is the member-elect for the United States House of Representatives from California's 13th congressional district after defeating Republican incumbent John Duarte in the 2024 election. A Democrat, he previously served in the California State Assembly and represented the 21st Assembly district, encompassing all of Merced County and portions of Stanislaus County. He was a candidate in the 2022 election for California's 13th congressional district, narrowly losing in the general election to Duarte.[2] He ran for the same seat again in 2024, defeating Duarte in another close race.[3]
Adam Gray | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 13th district | |
| Assuming office January 3, 2025 | |
| Succeeding | John Duarte |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 21st district | |
| In office December 3, 2012 – December 5, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Rich Gordon (redistricted) |
| Succeeded by | Diane Papan (redistricted) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Adam Channing Gray September 23, 1977 Merced, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Merced College University of California, Santa Barbara (BA) |
Early life and education
editAdam Channing Gray[4] was born on September 23, 1977 in Merced, California. Gray graduated from Golden Valley High School in Merced and then attended Merced College before earning his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara.[5]
Early career
editGray worked in the district office of Assembly member Dennis Cardoza. He was also a staffer for lawmakers Herb Wesson, Fabian Nunez, and Jerome Horton.[6]
Gray was also a member of the staff of state Senator Ron Calderon.[7] In July 2013, Gray testified in the federal investigation involving corruption charges against Calderon.
California State Assembly
editGray was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2012, receiving 58.2% of the vote.[8] In the 2014 primary election, Gray received 95.3% of the vote and was reelected in 2016 with 66.8% of the vote and again in 2018 with 71.3% of the vote.[9] In 2020, he received 59.6% of the vote.
He was on the Committee for Accountability and Administrative Review, the Agriculture Committee, the Revenue and Taxation Committee and the Select Committee on Health Care Access in Rural Communities. Gray was also a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management. He was chairman of the Governmental Organization Committee, but was stripped of his chairmanship in December 2020 due to a dispute over water rights.[10]
In July 2014, Gray supported Merced and Stanislaus counties as a potential site for Tesla Motors' multibillion-dollar "Giga-Factory".[11][12]
U.S. House of Representatives
editElections
edit2022
editOn January 18, 2022, Gray announced that he would be a candidate for California's 13th congressional district in the 2022 election for the United States House of Representatives.[13] He advanced from the June 2022 primary and faced Republican pistachio farmer John Duarte in the November 2022 general election.[14] He conceded the race on December 3, 2022, shortly after the race was called by the Associated Press. It was one of the last U.S. House races in the country to be decided; Gray lost by only 564 votes in an upset.
2024
editIn August 2023, Gray announced his candidacy against Duarte again in the 2024 election.[15] Following weeks of counting, Gray eventually took the lead over Duarte on November 26, 2024 by a margin of 182 votes, with the race being called on December 4.[16]
Electoral history
edit2014
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 26,015 | 95.3 | |
| Republican | Jack Mobley (write-in) | 1,286 | 4.7 | |
| Total votes | 27,301 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 34,931 | 53.4 | |
| Republican | Jack Mobley | 30,499 | 46.6 | |
| Total votes | 65,430 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2016
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 43,874 | 66.8 | |
| Republican | Greg Opinski | 21,754 | 33.1 | |
| Republican | Brien J. Rahilly (write-in) | 36 | 0.1 | |
| Total votes | 65,664 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 85,990 | 69.8 | |
| Republican | Greg Opinski | 37,230 | 30.2 | |
| Total votes | 123,220 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2018
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 43,023 | 99.9 | |
| Libertarian | Justin Ryan Quigley (write-in) | 49 | 0.1 | |
| Total votes | 43,072 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 74,320 | 71.3 | |
| Libertarian | Justin Ryan Quigley | 29,855 | 28.7 | |
| Total votes | 104,175 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2020
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 54,987 | 99.0 | |
| Republican | Joel Gutierrez Campos (write in) | 300 | 0.5 | |
| Republican | Guadalupe Salazar (write in) | 256 | 0.5 | |
| Total votes | 55,287 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 93,816 | 59.6 | |
| Republican | Joel Gutierrez Campos | 63,514 | 40.4 | |
| Total votes | ||||
References
edit- ^ "Adam Gray". CalMatters. September 8, 2021.
- ^ Mizelle, Shawna. Republican John Duarte wins open House seat in California after Democrat concedes, CNN, December 3, 2022.
- ^ https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/03/adam-gray-wins-central-valley-swing-seat-00187093
- ^ https://web2.co.merced.ca.us/pdfs/elections/elections/2014_11_04/candidates_list.pdf
- ^ Brassil, Gillian (January 18, 2022). "California Democrat Adam Gray to run for Congress in 2022". Merced Sun-Star. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ Rappley, Nick (September 2, 2011). "21st Assembly race ramps up after Berryhill exits". Tank Town Media. Patterson Irrigator. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ Rosenhall, Laurel (July 15, 2013). "Assemblyman Adam Gray to testify in FBI's Calderon investigation". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ^ "Statement of Vote" (PDF). sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ^ "Statement of Vote" (PDF). sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 4, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ^ "Assemblyman Adam Gray is stripped of committee chairmanship". Modesto Bee. December 15, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ Carlson, Ken (July 15, 2014). "Making the case for putting Tesla battery factory in Northern San Joaquin Valley". The Modesto Bee. Archived from the original on July 22, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ^ Funez, Elias (July 17, 2014). "Could 10,000,000 sq. ft. Tesla plant call Patterson home?". Patterson Irrigator. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ^ "California Democrat Adam Gray to run for Congress in 2022". Merced Sun Star. January 18, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
- ^ Cowan, Jill (June 15, 2022). "Democratic lawmaker will face G.O.P. businessman in Central Valley battleground". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
- ^ Sheeler, Andrew (August 29, 2023). "Adam Gray Announces Congressional Bid, Setting Up Central Valley Rematch with Rep. John Duarte". www.sacbee.com. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ Weber, Lindsay (November 27, 2024). "Gray pulls ahead of Duarte in race for California Congressional District 13". KCRA. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
External links
edit
- Adam Gray for Congress campaign website