Summary
Adam C. Gray is an American politician who served in the California State Assembly. He is a Democrat who represented the 21st Assembly district, encompassing all of Merced County and portions of Stanislaus County.
Born: 1977 (age 46 years), Merced, CA
Party: Democratic Party
Spouse: Cadee Condit Gray
2024 Election: Wins the United States House of Representatives seat
Previous campaigns: US House Elections in California, 2022, California State Assembly District 21 General Election, 2020
Previous office: California State Representative (2012–2022)
Education: University of California, Santa Barbara, Merced College
OnAir Post: Adam Gray CA-13
News
Los Angeles Times, – April 26, 2024
California House Districts 13, 22, 27, 41, 45, and 47.
Over 2,000 miles west of the nation’s Capitol, the battle for control of the House of Representatives in 2025 is being waged in farmland along Highway 99, fast-growing commuter communities north and east of Los Angeles and Orange County beach towns and inland suburbs.
While Republicans currently have a razor-thin majority in the House, partisan makeup of next year’s Congress will almost certainly be decided this November — at least in part — by a handful of hypercompetitive California races.
California “is, along with New York, one of the two most important paths to potential Democratic control of the House,” said Dave Wasserman, senior editor and elections analyst for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
About
Source: Campaign site
Born and raised in Merced, Adam Gray was raised working in his families’ dairy supply and feed store. When the Great Recession hit his hometown hard, Adam chose to step up and be part of the solution. He ran and was elected to the State Assembly in 2012 where he represented Merced County and Stanislaus County for a decade.
In the State Legislature, Adam championed bipartisan commonsense solutions. He was elected by his colleagues to lead the New Democratic Caucus. He also founded the California Problem Solvers Caucus which brings Democrats, Republicans, and independents together to address California’s most critical issues including homelessness, the pandemic, and drought.
Adam has led the fight against the State Water Grab. He bucked his own party leaders by advancing legislation to block the Water Grab and organized the largest water rights rally the State Capitol has ever seen. His efforts paid off when the chief architect of the Water Grab was removed from the board. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Democratic and Republican lawmakers from the Valley, Adam also delivered nearly $3 billion to build new water storage, $200 million to repair aging canals, and $60 million to bolster groundwater basins.
To address the Valley’s historic shortage of doctors, Adam secured more than $200 million to establish a joint medical school at UC Merced and UCSF-Fresno which will enroll its first class of future doctors in 2023. He also passed legislation to double the operating hours of rural health clinics to keep them open during hours that make sense for working families.
When Merced County had the highest murder rate in the state, Adam secured $4.5 million to develop a gang violence reduction program that resulted in the arrest of more than 50 gang leaders and the seizure of 21,000 rounds of ammunition. Adam also passed legislation to crack down on catalytic converter theft and increase penalties on shoplifting rings.
Adam secured $400 million to extend the ACE train to Modesto and Merced. Hepassed legislation preventing funding cuts to county fairs and FFA programs, and increased tax credits for small businesses. Before he was elected to the Legislature, Adam also fought to eliminate the Tractor Tax on farm equipment.
Adam has an unmatched record of fighting and delivering for the Valley. Adam has always put the needs of the community above partisan politics and that’s what he will continue to do if elected to Congress.
The 13th Congressional District includes all of Merced County and portions of the counties of Stanislaus, Madera, Fresno, and San Joaquin. Adam lives in the district, runs a small business, continues to fight against the Water Grab everyday, and is an educator at UC Merced where he teaches a class on the Legislature.
Web Links
Politics
Political career
Source: Wikipedia
State legislature
Gray was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2012, receiving 58.2% of the vote.In the 2014 primary election, Gray received 95.3% of the vote and was reelected in 2016 with 66.8% of the vote and again in 2018 with 71.3% of the vote. In 2020, he received 59.6% of the vote.
