# Vin Kruttiventi **Pleasanton-based tech entrepreneur**, founder of consulting firm **A5**, and 2024 Republican nominee for CA-14 (lost to Eric Swalwell) now running in the 2026 CA-13 top-two primary against freshman Democrat [[Adam Gray]]. **California Republican Assembly (CRA) endorsement**. Q1 2026: ~$876K raised — second in the GOP field behind [[Kevin Lincoln II]]. Messaging: education, inflation, border, small business. ## 2026 cycle - **Primary date**: **2026-06-02** (California top-two) - **GOP field**: Lincoln (Trump + Speaker endorsed, cash leader), Kruttiventi (CRA-endorsed, tech-entrepreneur lane), Lopez (Duarte-endorsed), Escobedo (NPP) - **Cash position**: Q1 $876K raised places him second in GOP field — competitive money but distinctly behind Lincoln's Trump-backed haul - **August 2025 Cyngal poll** had Kruttiventi tied with a second R at 21% (Gray at 35% ballot test) — a snapshot before Lincoln's December Trump endorsement consolidated much of the MAGA lane ## Background - **Pleasanton, California** — Bay Area / Alameda County base (outside CA-13) - **Tech entrepreneur** — founder of consulting firm **A5** (specific industry / founding date NEEDS VERIFICATION) - **2024 candidate**: Ran for **CA-14** against Rep. **Eric Swalwell (D)**; lost (vote share NEEDS VERIFICATION) - **California Republican Assembly (CRA)** — endorsement anchors a grassroots-conservative lane distinct from the national-GOP-backed Lincoln ## Ideological positioning - Tech-entrepreneur / small-business lane - CRA endorsement positions him as the grassroots-conservative alternative to Trump's establishment-MAGA Lincoln pick - Campaign messaging (education / inflation / border / small business) is generic center-right without distinctive policy signature - Second-run dynamic: like many Republicans moving between California districts to find a winnable seat, the Swalwell → CA-13 pivot reflects district-shopping rather than deep roots ## Related - [[CA-13-2026]] — 2026 race file - [[Adam Gray]] — Democratic incumbent - [[Kevin Lincoln II]], [[Javier Lopez]] — GOP primary competitors - [[Eric Swalwell]] — 2024 opponent in CA-14 ## Sources - [Ballotpedia — CA-13 2026](https://ballotpedia.org/California's_13th_Congressional_District_election,_2026)