# Javier Lopez **Mayor of Ceres, California** (elected 2020, re-elected 2024) and 20-year fire-suppression industry veteran (MST Fire Consolidated) running in the 2026 CA-13 top-two primary against freshman Democrat [[Adam Gray]]. **First Republican to announce** for the seat; endorsed by **[[John Duarte]]** (the 2024 incumbent Gray unseated by 187 votes) — a notable signal of intra-GOP resistance to Trump's pick [[Kevin Lincoln II]]. Lower fundraising footprint; no active campaign website located. ## 2026 cycle - **Primary date**: **2026-06-02** (California top-two) - **GOP field**: Lincoln (Trump + Speaker endorsed, cash leader), Kruttiventi (CRA, tech entrepreneur), Lopez (Duarte-endorsed, local-elected lane), Escobedo (NPP) - **Duarte endorsement significance**: The 2024 R incumbent pointedly backed Lopez over Trump's pick Lincoln — a clean signal that CA-13's Republican establishment is NOT unified behind MAGA's choice - **First-mover disadvantage**: Announced before Lincoln / Kruttiventi entered, but has been lapped in fundraising and national media attention ## Background - **Ceres, California** — Stanislaus County municipality (population ~50K) in the heart of CA-13 - **Mayor of Ceres** — elected 2020, re-elected 2024 (direct-elect mayor format) - **MST Fire Consolidated** — 20-year career in fire-suppression industry (specific role NEEDS VERIFICATION) - First federal-office run ## Ideological positioning - Local-elected / Central Valley native lane — the candidate with the strongest in-district civic roots - Duarte's endorsement signals old-guard, pre-MAGA Central Valley Republican continuity - Lower-profile and lower-funded than Lincoln or Kruttiventi; likely a second-tier finisher under top-two math unless Lincoln underperforms - Fire-suppression professional / mayor combo fits a "practical local leader" archetype rather than national-conservative ideology ## Related - [[CA-13-2026]] — 2026 race file - [[Adam Gray]] — Democratic incumbent - [[Kevin Lincoln II]], [[Vin Kruttiventi]] — GOP primary competitors - [[John Duarte]] — 2024 incumbent Gray unseated; endorsed Lopez ## Sources - [Ballotpedia — CA-13 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/California's_13th_Congressional_District_election,_2026) - [Ceres Courier — Lopez challenges Gray](https://www.cerescourier.com/news/local/javier-lopez-for-congress-duarte-pledges-support/)