He was on the Committee for Accountability and Administrative Review, the Agriculture Committee, the Revenue and Taxation Committee and the Select Committee on Health Care Access in Rural Communities. Gray was also a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management. He was chairman of the Governmental Organization Committee, but was stripped of his chairmanship in December 2020 due to a dispute over water rights.[8]
In July 2014, Gray supported Merced and Stanislaus counties as a potential site for Tesla Motors’ multibillion-dollar “Giga-Factory”.
U.S. House campaign
On January 18, 2022, Gray announced that he would be a candidate for California’s 13th congressional district in the 2022 election for the United States House of Representatives.[11] He advanced from the June 2022 primary and faced Republican farmer John Duarte in the November 2022 general election.[12] He conceded the race on December 3, 2022, shortly after the race was called by the Associated Press. It was one of the last U.S. House races in the country to be decided; Gray lost by only 564 votes. Gray has announced he is running against Duarte again in 2024.[13]
Issues
Priorities
Source: Campaign site
Water and Agriculture
Defeated AB 2639, a bill that would have accelerated the adoption of the State Water Grab, officially known as the update to the Bay-Delta Plan, and jeopardized water storage projects like Sites Reservoir.
Ensured that $2.75 billion would be included in the 2014 water bond for storage. Without that leadership, funding for storage would have been zero.
Organized the 2018 rally that saw 1,500 Valley residents converge on the Capitol steps to protest the State Water Grab.
Led the Valley’s efforts to have SB 1 vetoed, which would have taken vast amounts of water used for growing food and drinking into the Delta.
Continues to demand California recognize hydroelectricity as renewable energy, creating incentives for modernization and expansion of generation capacity as brown outs once again threaten our state.
Restored state funding for FFA chapters serving 83,500 high school students.
Education
Secured $2 million for Stanislaus County’s Office of Education to create the VOLT Institute in Modesto, providing high-skill job training and serving as a pipeline to jobs at companies such as E.&J. Gallo Winery, Del Monte Foods, Foster Farms and Crystal Creamery.
Secured funding to build the Ag Tech Building at Merced College.
Carrying legislation to fund schools based on enrollment, not attendance.
Secured $500,000 for after-school programs at Stanislaus and Merced Boys & Girls Clubs.
Supported $2.7 billion to offer transitional kindergarten to all 4-years-olds by 2025. Serving 400,000 students, it will be California’s version of universal preschool.
Supported more than $100 million in school-based health centers, bringing healthcare into schools – including mental health care.
Public Safety
Secured funding to create the VIPER program, resulting in the arrest of 50 gang leaders and confiscation of weapons and ammunition from the streets. This cut the county’s murder rate in half in the first year.
Wrote the bill to crack down on theft of parts from irrigation pumps and farm equipment.
Wrote a bill to eliminate the Ticket Tax – a 20% surcharge on traffic fines that goes entirely into the General Fund and does not support any specific program.
Secured $1 million to bolster UC Merced law enforcement after an attack on campus linked to ISIS.
Carrying AB 2682 – supported by district attorneys, police chiefs, sheriffs and others in law enforcement – to fight catalytic converter and organized retail theft.
Opposed zero bail, which voters also rejected as Prop 25.
Opposed Prop 47, which reduced sentencing, allowing criminals to return to communities before rehabilitation had been completed.
Worked across the aisle to advance a bill making the theft of any firearm a felony regardless of its financial value to reverse a critical mistake created by Prop 47.
Opposed Prop 57, that allowed early prison release and is now linked to retail theft rings.
Worked with law enforcement to ban the use of the chokehold that killed George Floyd without jeopardizing officer safety.
Veterans
Named the first ever Legislator of the Year by the Military Officers Association of America.
Named the Leo P. Burke Legislator of the Year by the American Legion, Department of CA.
Carried legislation to eliminate tax on veteran retirement pay.
Supported legislation creating veterans license plates and driver’s licenses.
Wrote legislation to protect property tax exemption for veterans’ halls that serve alcohol.
Wrote legislation to create license reciprocity with other states so that professionally licensed veterans can work in California without barriers or unnecessary testing.
Passed a law making it much easier for military veterans to transition into jobs in the water industry.
