Democrats and Republicans agreed on at least one thing before November's election: California would play a central role in determining which party controls the U.S. House.

Democrat Adam Gray has won election to a U.S. House seat representing California’s Central Valley, defeating Republican Rep. John Duarte in the final House contest to be determined this year.

Resources are pouring into the few truly competitive congressional races expected to help determine the balance of power in Washington next year.

House Republicans have passed a sweeping bill to build more U.S.-Mexico border wall and impose new restrictions on asylum seekers.

Republican John Duarte defeated Democrat Adam Gray in a new California U.S. House district in the Central Valley farm belt that produced the closest congressional contest in the state this year.