Adam Gray

Early life and education

Adam Channing Gray was born on September 23, 1977, in Merced, California. He grew up working in his family's dairy supply and feed store, and went to Golden Valley High School in Merced where he graduated as part of the first class.

Gray went on to attend Merced College and then earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. While in school, he interned for congressman Gary Condit.

Early career

Following college, Gray worked in the district office of state assemblymember Dennis Cardoza and later served as a staffer for assemblymembers Herb Wesson, Fabian Núñez, and Jerome Horton. He subsequently joined the staff of state senator Ron Calderon. In 2015, he was subpoenaed to testify as a witness in connection with Calderon's federal corruption trial.

California State Assembly

Gray was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2012, receiving 58.2% of the vote. 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. 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 and chairman of the Governmental Organization Committee.

While in the state assembly, Gray founded the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus which worked across party lines to pass legislation. 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. 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.

In 2014, Gray supported Merced and Stanislaus counties as a potential site for Tesla Motors' multibillion-dollar "Giga-Factory".

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2022

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

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. The 13th district is located in the Central Valley, and includes Merced County and parts of Madera, Stanislaus, Fresno, and San Joaquin counties. Gray advanced from the June primary and faced Republican pistachio farmer John Duarte in the November general election. He conceded the race on December 2, 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.

2024

Main article: 2024 California's 13th congressional district election

In August 2023, Gray announced his candidacy against Duarte again in the 2024 election.

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. 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.

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. It was the last congressional race to be called in the 2024 election.

Tenure

Gray took office on January 3, 2025, representing California's 13th congressional district. He was appointed to the House Committees on Agriculture and Natural Resources and was named whip of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition.

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. 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. He later introduced legislation to establish a standardized rapid response system for wildfires.

Gray was one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act of 2025.

Committee assignments

For the 119th Congress:

• Committee on Agriculture
  • Subcommittee Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development
  • Subcommittee Forestry and Horticulture
  • Subcommittee Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry (Vice Ranking Member)
• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee Oversight and Investigations
  • Subcommittee Water, Wildlife and Fisheries

Caucus memberships

Gray's caucus memberships include:

• Blue Dog Coalition (whip)
• New Democrat Coalition

Personal life

Gray was previously married to Cadee Condit, the daughter of Gary Condit. They have one child.

Electoral history

References

References

1. (September 8, 2021). "Adam Gray".
2. "Rep. Adam Gray - D California, 13th, In Office - Biography {{!}} LegiStorm".
3. 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.
4. Miller, John. (2025-02-06). "Congressman Gray takes oath in front of constituents".
5. "Gray, Adam".
6. (August 3, 2015). "Adam Gray: A canny California politician forges his own path". Sacramento Bee.
7. (September 2, 2011). "21st Assembly race ramps up after Berryhill exits". Patterson Irrigator.
8. (10 April 2015). "Assemblyman Gray, other state officials subpoenaed in Calderon corruption trial". Los Angeles Times.
9. (July 15, 2013). "Assemblyman Adam Gray to testify in FBI's Calderon investigation". Sacramento Bee.
10. "Statement of Vote". California Secretary of State.
11. "Statement of Vote". California Secretary of State.
12. (December 15, 2020). "Assemblyman Adam Gray is stripped of committee chairmanship". Modesto Bee.
13. (July 15, 2014). "Making the case for putting Tesla battery factory in Northern San Joaquin Valley". The Modesto Bee.
14. (July 17, 2014). "Could 10,000,000 sq. ft. Tesla plant call Patterson home?". Patterson Irrigator.
15. (January 18, 2022). "California Democrat Adam Gray to run for Congress in 2022". Merced Sun Star.
16. Mehta, Seema. (October 26, 2022). "Your guide to the California Congressional District 13 race: John Duarte vs. Adam Gray". Los Angeles Times.
17. (15 June 2022). "Democratic lawmaker will face G.O.P. businessman in Central Valley battleground.". The New York Times.
18. (2022-12-02). "GOP's Duarte takes California Central Valley US House seat".
19. (December 3, 2024). "Democrat Adam Gray flips California swing seat blue".
20. Sheeler, Andrew. (2023-08-29). "Adam Gray Announces Congressional Bid, Setting Up Central Valley Rematch with Rep. John Duarte".
21. (2024-08-25). "In key congressional race, Republicans criticize Democrat's Central Valley real estate deal".
22. Gligich, Daniel. (2024-08-27). "Gray's undisclosed real estate deal at Castle AFB "suspicious," watchdog says.".
23. Gligich, Daniel. (2024-09-24). "Gray's business dealings at Castle AFB bubble up over brewery ties".
24. Weber, Lindsay. (2024-11-27). "Gray pulls ahead of Duarte in race for California Congressional District 13".
25. Cowan, Jill. (2024-12-04). "California Democrat Flips Seat in the Last House Race to Be Called". The New York Times.
26. Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154. "Adam Gray (California (CA)), 119th Congress Profile".
27. Downs, Garrett. (February 28, 2025). "California Blue Dog seeks GOP allies, pushes water issues". E&E News by Politico.
28. Stafford, Sabra. (June 18, 2025). "Congressman Gray introduces Valley Water Protection Act". Turlock Journal.
29. Cortez, Joe. (June 20, 2025). "Gray bill would create rapid response standard for wildfires". Turlock Journal.
30. Rashid, Hafiz. (January 22, 2025). "The 46 Democrats Who Voted for Republicans' Racist Immigration Bill". The New Republic.
31. "Adam Gray". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.
32. (February 12, 2025). "Ranking Member Angie Craig Announces Subcommittee Vice Ranking Members for 119th Congress". House Agriculture Committee Democrats.
33. (2025-01-03). "Committees and Caucuses".