Republican John Duarte wins open house seat in California after Democrat concedes

Washington
CNN
—

Democrat Adam Gray ceded Friday night to Republican John Duarte in the open-seat race to represent California’s 13th congressional district, the last 2022 midterm House race to be called.

« While I had hoped for a different outcome, I accept the results and called to congratulate my opponent, John Duarte, » said Gray, a state deputy. said in a press release posted on Twitter.

With Duarte’s win in the Central Valley District, Republicans are expected to hold a slim majority in the House of Representatives next year, with 222 seats.

Democrats are expected to win 213 midterm seats this year, but the recent death of Virginia Democrat Donald McEachin just weeks after his re-election means they are set to start the new Congress with one less seat. McEachin’s seat will remain vacant until a special election is held.

The tally of House seats by both parties after the midterm elections is reminiscent of the totals after the 2020 election – upside down. House Democrats won 222 seats in 2020 to Republicans’ 213.

The narrow majority of Republicans entering the House has sparked internal questions within the party about whether GOP leader Kevin McCarthy will have the 218 votes needed to secure the House presidency in January.

McCarthy expressed his confidence, insisting he has enough votes. But diehard conservatives seeking to plot the California Republican’s ouster say otherwise.

No other Republicans have declared their candidacy for president, but McCarthy’s enemies say another candidate will emerge and talks have already begun to recruit a replacement.

Republicans will now hold 12 seats in the California House next year, up one from their current 11 seats. California Democrats will hold 40 seats, two less than their current tally. The state lost one seat in the redistribution following the 2020 census.

Five of California’s 12 districts that Republicans will occupy next year would have backed current President Joe Biden in 2020. They include the seat won by Duarte, which Biden would have won by 11 points.

This story has been updated with additional details.