Mike Garcia (politician)

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 pilot from the USS Nimitz. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, he participated in over thirty combat missions before being honorably discharged.[5]

From 2009 to 2018, Garcia worked as a business development manager at Raytheon Intelligence & Space, one of four business segments of Raytheon Technologies.[6]

In January 2021, Garcia voted to object to Congress’s certification of the states’ electoral college votes on the basis of unproven claims of election irregularities. [7] Soon after, the Sacramento Bee Editorial Board called for Garcia’s resignation, and prosecution, for sedition. [8] In a prepared statement, Garcia stated "my objection to the electoral votes of two states was not in an attempt to overturn the results of the election, it was to fulfill my duty to protect the rights of the men and women of California’s 25th District who elected me to serve them and stand up for their rights."[9]

This was despite the fact that the 25th District had voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris by a margin of more than ten percentage points, while Garcia himself had been elected by a razor-thin margin of less than 0.1 percentage point, only 333 votes. [10] For this move, Garcia was criticized heavily by his constituents, and by fellow Congressional Republicans.[11]

Mike Garcia's congressional campaign logo

In the 2018 election in California's 25th congressional district, Democrat Katie Hill defeated incumbent Representative Steve Knight.[12] In April 2019, Garcia announced that he would challenge Hill in the 2020 election.[13] On November 3, 2019, Hill resigned from Congress due to a scandal involving her relationship with a campaign staffer.[14] Governor Gavin Newsom issued a proclamation ordering a special election to fill the vacancy caused by Hill's resignation.[15]

Garcia placed second in the nonpartisan blanket primary in 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.[16][17]

Garcia campaigned on strengthening the United States military and cutting taxes to improve the economy, specifically in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18][19] He also campaigned against the Democratic leadership in the California state government.[20] His platform included promises to "defeat socialism" and "build the wall."[21] Garcia said he was in favor of "securing and better surveillance of our borders."[22]

On May 12, 2020, Garcia defeated Smith in the special election. 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.[23] 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.[24] 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.[25]

In the November 2020 general election, Garcia faced Smith in a rematch. In August 2020, Garcia was listed as one of the 10-most vulnerable House members by Roll Call.[26] Votes were still being counted a week after the election, though Smith held a lead.[27] Smith conceded to Garcia on November 30, 2020. Garcia raised $3 million more than Smith.[28] Garcia won by 333 votes.[29]

Garcia was sworn into office on May 19, 2020.[30]

• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure[31]
• Committee on Science, Space, and Technology[31]

According to California Catholic Daily, Garcia opposes abortion and does not support the federal funding of Planned Parenthood.[32] After winning the special election, Garcia signed a petition to bring the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote.[33]

According to Garcia's campaign website, he supports passing a $750 billion budget for the United States Department of Defense.[34]

Garcia has advocated for repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. During his campaign, Garcia stated that he "was not a fan of Medicaid."[35]

Garcia supports the construction of a wall along the Mexico–United States border.[36] Garcia is in favor of increasing surveillance at the border.[22]

During a virtual debate with Christy Smith prior to the special election, Garcia stated that financial aid to small businesses should be administered through cities and local chambers of commerce.[37]

Garcia has called on the United States House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis to investigate California Governor Gavin Newsom's policy on nursing homes during the pandemic.[38] Garcia, along with other Republican representatives, claimed that Newsom had ignored guidance provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.[39]

Garcia supports congressional term limits.[40]