Lincoln Targets Gray in Valley House Race

Kevin Lincoln, the former mayor of Stockton, has launched a campaign to unseat Democratic Rep. Adam Gray in California’s 13th Congressional District. The election will take place on Nov. 3, pitting two experienced politicians against each other in a district that was recently redrawn under Proposition 50. Both candidates identify affordability as the primary concern for voters, but they propose different methods to address rising costs.

The financial gap between the two candidates is clear according to the latest Federal Election Commission data. As of June 30, Gray reported $4.2 million in contributions and loans. Lincoln reported $2.2 million for the same period. This $2 million difference gives the incumbent a substantial advantage in the race for the seat that now includes downtown Stockton and the agricultural heart of the San Joaquin Valley.

Gray won the original version of this district two years ago with a margin of 187 votes. He defeated Republican Rep. John Duarte in a contest that saw 210,921 ballots cast. Lincoln, a former Marine, previously ran in the 9th District in 2024 against Rep. Josh Harder. He had intended to face Harder again but shifted his focus to the 13th District after new boundaries were established. The new map extends south along Interstate 5 to the Coalinga area, skirting Fresno.

State records from 2023 indicate the political composition of the district before redistricting. At that time, 42.3% of registered voters were Democrats and 28.5% were Republicans. Lincoln brings a specific profile to the race that combines military service, religious leadership, and local political experience. His LinkedIn profile lists his service in the Marine Corps’ White House Military Office from 2001 to 2005, where he guarded Marine One. He also served as executive pastor at Stockton’s LifeSong Ministries through 2020.

President Donald Trump provided Lincoln with a strong endorsement in December. The president wrote on Truth Social that Lincoln has his “Complete and Total Endorsement.” Lincoln described himself as “honored and thankful” for the support and continues to feature the endorsement on his campaign website. He has also recorded a “MAGA Majority” video for the National Republican Congressional Committee, which details his time as mayor and his military service.

Lincoln frames his candidacy around making home ownership more affordable. He stated at a September rally that his goal is to restore the American dream by lowering the cost of gas, food, and utilities. He also aims to create jobs, cut taxes, and expand healthcare access. Lincoln accused Gray of voting to raise taxes repeatedly. He added that he “knows how to grind, knows how to fight and how to win a tough election.”

Gray, a native of Merced, positions himself as a moderate independent voice rather than a partisan candidate. He told the Sacramento Bee that voters want “an independent voice, not a Democratic voice, not a Republican voice.” He serves as a whip for the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of lawmakers seeking bipartisan solutions. Gray has criticized Trump’s deportation policies as “irresponsible, reckless, dangerous.”

On economic issues, Gray cites his work to reverse Medicaid cuts and limit the president’s ability to impose tariffs without congressional approval. He also introduced a measure to reduce regulations on thermal energy. Lincoln counters by pointing to Gray’s time in the state legislature. Lincoln claims Gray “increased the gas tax over 113% a gallon” during his service. Democrats in the district are betting that high gas prices and immigration enforcement will weigh on candidates endorsed by the president, while Republicans are relying on Lincoln’s local name recognition and national support.