John Scott Duarte (/duˈɑːrteɪ/ doo-AR-tay; born September 9, 1966) is an American politician, businessman, nurseryman, and pistachio farmer.[1][2][3] A member of the Republican Party, he has served as the U.S. representative for California’s 13th congressional district since 2023.[4]

California’s 13th congressional district was considered a competitive race that would help determine control of the House in the 2022 midterm elections.[5] His election was the second-closest in the nation, behind Lauren Boebert‘s election in Colorado’s 3rd congressional district.[6]

Early life and education

Duarte was born on September 9, 1966, in Modesto, California, to Jim and Anita Duarte. He is of Portuguese ancestry.[7] Duarte graduated from the University of the Pacific’s Eberhardt School of Business with an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in finance from San Diego State University in 1989.[8]

Early career

In 1989, Duarte began his career as a vice president of sales for Duarte Trees & Vines, which was founded by his parents in 1988. In 2007, he became the company’s chief executive officer and president.[9]

In 2017, Duarte was ordered to pay a $2.8 million government fine after the United States Army Corps of Engineers claimed that he had violated the Clean Water Act by plowing a field to plant wheat on his property in Tehama County.[10]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2022

Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in California § District 13

On March 9, 2022, Duarte launched a campaign to represent California’s 13th congressional district after the 2020 United States redistricting cycle created a new district based in the Central Valley. He and state Assemblyman Adam Gray advanced to the general election.[11] He defeated Gray in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections by 564 votes in an upset. He was declared the winner on December 3, 2022, almost a month after the election.[12]

Tenure

Duarte was sworn into office on January 3, 2023. He supported Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.[13]

In October 2023, Duarte said that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy should be reinstated as Speaker due to the unrest in Israel changing the political dynamics and stakes in the U.S. House.[14] After McCarthy’s ouster, Duarte supported Steve Scalise as the nominee.[15] Once Scalise dropped out, Duarte voted for Jim Jordan on the House floor.[16]

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:[17]

Political positions

Duarte has said “I don’t care about party politics” and that “I’ll stand against ‘the woke.’ I’ll stand against the ultra-conservatives.”[18]

Building new infrastructure to secure water for the San Joaquin Valley is one of Duarte’s top priorities.[18]

Abortion

In 2023, Duarte was one of two Republicans to vote against the Ronny Jackson amendment to H.R. 2670: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, which would prohibit the Secretary of Defense from paying for or reimbursing expenses relating to abortion services.[19][20]

LGBT rights

In 2023, Duarte was the only Republican to vote against the Matt Rosendale amendment to H.R. 2670: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, which would prohibit TRICARE from covering and the Department of Defense from furnishing sex reassignment surgeries and gender hormone treatments for transgender individuals.[21][22]

Confederate Naming Commission

Duarte was one of 41 Republicans to vote against the Bob Good amendment to H.R. 2670: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, which would defund a congressionally mandated commission tasked with renaming Army bases and military property named in honor of Confederate leaders.[23][24]

Immigration

Duarte has described himself as “immigration fluid”, meaning that he both supports greater border security but also recognizes that agriculture depends on farmworkers who lack legal immigration status. He has said only a bipartisan approach will effectively address immigration issues.[18]

In 2023, Duarte was one of two Republicans who voted against H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act. He called the E-Verify program “devastating for farmers.”[25]

Duarte is a sponsor of the Farm Worker Modernization Act which seeks to boost foreign worker availability in the U.S., with benefits to both employers and laborers.[26]

Duarte supports Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).[27]

Israel

Duarte voted to provide Israel with support following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[28][29]

Electoral history

Electoral history of John Duarte
YearOfficePartyPrimaryGeneralResultSwingRef.
Total%P.Total%P.
2022U.S. HouseRepublican26,16334.25%1st67,06050.21%1stWonGain[30]
Source: Secretary of State of California | Statewide Election Results

Personal life

Duarte lives with his wife, Alexandra, on a pistachio and almond farm outside of Modesto in rural Stanislaus County. They have four children. Duarte is an Episcopalian.[31]