Secured funding to construct 21 units of permanent supportive housing for Veterans who have experienced chronic homelessness in Merced.
Healthcare
Secured $220 million to build a medical education building at UC Merced and $18 million per year to operate the program which will enroll its first class of future doctors in 2023.
Secured more than $100 million to fund new graduate medical residency positions throughout the Central Valley.
Wrote legislation that doubled operating hours for health clinics, meaning working families have more access to doctors, nurses and care.
Secured coverage of continuous glucose monitors under Medi-Cal. Prior to this effort, Medi-Cal was the only health insurer in California that did not cover continuous glucose monitors despite serving the most vulnerable population in the state.
More Information
Wikipedia
Adam Channing Gray (born September 23, 1977)[1] is an American politician who has served as the U.S. representative for California‘s 13th congressional district since 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the California State Assembly from 2012 to 2022, representing the 21st district, which includes all of Merced County and portions of Stanislaus County.
Gray is the whip of the Blue Dog Coalition. He lost his first bid for his congressional district in 2022 by a few hundred votes but won the seat in 2024 by a similar narrow margin. His district is located in the San Joaquin Valley, and includes all of Merced County and parts of Madera, Stanislaus, Fresno, and San Joaquin counties.
Early life and education
Adam Channing Gray was born on September 23, 1977, in Merced, California.[2] He grew up working in his family’s dairy supply and feed store,[3] and went to Golden Valley High School in Merced where he graduated as part of the first class.[4]
Gray went on to attend Merced College[5] and then earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara.[2] While in school, he interned for congressman Gary Condit.[6]
Early career
Following college, Gray worked in the district office of state assemblymember Dennis Cardoza[7] and later served as a staffer for assemblymembers Herb Wesson, Fabian Nunez, and Jerome Horton.[6] He subsequently joined the staff of state senator Ron Calderon.[8] In 2015, he was subpoenaed to testify as a witness in connection with Calderon’s federal corruption trial.[9]
California State Assembly
Gray was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2012, receiving 58.2% of the vote.[10] In the 2014 primary election, He received 95.3% of the vote and was reelected in 2016 with 66.8% of the vote and again in 2018 with 71.3% of the vote.[11] In 2020, he received 59.6% of the vote.
He was on the Committee for Accountability and Administrative Review, the Agriculture Committee, the Revenue and Taxation Committee and the Select Committee on Health Care Access in Rural Communities. Gray was also a member of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Management[citation needed] and chairman of the Governmental Organization Committee.[12]
While in the state assembly, Gray founded the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus which worked across party lines to pass legislation.[3] He was involved in securing $3 billion for water storage in the Central Valley and helped bring funding for a new medical school at UC Merced. Gray broke with his party on several water policy issues, pushing back against Democratic proposals to cut water supplies to irrigation districts in the San Joaquin Valley.[3] As a result of his opposition to proposed limits on water flows, he was removed from his chairmanship of the Government Organization Committee by the assembly leader.[12]
In 2014, Gray supported Merced and Stanislaus counties as a potential site for Tesla Motors‘ multibillion-dollar “Giga-Factory”.[13][14]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2022
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On January 18, 2022, Gray announced that he would be a candidate for California’s 13th congressional district in the 2022 election for the United States House of Representatives.[15] The 13th district is located in the Central Valley, and includes Merced County and parts of Madera, Stanislaus, Fresno, and San Joaquin counties.[16] Gray advanced from the June primary and faced Republican pistachio farmer John Duarte in the November general election.[17] He conceded the race on December 2, shortly after the race was called by the Associated Press.[18] It was one of the last U.S. House races in the country to be decided; Gray lost by only 564 votes.[19]
2024
In August 2023, Gray announced his candidacy against Duarte again in the 2024 election.[20]
