Empty podium: Adam Gray dodges first CA-13 debate

Empty podium: Adam Gray dodges first CA-13 debate

Adam Gray dodging last night's Spanish-language debate in Mendota showed he would rather hide than face tough questions about his record of raising the gas tax and food costs.

"Self-serving Sacramento politician Adam Gray prefers to run from tough questions than explain why he repeatedly voted to make the cost of living more expensive for hardworking Valley families." - NRCC Spokesperson Ben Petersen

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Duarte debates empty podium, Gray skips Mendota's Spanish-language debate
SJV Sun
Reid Stone

Latino voters in the hotly-contested 13th Congressional District fumed over former Asm. Adam Gray's (D-Merced) decision to skip out on the nationally-watched race's sole Spanish-translated debate.

Driving the news: The Mendota Chamber of Commerce hosted a debate for the 13th District on Wednesday evening, but only Rep. John Duarte (R-Modesto) showed up.

Duarte is running for reelection against Gray in a rematch from 2022 that was separated by only 564 votes, one of the closest in the nation.

Despite Gray's no-show, the Chamber of Commerce went ahead with the event with only Duarte.

The big picture: California's 13th Congressional District is one of a handful of so-called "majority-making" races in the 2024 contest to control the House of Representatives.

Duarte squeaked out a victory against Gray in 2022, winning the nation's closest House contest that year and helping cement a slim majority for now-former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Since his election, Duarte has carved a staunch moderate stance. He was ranked the most moderate Republican in the House, per rankings from the conservative Heritage Foundation.

What they're saying: Mendota Mayor Victor Martinez was not surprised Gray did not attend the debate.

"It's not a surprise that Adam Gray did not show up for our Latino community," Martinez said. "He never does. That's why I'm supporting Congressman Duarte. He is always here for us when we need him. Our community is behind John because he supports us."

Other 13th District voters agreed with Martinez, arguing that the ex-Assemblyman's no-show indicates Gray does not care about the Latino community.

"He turns his back on the Latino community every chance he gets," voter Alex Chavez said. "Just look at his ads, they have fancy sheriffs, big farmers, and rich guys, but never people who look like me. Adam Gray isn't for the Latino community and everyone knows it."

Voter Yoshi Trujillo said, "Makes sense that Adam Gray didn't show up tonight. Sure, it's the only opportunity for people in our community to hear from him in our language, but that isn't important to him clearly. He has lost a lot of support from people around here who know that he doesn't like our Latino community."

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