California House District 13 2026: the ads, and who's paying for them
Adam Gray won · 61.7% to 38.3%, with an estimated 65% of the vote counted · Called by AP on Nov 4
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21 ads analyzed · 14 use a rhetorical technique, most often card stacking and loaded language.
The words doing the persuading
Paid for by NRCC“…at the pump. Adam Gray voted for the largest gas tax increase in California history, raising it by 113%!”Card StackingSee this ad →
Adam Gray (Democrat) and Kevin Lincoln (Republican) are the nominees for California's 13th congressional district in the November 3, 2026 general election. Adam Gray is the incumbent. By their latest FEC reports, Adam Gray's campaign had raised $5.2 million (through October 14, 2026) and Kevin Lincoln's campaign $3.0 million (through October 14, 2026). Outside groups have reported $113,000 for Adam Gray and $3.0 million against; $427,000 for Kevin Lincoln and $2.2 million against. Semblen has analyzed 21 ads in this race; 14 used at least one rhetorical technique, most often card stacking and loaded language.
Adam Gray (DEM, incumbent), Kevin Lincoln (REP).
2 others filed with the FEC; any ads they ran are below. 21 ads analyzed, 14 with at least one technique in the copy.
Newest first. The paid-for-by line is the advertiser's own filing. Updated 2026-10-28.
Also on every California ballot: 14 statewide ballot measures →The ballot wording and the official arguments, read for rhetorical techniques.
How to vote in California
From California's official election office. Each line links to the official page it came from.
Registration
Register by Mon, Oct 19 (Conditional (same-day) registration Oct 20 - Nov 3). Same-day registration: Conditional registration, provisional ballot, Oct 20 - Nov 3 (passed)Source: sos.ca.gov ↗Source: sos.ca.gov ↗
Early voting in person
Mon, Oct 5 to (Varies by county; VCA vote centers open Oct 24)Source: sos.ca.gov ↗
Checked October 8, 2026. Rules can change; confirm with the official site before you go.
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us
A person reads every report and fixes errors the same day.
Where they stand
From each campaign's own website, summarised in plain English, with a quote where they gave one; under an issue, Senate votes for those who have cast them. Full detail and sources on each profile: Adam Gray · Kevin Lincoln.
Economy and cost of livingGray: stated · Lincoln: stated
Adam Gray (DEM, incumbent)
Gray says his agenda is to lower food, housing and utility costs and cut red tape that keeps infrastructure projects stalled. He has sponsored bills to limit presidential tariffs and says he wants it to be easier to start a business and create jobs.
“Lower food, housing and utility costs. More water for our families and farms. Less red tape that keeps infrastructure projects on the drawing board.”
Lincoln says Washington has done little about the cost of groceries, gas and housing for Valley families. He says he wants to cut wasteful government spending and put more money in families' pockets, and he backs the AI Action Plan and crypto legislation (the CLARITY and GENIUS Acts) to grow jobs and the economy.
“In Congress, he will work to cut wasteful government spending, lower taxes, and put more money back in the pockets of hardworking Central Valley families.”
Taxes and government spendingGray: stated · Lincoln: stated
Adam Gray (DEM, incumbent)
Gray says he wants to permanently extend the enhanced ACA premium tax credits. He also says he led a budget amendment to block legislation that would cut Medicaid on a tax-related basis.
Lincoln says he balanced budgets as Mayor without raising taxes. In Congress he says he will cut wasteful government spending and lower taxes.
“In Congress, he will work to cut wasteful government spending, lower taxes, and put more money back in the pockets of hardworking Central Valley families.”
Gray says he wants to lower health care costs and expand coverage. He introduced a bill to reverse the Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill and permanently extend the ACA enhanced tax credits. He also backs telehealth, midwife training and new medical schools to address doctor shortages.
Social Security and MedicareGray: no position · Lincoln: no position
Adam Gray (DEM, incumbent)
No stated position on their website.
Kevin Lincoln (REP)
No stated position on their website.
Immigration and the borderGray: stated · Lincoln: stated
Adam Gray (DEM, incumbent)
Gray says he wants to secure the border, enforce the law and hold ICE and CBP to clear accountability standards. He supports the DIGNITY Act, a path to citizenship for Dreamers, and legal status for farm workers who stay employed in agriculture. He voted against the latest DHS funding bill, saying it lacked accountability reforms.
