“Today, I’m proud to announce I’m running for Congress and getting back in the fight for valley families.....For nearly 10 years, I had the privilege of representing the valley and putting the needs of our people above partisan politics in the State Assembly. I never shied away from bucking party leadership for the good of the Valley – fighting back against the state water grab that threatened tens of thousands of ag-based jobs, securing millions of dollars for flood control in communities like Planada and Grayson, and increasing access to rural health clinics while creating the pipeline for a new generation of doctors who will be educated at a medical school at UC Merced.” (Merced County Times, , 8/13/23) 

 

BACKGROUND + EXPERIENCE 

Adam Gray is a native of the heart of California's San Joaquin Valley agricultural region where he worked in his family dairy supply + feed store. He graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara with a BA in Political Science.

 

Early in Gray’s career, he was staff member in the offices of some members of the California Assembly + Senators. He was elected to the California State Assembly in 2012 + re-elected for four subsequent terms. In that role Assemblyman Gray became a bipartisan problem solver on issues like affordable health care, job creation, education, public safety + protection. of water resources. 

 

In 2022, Gray advanced though the “top two” California primary system to face Republican farmer John Duarte for the 13th Congressional District. In what was one of the last races in the country to be called, Duarte defeated Gray by 564 votes  (0.4%.)  Though Gray will again compete in the California nonpartisan primary in March of ‘24, he is the presumptive nominee to face incumbent Duarte in November..  

 

ON THE ISSUES  

Adam Gray has a proven track record as a state legislator with commitment to key priorities impacting residents of the 13th Congressional District. Examples include: 

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Water and agriculture: led efforts to minimize the impact of the “state water grab” + ensured funding for critical water storage 

 

Education: secured funding for high-skill job training supporting local industries; secured funding for an Ag Tech building at Merced College: supported funding for early childhood education + school-based healthcare including mental health care. 

 

Public Safety: secured funding to identify gang leaders and to confiscate ammunition + weapons from the streets; opposed efforts to reduce sentencing before rehabilitation has been completed; worked with law enforcement to ban use of the chokehold without jeopardizing officer safety

 

Veterans: was named the first legislator of the year by the Military Officers Association of America; wrote or supported legislation benefiting veterans like  the elimination state taxes on veteran pay, constructing permanent supportive housing for veterans + making it easier for veterans to transition to jobs in the water industry

 

Health Care: secured funding to build a medical education building at UC Merced and to support new graduate medical residency programs; wrote legislation expanding hours of operation for health clinics

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CALIFORNIA POLITICS  
CA 13 extends northwest from the Fresno suburbs toward Stockton, San Jose + the southeastern suburbs of San Francisco.

 

California consistently votes Democratic in presidential candidates, supporting President Biden by +10.9 points in 2020. With some exceptions over the last several generations, it has elected  Democratic governors + US Senators including current Senators Alex Padilla + Laphonza Butler, appointed to complete Diane Feinstein’s term. That seat, which is already eyed by several prominent Democrats, will be filled in 2024. California lost one seat following the 2020 Census.

 

Given Duarte’s narrow margin of victory in the off-year election of 2022 (564 votes,) the Gray/Duarte race is expected to be extremely competitive. Republicans are targeting this seat as demonstrated by the significant gap in fundraising. .  

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COMMITTEES (California State Legislator 2021-2022)   

• Accountability and Administrative Review 

• Agriculture 

• Emergency Management 

• Revenue and Taxation