In August 2024, the Los Angeles Times reported that Gray bought real estate shortly before a $50 million state-funded redevelopment of 70 acres of the former Castle Air Force Base.[21][22] Gray had disclosed the investments to state officials, but not on his federal disclosure forms after 2022. A former state ethics official noted that the timing of Gray’s investment could raise concerns about the appearance of a conflict of interest. Gray’s campaign manager denied any impropriety.[23]
Following weeks of counting, Gray eventually took the lead over Duarte on November 26, by a margin of 182 votes, with the race being called on December 4.[24] It was the last congressional race to be called in the 2024 election.[25]
Tenure
Gray took office on January 3, 2025, representing California’s 13th congressional district.[26] He was appointed to the House Committees on Agriculture and Natural Resources and was named whip of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition.[2][27]
As a member of the Natural Resources Committee, Gray co-sponsored two bipartisan bills to expand federal support for groundwater storage and recharge efforts in California.[27] He also introduced the Valley Water Protection Act, which would limit the implementation of the Endangered Species Act in cases where it could pose a national security risk or causes significant regional economic harm.[28] He later introduced legislation to establish a standardized rapid response system for wildfires.[29]
Gray was one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act of 2025.[30]
Committee assignments
For the 119th Congress:[31]
Caucus memberships
Gray’s caucus memberships include:[33]
Personal life
Gray was previously married to Cadee Condit, the daughter of Gary Condit.[6] They have one child.[2]
Electoral history
2014
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 26,015 | 95.3 | |
| Republican | Jack Mobley (write-in) | 1,286 | 4.7 | |
| Total votes | 27,301 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 34,931 | 53.4 | |
| Republican | Jack Mobley | 30,499 | 46.6 | |
| Total votes | 65,430 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2016
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 43,874 | 66.8 | |
| Republican | Greg Opinski | 21,754 | 33.1 | |
| Republican | Brien J. Rahilly (write-in) | 36 | 0.1 | |
| Total votes | 65,664 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 85,990 | 69.8 | |
| Republican | Greg Opinski | 37,230 | 30.2 | |
| Total votes | 123,220 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2018
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 43,023 | 99.9 | |
| Libertarian | Justin Ryan Quigley (write-in) | 49 | 0.1 | |
| Total votes | 43,072 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 74,320 | 71.3 | |
| Libertarian | Justin Ryan Quigley | 29,855 | 28.7 | |
| Total votes | 104,175 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
2020
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 54,987 | 99.0 | |
| Republican | Joel Gutierrez Campos (write in) | 300 | 0.5 | |
| Republican | Guadalupe Salazar (write in) | 256 | 0.5 | |
| Total votes | 55,287 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Adam Gray (incumbent) | 93,816 | 59.6 | |
| Republican | Joel Gutierrez Campos | 63,514 | 40.4 | |
| Total votes | ||||
2022
| Primary election | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
| Republican | John Duarte | 26,163 | 34.2 | ||
| Democratic | Adam Gray | 23,784 | 31.1 | ||
| Democratic | Phil Arballo | 13,099 | 17.1 | ||
| Republican | David Giglio | 11,320 | 14.8 | ||
| Republican | Diego Martinez | 2,026 | 2.7 | ||
| Total votes | 76,392 | 100.0 | |||
| General election | |||||
| Republican | John Duarte | 67,060 | 50.2 | ||
| Democratic | Adam Gray | 66,496 | 49.8 | ||
| Total votes | 133,556 | 100.0 | |||
| Republican win (new seat) | |||||
2024
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | John Duarte (incumbent) | 47,219 | 54.9 | |
| Democratic | Adam Gray | 38,754 | 45.1 | |
| Total votes | 85,973 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Adam Gray | 105,554 | 50.04 | |
| Republican | John Duarte (incumbent) | 105,367 | 49.96 | |
| Total votes | 210,921 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
References
