CA-09: Former California mayor (R) is back for a rematch with Democrat Josh Harder

Republican Kevin Lincoln, who came within 4 points of unseating Democratic Rep. Josh Harder in California’s 9th District last year, is making another run for the competitive seat in the Central Valley.

“As a Marine, I learned the value of service and sacrifice,” Lincoln, the former mayor of Stockton, said Tuesday in a statement launching his campaign.

“As a mayor, I took on the status quo and fought to make our city safer, more affordable and more prosperous,” he said. “Now, I’m stepping forward once again because our families deserve a strong voice in Washington D.C. that understands their struggles and will deliver real results for the Valley.”

Harder is one of 13 House Democrats representing seats that President Donald Trump carried in last fall’s election. Republicans are optimistic that Lincoln, the grandson of a Mexican immigrant, can help them capture the district, which has a large Latino population and has been trending right. (Trump carried it by nearly 2 points in 2024, according to calculations by The Downballot.)



https://rollcall.com/2025/07/22/kevin-lincoln-josh-harder-midterm-election/