Gil Cisneros

DINCUMBENTU.S. Representative, CA-31 (since 2023; also served 2019-2021)

Advanced from the June 2, 2026 primary

Gil Cisneros is the Democratic incumbent for California's 31st Congressional District. He previously served one term in the U.S. House from 2019 to 2021, served as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness under President Biden, and returned to Congress in 2023.[2]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • YesWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • YesResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • NoConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • YesBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • YesWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • NoContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • NoCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • NoGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • NoRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • NoSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • NoFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • NoLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.
  • YesRaise the Wage Act — House passage · H.R. 582 · Passed 231–199 · 2019-07-18 roll call ↗Would have raised the federal minimum wage in steps from $7.25 to $15 an hour by 2025.
  • YesAmerican Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · H.R. 6 · Passed 237–187 · 2019-06-04 roll call ↗Would have created a path to permanent legal status for many undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and for certain TPS and DED holders.
  • YesBipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · H.R. 8 · Passed 240–190 · 2019-02-27 roll call ↗Would have required background checks for most firearm transfers between private parties.

On the record — official actions

  • actionServes on the House Committee on Armed Services (Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee; Military Personnel Subcommittee) and the House Committee on Small Business (Contracting and Infrastructure Subcommittee; Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee) in the 119th Congress (2025-2026).[2]
  • billIntroduced the Streamlining Small Business Contracts Act, which would raise the threshold for single-source SBA contracts to reflect current costs and inflation.[6]
  • billIntroduced the Cut the Burden, Keep the Benefits Act, which would require the SBA Office of Advocacy to solicit and report on small-business concerns about government actions including tariffs and healthcare rules.[9]

Positions on the issues

  • OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations. Voted yes on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6, 2019-06-04).[10][11][12][13][14]

    What they say: Led a letter urging Republican leadership not to obstruct legislation protecting Dreamers from deportation and work-authorization lapses, and has cosponsored the American Dream and Promise Act.[7]

    “This failure of leadership is forcing Dreamers out of the workforce and placing them at risk of deportation. It is cruel and unjust, and it needs to end now.”
  • SupportsExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[11][12][13][15]

    What they say: Voted for legislation to restore Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, saying the credits give relief to Americans facing high healthcare costs.[8]

    “Today, I proudly voted yes on the clean bill to restore the ACA tax credits, because we need these cost-saving tax credits to give relief to the millions of Americans feeling crushed by the weight of healthcare costs.”
  • OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[16]

    What they say: Introduced legislation citing the need for small-business relief from the administration's tariffs, which he described as chaotic.[9]

    “I hear it every day, small businesses need relief from Trump’s chaotic use of tariffs, but the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, which should advocate for small businesses across the federal government, ignores them.”
  • SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[11][12][13]

  • SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[11][12][13]

  • SupportsStricter gun lawsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Bipartisan Background Checks Act (H.R. 8, 2019-02-27).[17]

  • SupportsRaise the minimum wageFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Raise the Wage Act (H.R. 582, 2019-07-18).[18]

In their words — priorities

  • Says everyone deserves access to affordable, quality healthcare, and cites his work in Congress and as Under Secretary of Defense to expand healthcare access for working families.[4]
  • Says he is a vocal advocate for keeping immigrant families together and protecting the pathway to citizenship.[5]
  • Says the district's small businesses and entrepreneurs need an economy that works for everyone, and cites his seat on the House Committee on Small Business.[6]

Background

  • Born in Los Angeles, California, in 1971. Served in the U.S. Navy as a supply officer from 1994 to 2004.[2]
  • Earned a bachelor's degree in political science from George Washington University in 1994, an MBA from Regis University in 2002, and a master's degree in urban education policy from Brown University in 2015.[2]
  • Worked as a logistics manager for Frito-Lay; after winning the lottery in 2010, became involved in philanthropy, founding a scholarship program for local high school students. Appointed Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness by President Biden in 2021.[2]

Campaign money

Raised $705K · spent $486K · $260K cash on hand (through 2026-06-30) FEC filing ↗

Also on the ballot for this seat: Eric Ching · Compare side by side

Sources cited in this profile

  1. 2.Gil Cisneros · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 4.Health · Office of Rep. Gil Cisneros Candidate's own words
  3. 5.Immigration · Office of Rep. Gil Cisneros Candidate's own words
  4. 6.Economy and Small Businesses · Office of Rep. Gil Cisneros Candidate's own words
  5. 9.Rep. Cisneros Introduces Bill to Reduce Administrative Burden on Small Businesses · Office of Rep. Gil Cisneros · 2025-12-03 Candidate's own words
  6. 10.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  7. 11.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  8. 12.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  9. 13.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  10. 14.Roll call: American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-06-04 Official record
  11. 15.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  12. 16.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  13. 17.Roll call: Bipartisan Background Checks Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-02-27 Official record
  14. 18.Roll call: Raise the Wage Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2019-07-18 Official record