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Ballot Explained

U.S. House · November 3, 2026

Who's running in California's 13th congressional district

2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.

Candidates
2
Incumbent
Adam Gray
Parties
Democratic · Republican
State primary
Jun 2

Candidates appear in ballot order. We do not rank them, score them, or recommend one — here is how this is put together, and here is what the office actually does.

2 candidates · ballot order · Adam Gray currently holds this seat

High confidenceHigh confidenceBacked by government records or the candidate's own official statements, with agreement across several independent sources.What would raise it: Nothing missing — this is the strongest evidence tier.

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Water: more reliable deliveries for Valley farmers, new water infrastructure and fewer regulatory barriers — the issue his campaign names first.
  • Lowering costs for Valley families, including by limiting tariffs he says raise food prices and hurt farmers.
  • Support for agriculture and rural communities.
  • Expanding access to health care.
  • Bipartisan work and independence from his own party's leadership.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • U.S. Representative since January 2025; won in 2024 by 187 votes over Republican incumbent John Duarte.
  • Member of the California State Assembly, 2012 to 2024.
  • Serves on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee.
  • Submitted 15 community project funding requests for the district for fiscal 2026.
  • Missed 39 of 645 roll call votes between January 2025 and July 2026, according to GovTrack — a rate of 6.0%, against a 2.0% median for sitting members.
  • Listed as a frontline incumbent by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Arguments in favor

  • He knows every inch of the Valley, shows up and delivers, and voters trust that he is focused on results for their families rather than on his own advancement.

    — Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

  • His committee seats on Agriculture and Natural Resources put him where Valley water and farm policy is actually written, and he has used them on water allocations and district projects.

    — Adam Gray's campaign

Arguments against

  • He is a career politician who has spent years climbing the political ladder while leaving working families behind.

    — National Republican Congressional Committee

  • He has missed 6% of roll call votes since taking office, three times the rate of the typical member.

    — GovTrack's attendance record, cited by Republican critics

What we couldn’t verify

  • His explanation for the missed votes has not been published in the coverage available.
  • How the redrawn district's new Stockton population changes his approach, given his base is in Merced and Stanislaus counties.
Their campaign site ↗Sources:adamgrayforcongress.comgray.house.govgovtrack.usnrcc.orgnews.ballotpedia.org

What they say they stand for

Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.

  • Public safety, which he made the centre of his mayoralty.
  • Affordability and cost of living for Valley families.
  • Border security and immigration enforcement.
  • Energy production and lower energy costs.
  • Support for American workers and manufacturing.

What they’ve actually done

Documented record from official sources.

  • Mayor of Stockton, 2021 to 2025.
  • Marine Corps veteran; worked in Silicon Valley before returning to Stockton in 2013 as a pastor.
  • Republican nominee in California's 9th District in 2024; lost to Josh Harder by 3.6 points.
  • Endorsed by President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
  • Named to the National Republican Congressional Committee's priority candidate programme.
  • Advanced from the June 2, 2026 top-two primary ahead of two other Republicans.

Arguments in favor

  • As a Marine and a mayor he has spent his life in public service, challenged the status quo in Stockton and made the city safer and more affordable — and would bring that to Washington.

    — Kevin Lincoln's campaign

  • He is the candidate who would carry the administration's agenda on the border, costs and energy into a seat Republicans held until 2024.

    — National Republican Congressional Committee

Arguments against

  • He cannot run from his record as mayor: skyrocketing housing and utility costs, rampant crime, and taxpayer-funded perks for himself.

    — Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

  • He is defined by selfish political ambition — this is his second congressional run in two years, in a second district — and he would be a reliable vote for gutting health care and food assistance.

    — Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

What we couldn’t verify

  • A campaign website for this race could not be confirmed; his positions above come from his launch statement and reporting.
  • His position on Central Valley water allocation, the district's dominant local issue.
  • His response to the specific claims about Stockton's crime and cost figures during his mayoralty.
Sources:stocktonia.orgabc10.comdccc.orgsjvsun.comballotpedia.org

Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.

California's June 2, 2026 top-two primary sent Democratic incumbent Adam Gray and Republican Kevin Lincoln II to the November ballot; two other Republicans and one no-party-preference candidate were eliminated. Proposition 50 redrew this Central Valley district and added Stockton to it. Gray won the seat in 2024 by 187 votes over Republican incumbent John Duarte, and it is among the most closely watched House races in the country: the Democratic congressional committee lists Gray as a frontline incumbent, and the Republican committee has named Lincoln to its priority list. Roster confirmed against CBS Sacramento and Ballotpedia.

This is one contest on a longer ballot

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