Republican farmer John Duarte received an open congressional seat within the Central Valley, defeating Democratic Assemblyman Adam Grey regardless of Democrats’ sturdy voter registration benefit within the district.
The Related Press referred to as the race Friday, although official outcomes will take longer. The race was the ultimate congressional contest in California to be referred to as and provides to Republicans’ slim majority within the Home within the subsequent Congress.
No incumbent selected to run within the closely agricultural thirteenth Congressional District, adjusted within the decennial redrawing of maps to incorporate all of Merced County and elements of a number of others. Democrats have a 14.3-percentage-point voter registration edge, however low turnout amongst Democrats and Latinos — who make up simply over 50% of the inhabitants that’s eligible to vote — in addition to the impartial nature of politics within the area have made races unpredictable right here.
Each candidates pressed their native roots and impartial bona fides throughout the marketing campaign.
Grey, who was elected to the Meeting in 2012, referred to as himself a “radical centrist” who labored throughout celebration traces. The Merced native famous that he misplaced legislative committee assignments due to his views and highlighted his unsuccessful invoice to droop the state’s gasoline tax.
Duarte, 56, is a fourth-generation farmer from Modesto whose household nursery — one of many largest within the nation — grows almonds, pistachios and grapes. His battle with the federal authorities over allegations that he broken wetlands to plant wheat drew the help of conservatives involved about overreach by federal businesses. Duarte in the end settled and paid $1.1 million.
Whereas the 2 males’s political leanings differ, they do agree on probably the most urgent points within the district — water. They each labored to oppose the Delta tunnel plan that will have slashed water provides to farmers within the area.
And in contrast to another congressional contests within the state, the candidates have been comparatively congenial throughout their race. Each males have been requested to say one thing good about their rival throughout a current debate.
Grey referred to as Duarte “a pleasant man” whose “coronary heart is in the proper place.”
Duarte stated Grey was “a good, nice man” who was honest and has “labored onerous for the neighborhood.”
