Former Mayor Kevin Lincoln Takes on Rep. Adam Gray in Redrawn California District 13

Voters in California’s 13th Congressional District will decide on Nov. 3 whether to keep Democratic incumbent Adam Gray or elect Republican challenger Kevin Lincoln. Both candidates agree that affordability is the primary concern for residents, but they propose opposite paths to fix it. The race pits a local former mayor against a state legislator who recently won one of the narrowest House victories in recent history.

Lincoln, a former Stockton mayor and Marine veteran, is challenging Gray in the seat Gray won two years ago. Gray defeated Republican John Duarte by 187 votes out of 210,921 ballots cast in that election. Lincoln initially planned to run against Rep. Josh Harder in the 9th District, where he lost in 2024, but switched to the 13th after Proposition 50 redrew the district boundaries.

The new District 13 map covers the agricultural heart of the San Joaquin Valley and extends south along Interstate 5 to the Coalinga area near Fresno. Before the redistricting, state records from 2023 indicated the district had 42.3% registered Democrats and 28.5% registered Republicans. Gray currently holds a financial advantage over his opponent in the race.

Federal Election Commission data from June 30 shows Gray has raised $4.2 million in contributions and loans. Lincoln has secured $2.2 million, creating a gap of two million dollars between the two campaigns. Lincoln receives the endorsement of President Donald Trump, who posted on Truth Social in December that Lincoln has his “Complete and Total Endorsement.” Lincoln described himself as “honored and thankful” for the support and continues to display it on his campaign website.

Democratic strategists believe the Trump endorsement may backfire due to high gas prices and aggressive immigration enforcement. They argue these issues will hurt Republican candidates associated with the president. Lincoln has also produced a “MAGA Majority” video for the National Republican Congressional Committee. The video features his time as mayor, his service as a Marine, and his work as a pastor.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Lincoln served in the Marine Corps' White House Military Office from 2001 to 2005. During that period, he guarded Marine One, the presidential helicopter. He also served as executive pastor at LifeSong Ministries in Stockton until 2020. Lincoln says his main goal is to “restore the American dream” by making home ownership more affordable. He accuses Gray of voting to raise taxes repeatedly.

At a September rally, Lincoln said he wants to lower the cost of gas, food, and utilities. He also pledged to create jobs, cut taxes, and expand access to healthcare. He told supporters that he “knows how to grind, knows how to fight and how to win a tough election.” Gray, a native of Merced, has criticized Trump’s deportation policies as “irresponsible, reckless, dangerous.”

Gray told the Sacramento Bee that voters want an independent voice rather than a strictly Democratic or Republican one. He serves as a whip for the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate lawmakers seeking bipartisan compromise. Gray argues he worked to reverse Republican Medicaid cuts and limited the president’s ability to impose tariffs without congressional approval. He also introduced a measure to reduce regulations on thermal energy.

Lincoln counters that Gray “increased the gas tax over 113% a gallon” while serving in the California Legislature. The candidates are now in the final days of campaigning in a district that includes downtown Stockton. Gray won his previous election by a margin of less than 0.1%. Lincoln hopes his local name recognition will overcome Gray’s fundraising lead and the national political headwinds.