WASHINGTON — Democratic challengers far out-raised vulnerable Republican congressmen in two of California's Central Valley tossup races to start 2024, federal election reports filed this week show.

The Democrats need to build on that momentum to approach the Republican incumbents’ massive cash reserves.

In repeat November matchups for two of the nation’s closest U.S. House races, Democrats Adam Gray and Rudy Salas each raked in more than $1 million in the first quarter of the year, which overlapped with California’s March 5 primary election.

Gray is challenging freshman Rep. John Duarte in California’s 13th Congressional District. Salas is contesting Rep. David Valadao in California’s 22nd.

It was the two Democrats’ most lucrative quarter during the 2022 and 2024 election cycles.

Salas, a former assemblyman from Bakersfield, pulled in almost $1.33 million between the start of 2024 and the end of March, Federal Election Commission filings show. Valadao, R-Hanford, collected a little over $672,000.

But Valadao ended March with more than $1.64 million in the campaign bank. Salas had over $754,000.

“I’m truly thankful to have so many people believe in and donate to our campaign,” Salas said in a statement.

Valadao’s campaign declined to comment for this story.

Gray, a former Assemblyman from Merced, was closer to Duarte, R-Modesto. Gray raised more than $1.03 million; Duarte, a little more than $580,000.

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