References

  1. ^ “Your guide to the California Congressional District 13 race: John Duarte vs. Adam Gray”. Los Angeles Times. 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  2. ^ Zavala, Ashley (2022-11-15). “Control of the US House of Representatives could be left up to California”. KCRA. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  3. ^ ““Every single vote counts”: U.S. House race maintains razor thin margin between Duarte, Gray in CA-13″. www.cbsnews.com. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  4. ^ “GOP’s Duarte takes California Central Valley US House seat”. Associated Press. 2022-12-02. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  5. ^ “2022 House Race ratings”. Cook Political Report. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
  6. ^ “Midterm nail-biters: Top 5 closest House races of 2022”. Washington Examiner. 28 December 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  7. ^ “Four Portuguese-Americans from California in Congress”. California Portuguese American Coalition. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  8. ^ “Adam Gray vs. John Duarte: Where candidates for California’s 13th Congressional District stand”. Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  9. ^ “Rep. John Duarte – R California, 13th, In Office – Biography | LegiStorm”. www.legistorm.com. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  10. ^ “He plowed his field and got hit with a $2.8 million fine”. Sacramento Bee. May 31, 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  11. ^ “California 13th Congressional District Primary Election Results”. The New York Times. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  12. ^ Mizelle, Shawna (3 December 2022). “Republican John Duarte wins open House seat in California after Democrat concedes | CNN Politics”. CNN. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  13. ^ Stapley, Garth. “What Stanislaus congressional representatives are saying about House speaker disarray”. The Modesto Bee. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  14. ^ Fortinsky, Sarah (9 October 2023). “Moderate Republican argues McCarthy should return as Speaker, citing Israel unrest”. The Hill. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  15. ^ Content, Syndicated. “Republican Scalise struggles for votes after winning US House speaker nomination”. WTAQ News Talk | 97.5 FM · 1360 AM | Green Bay, WI. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  16. ^ Perry, Kati; Dormido, Hannah; Zakharenko, Hanna; Blanco, Adrian. “How each House member voted for speaker”. Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  17. ^ “John S. Duarte”. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  18. ^ a b c Morgante, Michelle (2 September 2023). “Congressman Duarte tells Valley voters he’ll stand against ‘the woke’ and ‘ultra-conservatives’“. Fresnoland. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  19. ^ “H.Amdt. 222 (Jackson) to H.R. 2670: To prohibit the Secretary … — House Vote #300 — Jul 13, 2023”. GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  20. ^ “Scoop: Abortion threatens House spending fights”. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  21. ^ “H.Amdt. 223 (Rosendale) to H.R. 2670: To prohibit TRICARE from … — House Vote #301 — Jul 13, 2023”. GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  22. ^ Shabad, Zoë Richards, Rebecca Kaplan and Rebecca (2023-07-14). “House passes defense bill after GOP adopts abortion and transgender surgery amendments”. CNBC. Retrieved 2023-08-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ “H.Amdt. 242 (Good) to H.R. 2670: To prohibit the use … — House Vote #316 — Jul 13, 2023”. GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  24. ^ O’Brien, Connor (2023-07-14). “The House just passed a defense bill with controversial abortion, LGBTQ measures. It doesn’t stand a chance in the Senate”. POLITICO. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  25. ^ Halvorson, Sabrina (2023-05-15). “Duarte Says H.R. 2 E-Verify Program ‘Devastating’ for Farmers”. AgNet West. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  26. ^ “Duarte pushes for Farm Worker Modernization Act”. www.ny1.com. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  27. ^ Kim, Caitlyn. “11 years after the creation of DACA, Congress trying again to give ‘Dreamers’ more legal certainty”. Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  28. ^ Demirjian, Karoun (2023-10-25). “House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  29. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (2023-10-25). “Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session”. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved 2023-10-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ Primary election:

    General election:

  31. ^ Jeff Diamant (3 January 2023). “Faith on the Hill. The religious composition of the 118th Congress” (PDF). PEW Research Center. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

External links

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by

 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California’s 13th congressional district
2023–present		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by

 United States representatives by seniority
373rd		Succeeded by


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Duarte_(politician)