- ^ “Adam Gray”. CalMatters. September 8, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e “Rep. Adam Gray – D California, 13th, In Office – Biography | LegiStorm”. www.legistorm.com. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ^ a b c Gomez, Melissa (September 28, 2024). “In a ‘purple’ California district, a GOP congressman fights to defend a seat he won by 564 votes”. Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Miller, John (February 6, 2025). “Congressman Gray takes oath in front of constituents”. Merced County Times. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ “Gray, Adam”. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ^ a b c White, Jeremy (August 3, 2015). “Adam Gray: A canny California politician forges his own path”. Sacramento Bee. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ^ Rappley, Nick (September 2, 2011). “21st Assembly race ramps up after Berryhill exits”. Tank Town Media. Patterson Irrigator. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ McGreevy, Patrick (April 10, 2015). “Assemblyman Gray, other state officials subpoenaed in Calderon corruption trial”. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ^ Rosenhall, Laurel (July 15, 2013). “Assemblyman Adam Gray to testify in FBI’s Calderon investigation”. Sacramento Bee. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ^ “Statement of Vote” (PDF). sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ^ “Statement of Vote” (PDF). sos.ca.gov. California Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 4, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ^ a b “Assemblyman Adam Gray is stripped of committee chairmanship”. Modesto Bee. December 15, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- ^ Carlson, Ken (July 15, 2014). “Making the case for putting Tesla battery factory in Northern San Joaquin Valley”. The Modesto Bee. Archived from the original on July 22, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ^ Funez, Elias (July 17, 2014). “Could 10,000,000 sq. ft. Tesla plant call Patterson home?”. Patterson Irrigator. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
- ^ “California Democrat Adam Gray to run for Congress in 2022”. Merced Sun Star. January 18, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
- ^ Mehta, Seema; Mehta, Priscella (October 26, 2022). “Your guide to the California Congressional District 13 race: John Duarte vs. Adam Gray”. Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Cowan, Jill (June 15, 2022). “Democratic lawmaker will face G.O.P. businessman in Central Valley battleground”. The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
- ^ “GOP’s Duarte takes California Central Valley US House seat”. AP News. December 2, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
- ^ “Democrat Adam Gray flips California swing seat blue”. Politico. December 3, 2024.
- ^ Sheeler, Andrew (August 29, 2023). “Adam Gray Announces Congressional Bid, Setting Up Central Valley Rematch with Rep. John Duarte”. www.sacbee.com. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ “In key congressional race, Republicans criticize Democrat’s Central Valley real estate deal”. Los Angeles Times. August 25, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ Gligich, Daniel (August 27, 2024). “Gray’s undisclosed real estate deal at Castle AFB “suspicious,” watchdog says”. The San Joaquin Valley Sun. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ Gligich, Daniel (September 24, 2024). “Gray’s business dealings at Castle AFB bubble up over brewery ties”. The San Joaquin Valley Sun. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ Weber, Lindsay (November 27, 2024). “Gray pulls ahead of Duarte in race for California Congressional District 13”. KCRA. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ Cowan, Jill (December 4, 2024). “California Democrat Flips Seat in the Last House Race to Be Called”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601. “Adam Gray (California (CA)), 119th Congress Profile”. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Downs, Garrett (February 28, 2025). “California Blue Dog seeks GOP allies, pushes water issues”. E&E News by Politico.
- ^ Stafford, Sabra (June 18, 2025). “Congressman Gray introduces Valley Water Protection Act”. Turlock Journal.
- ^ Cortez, Joe (June 20, 2025). “Gray bill would create rapid response standard for wildfires”. Turlock Journal.
- ^ Rashid, Hafiz (January 22, 2025). “The 46 Democrats Who Voted for Republicans’ Racist Immigration Bill”. The New Republic. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
- ^ “Adam Gray”. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ^ “Ranking Member Angie Craig Announces Subcommittee Vice Ranking Members for 119th Congress”. House Agriculture Committee Democrats. February 12, 2025.
- ^ “Committees and Caucuses”. Representative Gray. January 3, 2025. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
- ^ “Statement of Vote” (PDF). sos.ca.gov. Sacramento: Secretary of State of California. 2024. p. 82. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
- ^ “Statement of Vote” (PDF). sos.ca.gov. Sacramento: Secretary of State of California. 2024. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 30, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
External links
- Adam Gray for Congress campaign website
