Robert Garcia (California politician)
American educator and politician (born 1977) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Robert Julio Garcia (born December 2, 1977)[1] is an American educator and politician serving as the U.S. representative for California's 42nd congressional district since 2023.[2] A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 28th mayor of Long Beach, California from 2014 to 2022.[3] He was both the city's youngest and first elected openly LGBT mayor, as well as the first Latino to hold the office.[4] He is the second person of color to be mayor of Long Beach, after Republican Eunice Sato, a Japanese-American who served from 1980 to 1982. A former member of the Long Beach City Council, he was vice mayor from 2012 to 2014.
Robert Garcia | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 42nd district | |
Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Ken Calvert (redistricted) |
28th Mayor of Long Beach | |
In office July 15, 2014 – December 20, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Bob Foster |
Succeeded by | Rex Richardson |
Vice Mayor of Long Beach | |
In office July 17, 2012 – July 15, 2014 | |
Preceded by | Suja Lowenthal |
Succeeded by | Suja Lowenthal |
Member of the Long Beach City Council from the 1st district | |
In office May 5, 2009 – July 15, 2014 | |
Preceded by | Bonnie Lowenthal |
Succeeded by | Lena Gonzalez |
Personal details | |
Born | (1977-12-02) December 2, 1977 (age 46) Lima, Peru |
Political party | Democratic (2007–present) |
Other political affiliations | Republican (before 2007) |
Spouse |
Matthew Mendez (m. 2018) |
Education | California State University, Long Beach (BA, EdD) University of Southern California (MA) |
Signature | |
Website | House website |
Garcia was elected to the United States House of Representatives in the 2022 midterm elections. He is the first Peruvian-American to be elected to Congress, and was one of the leading figures in the expulsion of George Santos.[5][6]