Former Democratic state Assemblyman Adam Gray has surged ahead of Republican incumbent Rep. John Duarte in the tightly contested race for California’s 13th Congressional District, leading by just 182 votes. The race has been neck and neck, with Duarte holding a 202-vote lead on Tuesday evening, only for Gray to pull ahead by a narrow margin on Wednesday morning. This district is no stranger to close elections, as evidenced by the 2022 midterm race between these two candidates, which was decided by a mere 564 votes.
Gray previously represented California’s 21st Assembly District, encompassing Merced County and parts of Stanislaus County, from 2012 to 2022. Known for his criticism of state water management, Gray has emphasized his priorities of water issues, agriculture, and educational enhancements.
On the other hand, Duarte has been serving the 13th Congressional District, including portions of Fresno, since 2023. During his time in office, Duarte has championed various bills, including the Border Security and Immigration Reform Act.
As per the Associated Press, 99 percent of the votes have been tallied in this Central Valley race. The current phase of the electoral process involves campaigns and volunteers engaging in “ballot curing,” a process aimed at assisting voters in rectifying disqualified ballots. One common issue that necessitates ballot curing is discrepancies in signatures between the ballot and the county registrar’s records.
In the event of a recount, any registered voter in California has the right to request one for any office, presidential electors, or measure. However, the request must specify the candidate on whose behalf the recount is being sought, as California law does not mandate automatic recounts.
The election outcome must be certified by December 5 at the county level and by December 13 by the secretary of state. This deadline underscores the importance of timely and accurate completion of the electoral process in determining the representative for California’s 13th Congressional District.
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