Central Valley Republican nabs endorsements from Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson
A Republican hoping to unseat Rep. Adam Gray, D-Merced, in a Central Valley swing district won endorsements from both President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday.
“It is my Great Honor to endorse Kevin Lincoln, who is running to represent the incredible people of California’s 13th Congressional District,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
He nodded to Lincoln’s experience serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and as mayor of Stockton. “As your next Congressman, Kevin will work tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Great Military/Veterans, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump wrote. Johnson, R-La., echoed the praise for Lincoln in his own endorsement on X. “Kevin Lincoln has served our country in uniform and will help us continue to deliver safer streets, secure borders, lower costs, a strong economy, and peace through strength,” the Republican Speaker wrote.
Lincoln initially planned to run in a rematch against Rep. Josh Harder, D-Tracy, but switched districts to face Gray last month after California voters approved Proposition 50. The proposition redrew the state’s congressional districts to help Democrats flip five House seats in retribution for Republican-led redistricting in Texas and other states.
The endorsements from top national Republicans underscores the 13th District’s status as one of California’s few remaining competitive House races after the voter-approved redistricting.
Gray won the seat in 2024 from Republican John Duarte by just 187 votes. After Prop. 50, the 13th Congressional District shifted slightly northward into Stockton, which Lincoln represented as mayor from 2020-2024. While it now has a 15-point Democratic registration advantage, Kamala Harris would have beaten Trump by only half a percentage point in 2024.
The new Prop. 50 map has been challenged in court but is expected to stand after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Texas to use its own gerrymandered lines for the 2026 midterms.
Lincoln reports salary from California Republican Party
Lincoln received more than $51,000 in income from the California Republican Party this year, according to financial disclosures filed last month.
Party officials and a Lincoln campaign aide confirmed the Stockton Republican was on the state GOP’s payroll for several months this spring but that he left the job before announcing his congressional reelection campaign. Both declined to comment further.
Democrats equated the salary to Lincoln’s working as a party operative.
“Republicans are clearly in shambles if they’re throwing $50,000 at an unpopular repeat loser,” said Anna Elsasser, a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman. “Central Valley voters deserve to know who failed mayor Kevin Lincoln works for — his party bosses or them?”
According to the disclosure, Lincoln and his wife reported more than $113,000 in salary income for the first 10 months of this year, including from an advisory business they co-own.