“we must secure the border, enforce the law, and hold federal agencies to clear standards so agents can do their jobs safely and professionally.”
Lincoln says national security starts with border security. He says he will fight to secure the border and enforce immigration laws, and he blames Biden's border policies for letting criminals and fentanyl into communities.
“Kevin Lincoln will always fight to secure the border, enforce our immigration laws, and restore law–and-order.”
Energy and climateGray: stated · Lincoln: no position
Adam Gray (DEM, incumbent)
Gray says he wants to lower energy costs and introduced a bipartisan bill to reduce state and local regulations on geothermal activity. He also backs faster permitting for infrastructure projects.
Gray says he strongly supports law enforcement and wants to crack down on drugs and gang violence. He introduced a bill expanding grants for fentanyl awareness and law enforcement training, and says he opposes zero bail, reduced sentencing and early release policies.
Lincoln says that as Mayor he backed police with an 18% pay raise and a $42 million budget increase. In Congress he says he will fight policies like early prisoner release and reduced sentences for repeat offenders.
Gray says good schools and job training prepare students for the future. He cosponsored the IDEA Full Funding Act for children with disabilities and backs UC Merced and Valley schools. He also introduced a bill to help build medical schools.
Foreign policy and defenseGray: stated · Lincoln: stated
Adam Gray (DEM, incumbent)
Gray says he wants to protect American security and economic interests and the safety of service members. He voted for a War Powers Resolution to end U.S. military activity in Iran without congressional authorization, and says Congress must declare war and the president must present a clear strategy.
Lincoln says the US is in a competition with China and other rivals over artificial intelligence and must win it. He supports the President's AI Action Plan, which he says puts American innovation and national security first and builds domestic AI infrastructure.
Elections and ethics in governmentGray: no position · Lincoln: no position
Adam Gray (DEM, incumbent)
No stated position on their website.
Kevin Lincoln (REP)
No stated position on their website.
Something wrong or missing? Each profile has an Accurate? button under every issue; a person reads every note.
Got a political text?
Paste a campaign text message you’ve received. Semblen marks the persuasion techniques in its wording and lists the factual claims it makes. Take your name out first: what you paste is analyzed and kept like any text.
Findings
As of 2026-10-28. Counts are of distinct ads; the same text run many times is one ad.
Ads analyzed
21 · started running between 2026-09-07 and 2026-10-26
A small box with these findings and the newest ads, updated as new ads are analyzed. Free for newsrooms, blogs and campaigns alike; it links back here.
Follow Adam Gray in office
Adam Gray won. Get what Adam Gray says in office by email, analyzed for rhetorical techniques, once sworn in. And an email if the result changes: a recount or a call reversed. One-click unsubscribe.
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Leaving out the softer ones (loaded language, glittering generalities, slogans, exaggeration, repetition): 52% of ads.
The words doing the work
The words that show up most in phrases our model flagged as loaded language or name calling in this race's ads, by number of ads.
chauffeured aroundin 4 ads· e.g. “busy spending over $55,000 to get chauffeured around the Valley”, “busy getting chauffeured around”
busyin 3 ads· e.g. “busy spending over $55,000 to get chauffeured around the Valley”, “busy getting chauffeured around”
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Money in this race
From FEC filings for 2025–26. Outside spending is money a group spends on its own about a candidate — TV and online ads, mail, canvassing. It is not a donation to the campaign, and the candidate does not control it. Supporting means it was spent to help that candidate win; Opposing means it was spent to defeat them, usually on attack ads. Groups report it within 24 or 48 hours as the election nears. Raised is the campaign's own fundraising, as of its latest quarterly report. Largest donors come from each outside spender's own FEC receipts, with each donor's share of its itemized receipts; donors under $100,000 are not named. People are shown with the employer and occupation they reported. A donor that is itself a political committee is shown with its own largest donors. Companies and nonprofits don't report their funders to the FEC, so the trail ends there, and the page says so.
