Democrat Adam Gray flips California swing seat blue
Democrat Adam Gray has flipped one of his party’s highest-priority seats in California’s Central Valley, booting Republican Rep. John Duarte from office in the last House race in the country to be called.
Gray, a former state legislator, previously lost to Duarte in 2022 by a margin of 564 votes. This year, his party managed to turn out enough supporters to deal a major blow to the GOP.
Duarte told POLITICO on Tuesday that he had conceded the race.
Democratic flips of seats held by California GOP Reps. Duarte, Mike Garcia and Michelle Steel have cut into Republicans' narrow House majority, as will — for the near term — the expected GOP departures of Reps. Michael Waltz of Florida, Elise Stefanik of New York and Matt Gaetz of Florida. For the time being, Republicans hold 220 seats and Democrats 215. (Republicans won 222 in 2022.)
Democrats poured millions into flipping key swing regions like the Central Valley, far outspending Republican incumbents like Duarte.
Mia McCarthy contributed to this story.