Mike Garcia (politician)

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This article is about the politician from California. For the politician from Colorado, see Michael Garcia (politician).
Mike Garcia
File:Mike Garcia, official portrait, 116th Congress (cropped1).jpg
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from California
Assumed office
May 19, 2020
Preceded by Katie Hill
Constituency 25th district (2020–2023)
27th district (2023–present)
Personal details
Born Michael Joseph Garcia
(1976-04-24) April 24, 1976 (age 48)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.[1]
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Rebecca Rollins (m. 2013)
Children 2
Residence Santa Clarita, California, U.S.
Education United States Naval Academy (BS)
Georgetown University (MA)
Website House website
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Navy
Years of service 1998–2009 (Active)
2009–2012 (Reserve)[2]
Rank [[File:Invalid parameter|24px]] Lieutenant Commander
Battles/wars Iraq War

Michael Joseph Garcia (born April 24, 1976)[3] is an American politician and former United States Navy pilot serving as the U.S. representative for California's 27th congressional district. A Republican, he was first elected in a May 2020 special election and went on to win a full term in the general election.

Garcia was born in Granada Hills, California, and educated at Saugus High School, the United States Naval Academy, and Georgetown University. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1998 to 2012, participating in multiple combat missions during the Iraq War. Following his active duty in the Navy he worked at Raytheon Intelligence & Space.

Garcia has faced and defeated Democratic nominee Christy Smith in all three of his successful elections: the 2020 special election held to fill the vacancy caused by Representative Katie Hill's resignation; the 2020 general election, when he won his first full term; and the 2022 general election, when he won his second term. Due to redistricting, Garcia represents the new 27th district in the 118th United States Congress.

Early life and education

Mike Garcia was born on April 24, 1976, in Granada Hills, California, a suburb of Los Angeles, to parents who had immigrated from Mexico in 1959.[4] In 1994, he graduated from Saugus High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in political science, graduating in the top 3% of his class, from the United States Naval Academy after being nominated by Representative Buck McKeon.[5] In 1998, he earned a Master of Arts in national security policy studies from Georgetown University.[6][7]

Military and civilian career

Garcia joined the United States Navy in May 1998, and was sent to flight school at Naval Air Station Pensacola. He was deployed as an F/A-18 aviator from the USS Nimitz. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, he participated in over 30 combat missions.[8]

From 2009 to 2018, Garcia worked as a business development manager at Raytheon Intelligence & Space, one of four business segments of Raytheon Technologies.[9]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2020 special

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Main article: 2020 California's 25th congressional district special election
File:Mike Garcia congressional campaign logo.png
Mike Garcia's congressional campaign logo

In the 2018 election in California's 25th congressional district, Democrat Katie Hill defeated incumbent Representative Steve Knight.[10] In April 2019, Garcia announced that he would challenge Hill in the 2020 election.[11] On November 3, 2019, Hill resigned from Congress due to a scandal involving her relationship with a campaign staffer.[12] Governor Gavin Newsom ordered a special election to fill the vacancy caused by Hill's resignation.[13]

Garcia placed second in the nonpartisan blanket primary on March 3, 2020, ahead of former Representative Steve Knight and behind Christy Smith, a member of the California State Assembly. Garcia was endorsed by the Club for Growth and the Susan B. Anthony List.[14][15]

Garcia campaigned on strengthening the United States military and cutting taxes to improve the economy, specifically in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16][17] He also campaigned against the Democratic leadership in the California state government.[18] His platform included promises to "defeat socialism" and "build the wall."[19] Garcia said he was in favor of "securing and better surveillance of our borders."[20]

On May 12, 2020, Garcia defeated Smith in the special election in an upset. She officially conceded the race the next day, but affirmed her intention to run against Garcia in the November general election for a full term in Congress.[21] Garcia's victory marked the first time since 1998 that a Republican flipped a California congressional district held by a Democrat; in 1998, Doug Ose won in the 3rd congressional district.[22] He is also the first Hispanic Republican representative to serve from California since Romualdo Pacheco left office in 1883, after representing the 4th congressional district.[23]

2020 general

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See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in California § District 25

In the November general election, Garcia faced Smith in a rematch. In August, Garcia was listed as one of the 10 most vulnerable House members by Roll Call.[24] Votes were still being counted a week after the election, though Smith held a lead.[25] Smith conceded to Garcia on November 30, 2020. Garcia raised $3 million more than Smith.[26] Garcia won by only 333 votes.[27]

2022

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See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in California § District 27

Garcia ran for reelection in what is now California's 27th congressional district.[28] He defeated Christy Smith again in the November 8, 2022, general election.[29] Garcia's win resulted in the Republican Party winning its 218th seat in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections, giving Republicans the House majority in the 118th United States Congress.[30]

Tenure

Garcia was sworn into office on May 19, 2020.[31] In January 2021, he voted to object to Congress's certification of the states' Electoral College votes.[32]

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:[33]

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Certification of the 2020 election

On January 4, 2021, Garcia announced his intention to reject some states' electoral votes based on claims of fraud.[36] On January 6, he objected to Congress's certification of the states' Electoral College votes.[37] He later acknowledged Joe Biden's win and said the "election process has run its course".[27]