CLF— $2.8M opposing Gray
· 3 ads on this pageLargest donors:
AMERICAN ACTION NETWORK $64.3M (25%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Elon Musk $30.0M (12%), Space Exploration Technologies Corp., CEO; Timothy Mellon $21.0M (8%), Self-Employed, Investments; Miriam Adelson $10.0M (4%), Adelson Drug Clinic, Physician; Paul E Singer $8.0M (3%), EMC, PresidentNO GOING BACK PAC INC.— $110K opposing GrayAB PAC— $86K supporting GrayLargest donors:
AB FOUNDATION $13.0M (30%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); DEMOCRACY MATTERS $5.6M (13%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Deborah Simon $5.0M (11%), Retired; DEMOCRACY PAC $4.0M (9%); Lynn S Stern $1.0M (2%), Self Employed, PhotographerCIVIC RENEWAL FUND INC.— $62K opposing GrayTHE CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS DBA AMERICANS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTY— $32K opposing Gray, $2,017 supporting Grayand 6 more
$3.0M through 2026-10-14individuals $1.7M · PACs $339K · from the candidate's other committees $921K · cash on hand $448K
Outside spending
$2.2M opposing Lincoln · $427K supporting Lincoln· latest reported 2026-10-28
Largest outside spenders
HMP— $1.7M opposing LincolnLargest donors:
HOUSE MAJORITY FORWARD $93.7M (39%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Reid G Hoffman $8.5M (4%), Greylock Partners, Partner; ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FUND $5.0M (2%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Fred Eychaner $5.0M (2%), Retired; UNITED ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ISSUES FUND $4.8M (2%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC)BDA PAC— $450K opposing LincolnLargest donors:
THE BENCH $1.0M (26%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); BLUE DOG ACTION FUND $700K (17%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Samuel Walton $500K (12%), CEO, Walmart; Patricia Nierenberg $361K (9%), Self Employed, Investments; Jason Eastwick Carroll $250K (6%), HRT Financial, PartnerCIVIC RENEWAL FUND INC.— $289K supporting LincolnCLF— $45K supporting Lincoln
· 3 ads on this pageLargest donors:
AMERICAN ACTION NETWORK $64.3M (25%) (an organization: its own funders aren't reported to the FEC); Elon Musk $30.0M (12%), Space Exploration Technologies Corp., CEO; Timothy Mellon $21.0M (8%), Self-Employed, Investments; Miriam Adelson $10.0M (4%), Adelson Drug Clinic, Physician; Paul E Singer $8.0M (3%), EMC, PresidentTHE CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS DBA AMERICANS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTY— $40K supporting Lincolnand 5 more
Bundled through PACs
none reported · FEC bulk data of 2026-11-01
71 PACs gave directly — alphabetical; the legal limit is $5,000 per election
31 DAYS PAC $10K
ABRAHAM LINCOLN PAC $2,500
ALASKANS FOR NICK BEGICH $1,000
AMERICAN DREAM DELIVERED $5,000
AMERICAN REVIVAL PAC $5,000
AMERICAN SECURITY PAC $5,000
ANDY HARRIS FOR CONGRESS $4,000
ANTI-WOKE FUND $10K
ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS, INC. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (ABC PAC) $5,000
Paid for by Guides.votefrom 2026-10-26spend $100–19910,000–14,999 impressions
The race is on! Adam Gray and Kevin Lincoln will be going head to head for California’s 13th Congressional District in November. We’re here with a full voter guide so we you all can learn where these contestants stand! #vote #voterguide #midterms #california #ushouse
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by North Valley Labor Federation Committee on Political Education. Ad committee’s Top Funder: Service Employees International Union Local 1021. Not authorized by any candidate or committee controlled by a candidate.from 2026-10-252 variantsspend $0–198200–1,998 impressions
Brian Pacheco, Adam Gray and Esmeralda Soria have workers’ backs. So we’ve got their backs. Make your plan to cast a pro-union ballot by November 3rd.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Paid for by North Valley Labor Federation Committee on Political Education. Ad committee’s Top Funder: Service Employees International Union Local 1021. Not authorized by any candidate or committee controlled by a candidate.from 2026-10-256 variantsspend $0–5941,500–6,994 impressions
Adam Gray has workers’ backs. So we’ve got Adam Gray’s back. Make your plan to cast a pro-union ballot by November 3rd.
no techniques found
Looks up the ad's factual claims in fact-checkers, primary sources and wire reporting. Takes up to a minute.
