Robert GarciaIncumbent
Candidate for U.S. Representative, Congressional District 42
Robert Garcia is the Democratic U.S. Representative for California's 42nd District. The district includes Long Beach and part of southeast Los Angeles County. He is the incumbent. He was born in 1977 in Lima, Peru. He moved to the United States as a child. He grew up in Southern California. He became a U.S. citizen in his twenties. Garcia holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from California State University, Long Beach. He holds an M.A. in Communication Management from the University of Southern California. He also holds an Ed.D. in educational policy from Cal State Long Beach. Before politics, he worked as an educator. He taught communication and public policy at USC, Cal State Long Beach and Long Beach City College. He served on the Long Beach City Council from 2009 to 2014. He was Long Beach Vice-Mayor from 2012 to 2014. He was the 28th Mayor of Long Beach from 2014 to 2022. He was elected to the U.S. House in 2022. He took office in January 2023. He is now in his second term. He is running for re-election in 2026. In Congress, he sits on the House Committees on Oversight and Government Reform and Transportation and Infrastructure. He has been the Democratic ranking member on Oversight and Government Reform since June 2025. He is noted as the first openly LGBTQ immigrant elected to Congress. Born 1977. Home: Long Beach, California. Occupation: U.S. Representative, incumbent. Previously a career educator. Prior office: incumbent since January 2023. Previously Mayor of Long Beach, 2014-2022. Previously Long Beach Vice-Mayor, 2012-2014. Previously Long Beach City Council, 2009-2014.
On the issues
- Economy & Jobs
Supports raising wages for working families, backing small businesses, and supporting unions/collective bargaining for working people.
Source → - Health & Health Care
Supports universal health coverage, framing abortion access as part of health care, and has previously expressed support for a Medicare for All approach.
Source → - Immigration & Border
Supports expanded legal protections and due process for immigrants, including a pathway to citizenship, and has pushed back publicly against deportations he views as unlawful.
Source → - Reproductive & Social Issues
Supports federal protection of abortion access and has been a vocal advocate for expanding LGBTQ+ rights and protections, including on immigration-intersectional cases abroad.
Source → - Education & Schools
Supports eliminating student debt and has previously supported free college access.
Source → - Public Safety & Policing
Describes gun violence as an epidemic and states he is working to prevent it, though the specific federal gun-safety measures he supports were not confirmed in detail.
Source → - Criminal Justice & Courts
Has supported federal police-accountability reform, including the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, and has spoken about addressing racism within government institutions.
Source → - Environment, Energy & Climate
Supports reducing emissions through green jobs and clean technology and protecting coastal ecosystems; has previously backed the Green New Deal and pledged not to accept fossil fuel industry money.
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Supports campaign finance reform, opposes the Citizens United ruling, has stated he refuses corporate PAC money, and supports voting-rights legislation such as the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
Source →
Profiles are compiled from the candidate’s own statements and public records. We never tell you how to vote.