Abortion

According to California Catholic Daily, Garcia opposes abortion and does not support federal funding of Planned Parenthood.[38] After winning the special election, he signed a petition to bring the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to the House floor for a vote.[39] Garcia has cosponsored proposed legislation that would effectively ban abortion and some forms of birth control.[40]

COVID-19 pandemic

During a virtual debate with Smith before the special election, Garcia said that financial aid to small businesses should be administered through cities and local chambers of commerce.[41]

Garcia has called on the United States House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis to investigate Governor Gavin Newsom's policy on nursing homes during the pandemic.[42] Along with other Republican representatives, Garcia claimed that Newsom had ignored guidance provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.[43]

Garcia voted against the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.[44]

Defense

Garcia supports passing a $750 billion budget for the United States Department of Defense.[45][better source needed]

Impeachment of Donald Trump

Garcia voted against impeachment in Donald Trump's second impeachment after the 2021 attack on the United States Capitol.[46]

Guns

Garcia has an A rating from the Gun Owners of America.[47] He voted against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.[48]

Health care

Garcia has advocated for repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. During his campaign, he said he "was not a big fan of Medicaid."[49]

Immigration

Garcia supports the construction of a wall along the Mexico–United States border.[19] He is in favor of increasing surveillance at the border.[20] Garcia has voiced opposition to the DREAM Act and giving amnesty to illegal immigrants who entered the United States as children.[40]

Iraq

In June 2021, Garcia was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the AUMF against Iraq.[50][51]

LGBT rights

In 2021, Garcia voted against the Equality Act, calling it "contrary to American ideals".[52][53]

On July 19, 2022, Garcia and 46 other Republican U.S. representatives voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, which would codify the right to same-sex marriage in federal law.[54]

Term limits

Garcia supports congressional term limits.[55]

Tax policy

In January 2021, Garcia introduced the State and Local Tax (SALT) Fairness Act, a bill to eliminate the SALT deduction cap created in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Compared to residents of other states, Californians are disproportionately impacted by the SALT deduction cap.[56]

Antitrust bill

In 2022, Garcia was one of 39 Republicans to vote for the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior.[57][58]

Personal life

Garcia's wife Rebecca is an interior designer. They have two sons.[59] Garcia and his family live in Santa Clarita, California.[60]

Electoral history

2020 California's 25th congressional district special election[61]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Christy Smith 58,563 36.2%
Republican Mike Garcia 41,169 25.4%
Republican Steve Knight 27,799 17.2%
Democratic Cenk Uygur 10,609 6.6%
Democratic Aníbal Valdez-Ortega 7,368 4.6%
Republican Courtney Lackey 3,072 1.9%
Democratic Robert Cooper III 2,962 1.8%
Republican David Lozano 2,758 1.7%
Republican Daniel Mercuri 2,533 1.6%
Republican Kenneth Jenks 2,528 1.6%
Democratic Getro F. Elize 1,414 0.9%
Democratic David Rudnick 1,085 0.7%
Total votes 161,860 100%
2020 California's 25th congressional district special election runoff[62]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Garcia 95,088 54.9%
Democratic Christy Smith 78,234 45.1%
Total votes 173,322 100%
Republican gain from Democratic
California's 25th congressional district, 2020[63][64]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Christy Smith 49,679 31.7%
Republican Mike Garcia 37,381 23.9%
Republican Steve Knight 29,645 18.9%
Democratic Cenk Uygur 9,246 5.9%
Democratic Getro Franck Elize 6,317 4.0%
Republican David Lozano 6,272 4.0%
Democratic Anibal Valdéz-Ortega 4,920 3.1%
Democratic Robert Cooper III 4,474 2.9%
Republican George Papadopoulos 2,749 1.8%
No party preference Otis Lee Cooper 2,183 1.4%
Democratic Christopher C. Smith (withdrawn) 2,089 1.3%
Republican Daniel Mercuri 913 0.6%
Republican Kenneth Jenks 682 0.4%
Total votes 156,550 100.0%
General election
Republican Mike Garcia (incumbent) 169,638 50.05%
Democratic Christy Smith 169,305 49.95%
Total votes 338,933 100.0%
Republican hold
2022 California's 27th congressional district
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Garcia (incumbent) 57,469 47.1
Democratic Christy Smith 45,675 37.4
Democratic Quaye Quartey 8,303 6.8
Democratic Ruth Luevanos 6,668 5.5
Republican David Rudnick 2,648 2.2
Republican Mark Pierce 1,352 1.1
Total votes 122,115 100.0
General election
Republican Mike Garcia (incumbent) 104,536 53.2
Democratic Christy Smith 91,782 46.8
Total votes 196,318 100.0
Republican hold

See also

References

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  29. ↑ Kang, Hanna and Talia Lakritz Results: Rep. Mike Garcia defeats Democrat Christy Smith in California's 27th Congressional District election, Business Insider, November 15, 2022.
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  51. ↑ https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll172.xml[bare URL]
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External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 25th congressional district
2020-2023		 Succeeded by
Raul Ruiz
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 27th congressional district
2023-present		 Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
295th		 Succeeded by
Tom Tiffany

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116th | J. Panetta | J. Gomez | G. Cisneros | J. Harder | K. Hill | M. Levin | K. Porter | H. Rouda}}
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