Republicans Flip Another House Seat, Expanding GOP Majority in Next Congress

John Duarte, a Republican candidate in California's 13th Congressional District, arrives at the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 14, 2022. J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo

Republicans have flipped a U.S. House of Representatives seat representing a central California district, expanding their majority in the next Congress.

Farmer and businessman John Duarte, a Republican, declared victory on Dec. 2.

“I promised our Valley families that I would be their bipartisan champion in Washington, D.C. by fighting for food on our tables, gas in our tanks, and water on our farms. That is exactly what I am going to go there to do,” Duarte said in a statement.

California Assemblyman Adam Gray, a Democrat, conceded.

“After weeks of incredibly hard work by our election workers, the result has become clear,” Gray said in a statement. “While I had hoped for a different outcome, I accept the results and have called to congratulate my opponent, John Duarte.”

Due to the developments, the Associated Press called the race.

Duarte has 66,884 votes while Gray has 66,300, according to unofficial results from the California secretary of state’s office.

The win, for California’s 13th Congressional District, means Republicans have secured 221 House seats starting January, when new members are sworn in.

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) has represented the 13th district since 2013. Due to redistricting, she ran for California’s 12th Congressional District this year and won.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta (R) talks with Assemblyman Adam Gray, (D-Merced), as lawmakers discussed a gun control measure in the Assembly in Sacramento, Calif., on Sept. 1, 2022.Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo

Duarte’s Campaign

Duarte, who has never held office, campaigned on making everyday essentials such as gas and food affordable, securing water for people in the Central Valley, and working to combat crime.

“You deserve to thrive, not just survive. Out-of-touch career politicians have put the needs of big corporations and special interests before us. They have driven prices sky high with reckless spending. Working Valley families are being forced to choose between food on the table and gas in the tank,” Duarte says on his campaign website. “As your Congressman I’ll do the right thing—I’ll vote to suspend the gas tax and cut fuel and food prices.”

Duarte also said that people deserve jobs that pay well and that lowering prices, securing more water, and implementing better laws would lead to “good-paying Valley jobs for everyone.”

The other main prong of his campaign was focused on education.

“Every child—no matter what challenges they face—deserves an environment that welcomes and supports them. They deserve teachers that make sure that when they graduate, they are prepared to thrive,” Duarte said. “As your Congressman, I will work hard to get schools back to basics and make sure that every student has the support they need in the classroom. I support school choice so our kids can find an environment that meets their needs.”

This undated photo shows Michael Lawler, Republican candidate for New York's 17th congressional district. Randy Monceaux Photography/Mike Lawler Congress via AP

Another Seat Flipped

Republicans are currently in the minority in both chambers of Congress. In the House entering the midterms, they held 213 seats while Democrats held 220.

Republicans flipped seats across the country in the election, including in Virginia, Tennessee, and Oregon.

Among the most high-profile wins was Mike Lawler, a GOP state assemblyman, unseating Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), who led the Democrats’ campaign arm.

That was one of five victories in competitive races in New York.

In Virginia, state Republican Sen. Jen Kiggans knocked off Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.). In Arizona, veteran Eli Crane, a Republican, took down Rep. Tom O'Halleran (D-Ariz.). In Oregon, former Happy Valley Republican Mayor Lori Chavez-DeRemer beat Democrat Jamie McLeod-Skinner, who had beaten incumbent Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) in the Democrat primary.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who is poised to become the next speaker, said that Republicans won the election because voters wanted to impose a “check and balance” into the political system. Democrats retained control of the Senate and still have the White House for at least two more years.

“The American people have spoken. They have given us the majority and expect us to deliver on our promises,” Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), the incoming chair of the House Republican campaign arm, told reporters in a recent briefing.

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, on Aug. 6, 2022. Bobby Sanchez for The Epoch Times

One More Uncalled Race

Republicans could have one more seat in the next Congress. There’s one final uncalled race.

That’s in Colorado. The margin between Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and Democrat challenger Adam Frisch is so slim that a recount was ordered, as required by state law.

Boebert, though, leads by 550 votes, and Frisch has acknowledged that it is unlikely the recount will end with him ahead.

Boebert has declared victory and Frisch has conceded.

If Boebert ultimately triumphs, that would give Republicans 222 seats come January. Democrats would have 213.

Before the Duarte race development, the last declared winners were Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) for Alaska’s at-large Congressional District, and Republican California Assemblyman Kevin Kiley for California’s 3rd Congressional District.

Peltola kept the seat she won in a special election this year following the death of longtime Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska). Kiley flipped a seat held for 10 years by Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), who shifted to the state’s 8th District and won another term.