Adam Gray won. Get what Adam Gray says in office by email, analyzed for rhetorical techniques, once sworn in. And an email if the result changes: a recount or a call reversed. One-click unsubscribe.
Confirming also makes your free Semblen account, with a 14-day Pro trial. No card.
Glittering Generalities: Vague, flattering appeal that sounds noble but gives no specific policy or record. Flagged: “you deserve a Congressman who works as hard as you do!”.
Name Calling: Discredits the opponent with a derogatory characterization instead of addressing any specific argument or record. Flagged: “takes the easy way out and dodges his responsibilities”.
Transfer: Borrows the legitimacy and respect attached to military service to bolster the candidate's standing. Flagged: “Marine Vet Kevin Lincoln”.
Glittering Generalities: Vague, emotionally positive promise of fighting for the audience without any specific policy content. Flagged: “ready to fight for YOU!”.
Loaded Language: Mocking phrasing like 'busy getting chauffeured around' is meant to provoke contempt for the opponent rather than state facts.
Card Stacking: Presents only the opponent's negatives against the favored candidate's readiness to work, with no context or evidence for either claim. Flagged: “While Adam Gray is busy getting chauffeured around and skipping votes, Kevin Lincoln is ready to get to work for the Valley.”.
Paid for by GUARDIAN SUPER PACfrom 2026-10-16spend $0–992,000–2,999 impressions
The Guardian Super PAC proudly endorses Kevin Lincoln for election in California’s 13th district.
As a Marine Corps veteran and a proven local leader, Kevin has dedicated his life to community service and protecting the American dream. He is ready to serve the people of California with a strong sense of duty and a commitment to freedom and Conservatism.
Join us in supporting Kevin Lincoln on November 3rd.
#BootsToBallots
Glittering Generalities: Vague, emotionally positive phrases like 'dedicated his life to community service' and 'protecting the American dream' sound noble but carry no specific substance.
Transfer: Invokes military service as a symbol of authority and legitimacy to bolster the candidate's credibility. Flagged: “As a Marine Corps veteran”.
Card Stacking: Pairs a tax vote with a chauffeur expense to imply hypocrisy while omitting context such as the reason for the spending or the tax's purpose. Flagged: “then spent $55,000 to get chauffeured around instead of driving to work!”.
Loaded Language: Emotionally charged, forceful demand that the person be removed, meant to provoke a reaction rather than give reasons. Flagged: “has got to GO!”.
Exaggeration/Hyperbole: Superlative claim about the 'largest' tax hike in state history, presented without context or support.
Card Stacking: Juxtaposes a spending figure with a tax vote to imply wrongdoing, omitting context such as what the spending was for or what else the vote involved. Flagged: “spent over $55,000 to get driven around the Valley right after voting”.
Loaded Language: Emotionally charged, mocking wording ('busy spending', 'chauffeured around') frames the politician as indulgent rather than stating facts.
Card Stacking: Juxtaposes a figure for the politician's spending with public hardship, omitting context about what the expense was for. Flagged: “While Californians struggle with rising costs, Adam Gray is busy spending over $55,000”.
An ad is on this page because its own "Paid for by" line is a campaign in this race; or it comes from a national Senate group and ran mostly in CA; or it ran mostly in CA and names a candidate — unless its sponsor is a campaign for some other office. Ads from outside groups appear alongside the campaigns' own.
Campaigns run one text as many separate ads. Identical text from the same sponsor is one card here, marked with its number of variants.
A technique is a specific rhetorical move in the wording, found by our model and explained in one line. It is not a claim that the ad is false.
Claims are checked when a reader asks: press "Check this ad's claims" on a card. Running a check and seeing its verdicts are part of Semblen Pro, because each check costs money to run; anyone can see which claims an ad makes. The ten ads with the most money behind them in each race are checked ahead of time.
Claim verdicts say what the cited sources say. A verdict that an ad is wrong or misleading is shown only when it cites an established fact-checker or an institutional record — Congress, a federal agency, a court — and its confidence is not low; a weaker one is not shown at all. Each verdict shows what it rests on and how confident it is. If we got one wrong, press Disagree: a verdict that readers dispute and no one defends comes down.
Video ads come from the campaigns' own YouTube channels; the transcript is analyzed. Meta ads are analyzed on their text; their video and images are not, yet.