Democrat narrowly flips California seat in last uncalled race of 2024

Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.) lost his House seat in what was the last uncalled congressional race of the 2024 cycle, giving Democrats a pickup going into the new year, Decision Desk HQ has projected. 

Duarte’s loss to Democrat Adam Gray, a former state Assembly member, sets the total number of seats each party won at 220 for the Republicans and 215 for the Democrats; the GOP was able to hold onto its majority but carried two fewer seats than it did two years ago, further slimming its already razor-tight majority. 

The race call comes almost exactly a month after Election Day, as vote-counting in California has continued for weeks. The delay was also tied to the closeness of the race between Duarte and Gray, the tightest in the country.

The most updated vote count had Gray leading Duarte by just 187 votes, less than a tenth of a percent of the more than 200,000 cast in the race for California’s 13th Congressional District. 

Gray declared victory and Duarte conceded late Tuesday, as the final votes were tallied. 

“The final results confirm this district is ready for independent and accountable leadership that always puts the Valley’s people ahead of partisan politics,” Gray said in a statement. 

Duarte, who was first elected to represent the district narrowly over Gray in 2022, called Gray to concede and has said he accepts the results. He also indicated to the Turlock Journal that he may consider another run for Congress in the future. 

Duarte is the third incumbent California Republican to lose their seat this cycle. Rep. Mike Garcia (R) lost to Democrat George Whitesides in the state’s 27th District, while Rep. Michelle Steel (R) conceded to Democrat Derek Tran in the 45th District just last week. 

Even though Republicans won a trifecta with President-elect Trump’s win in the presidential contest and a flip of the Senate, the narrow House majority could put a significant strain on the GOP’s ability to pass legislation. 

And the Republican majority will soon — at least temporarily — be even smaller than the five-seat margin voters have given them. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) won his election but decided against taking office in January after withdrawing as Trump’s pick for attorney general, while Reps. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) and Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) are expected to leave their seats for roles in the incoming administration. 

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) acknowledged the margin would give House Republicans no room for error. 

“Do the math,” Johnson told reporters Wednesday. “We have nothing to spare.”