Republican Kevin Lincoln switches congressional bid after Prop. 50 redraw

Nicole Nixon, The Sacramento Bee on Nov 6, 2025

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kevin Lincoln, the Republican former mayor of Stockton, is switching to run in a new Central Valley congressional district after California voters this week voted to redraw the state’s map.

Instead of again challenging Democrat Rep. Josh Harder in the 9th District, Lincoln will run against Democrat Rep. Adam Gray in the 13th District, which now includes an arm into Stockton.

Both districts got bluer after Proposition 50’s passage this week, but the 13th District is more competitive and now includes part of Lincoln’s home city.

Sabato’s Crystal Ball this week changed its rating for the 9th District from “leans Democratic” to “likely Democratic.” The 13th shifted from “tossup” to “leans Democratic.”

Lincoln, whose lone term as Stockton’s mayor ended earlier this year, ran against Harder in 2024 and lost by a four-point margin.

“While families across the Valley are working harder than ever to make ends meet, Washington politicians like Adam Gray have fallen in line with a failed liberal agenda that’s made life less affordable and less safe,” Lincoln said in a statement announcing the switch.

Prop. 50’s passage has scrambled congressional races across California, particularly for the districts redrawn to edge out five GOP incumbents.

Rep. Kevin Kiley, one of the Republican targets of the Gov. Gavin Newsom-backed gerrymander, is still deciding where he will run in next year’s midterm.

Rep. Ami Bera, a Democrat, announced he will run in the 3rd District, currently represented by Kiley. Former state Sen. Richard Pan is switching to run in the 6th District after originally announcing for the 3rd.

In Southern California, longtime GOP Rep. Ken Calvert announced a bid for the region’s only safe Republican seat, currently held by GOP Rep. Young Kim, setting up an expensive primary between the two.