Gray Holds $4.2 Million War Chest Against Lincoln in Redrawn District 13

The central question in California's 13th Congressional District is how to lower the cost of living, but the two candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot offer opposite answers. Democratic incumbent Rep. Adam Gray and Republican challenger Kevin Lincoln both agree that affordability is the top concern for voters, yet they propose sharply different remedies to fix it.

Lincoln, the former mayor of Stockton, is a well-known figure in local politics. Gray, a former state assemblymember from Merced, is less familiar to many residents, even though his newly drawn district now includes downtown Stockton. Gray won the seat two years ago by a margin of just 187 votes out of 210,921 cast, defeating Republican Rep. John Duarte.

Lincoln initially planned to run against Rep. Josh Harder in the 9th District, where he lost in 2024. He switched to the 13th District after Proposition 50 redrew the boundaries. The new district covers the agricultural heart of the San Joaquin Valley, running south along Interstate 5 to the Coalinga area. Before redistricting, 2023 state records showed 42.3% of voters in the area were registered Democrats and 28.5% were Republicans.

Money is a major factor in this race. As of June 30, the latest Federal Election Commission figures show Gray has raised $4.2 million in contributions and loans. Lincoln has raised $2.2 million. This gap puts the incumbent in a strong financial position heading into the final stretch of the campaign.

Lincoln carries the full endorsement of President Donald Trump, who declared on Truth Social in December that Lincoln has his "Complete and Total Endorsement." Lincoln called the support "honored and thankful" and continues to promote it on his campaign site. Democrats argue that high gas prices and aggressive immigration raids will hurt Lincoln's standing with voters despite the presidential backing.

Lincoln, a former Marine, highlights his service protecting President Trump in the White House Military Office from 2001 to 2005. He also served as executive pastor at Stockton's LifeSong Ministries through 2020. In a recent video for the National Republican Congressional Committee, he described himself as a candidate who "knows how to grind, knows how to fight and how to win a tough election." His platform focuses on making home ownership more affordable, cutting taxes, and expanding healthcare access.

Gray positions himself as an independent voice rather than a strict partisan. He called Trump's deportation policies "irresponsible, reckless, dangerous" and serves as a whip for the Blue Dog Coalition. On the economy, Gray cites his work to reverse Medicaid cuts and limit tariff powers. Lincoln counters by accusing Gray of raising the gas tax by more than 113% per gallon during his time in the California Legislature.