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BIOGUIDE G000598 · FEC H2CA47188

Robert Garcia

U.S. Representative for California's 42nd District (since 2023)DINCUMBENT

Race
U.S. House · California's 42nd District
Result
Robert Garcia, projected winner
Opponent
Brian Burley (R)
Research
Basic

Party line17 votes tracked

15With Democrats
2Against
0Didn't vote

Broke with Democrats on

With party = voted the same way as most Democrats who voted.

Said vs. did9 statements · 17 votes

I believe the best approach to fixing our healthcare system is passing Medicare for All.

Expand public health coverage

Compare statements with votes ›

On the ballotU.S. House · 42

2026-11-03

Robert Garcia Dincumbent
Brian Burley Rchallenger

Won the June 2, 2026 top-two primary with 56.5% of the vote.

Said vs. did

Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.

Raise the minimum wageSupports

Says he will fight for a nationwide $15 minimum wage, citing his push to raise Long Beach's minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2016.

Documented position[4]

No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.

Expand public health coverageSupports
I believe the best approach to fixing our healthcare system is passing Medicare for All.

Says he supports Medicare for All and co-chairs Mayors 4 Medicare, and will fight to protect and expand Medicaid, Social Security and Medicare in Congress.[4]

  • NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements.[5][6]
  • YESBreaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08), which extended enhanced ACA premium subsidies.[7]

2 of 2 votes point the same way as the statement

Faster transition away from fossil fuelsSupports

Says he strongly supports the Green New Deal and will fight to transition away from fossil fuels, citing Long Beach's fleet electrification and green-jobs programs under his mayoralty.

Documented position[4]

  • NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[5][6]

1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement

Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsOpposes

Says he will fight to expand pathways to citizenship for undocumented residents and end legal discrimination against them, citing his work establishing a legal defense fund and sanctuary-city protections in Long Beach.

Documented position[4]

  • NOLaken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22).[8]
  • NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.[5][6]
  • NOSecure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2, 2023-05-11).[9]

3 of 3 votes point the same way as the statement

Universal, publicly funded child careSupports

Says every parent should be able to afford child care and that he will fight for universal child care and pre-K in Congress.

Documented position[4]

No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.

Protect legal access to abortionSupports
Congress must enshrine the right to an abortion into Federal law

His official site says he believes Congress must enshrine the right to an abortion into federal law.[10]

No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.

Stricter gun lawsSupports
legislation that mandates universal background checks for all firearm purchases, bans assault-style weapons, prohibits gun ownership by those under the age of 21 and establishes a strong federal licensing system

His official site says he wants Congress to pass universal background checks, an assault-style weapons ban, a minimum age of 21 for gun ownership, a federal licensing system and red flag laws.[11]

No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.

Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsSupports

Cosponsored H.R. 8085, the Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act of 2026, a bill to impose a tax on the net value of assets of a taxpayer (119th Congress).

Documented position[12]

  • NOOne 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.[5][6]

1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroadSupports

Cosponsored H.Con.Res. 38 (119th Congress), a War Powers Resolution measure directing the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities not authorized by Congress. Cosponsored H.Con.Res. 40 (119th Congress), a War Powers Resolution measure directing the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities not authorized by Congress.

Documented position[13][14]

  • YESWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization.[15]
  • YESWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.[16]

2 of 2 votes point the same way as the statement

Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote

No statement on this issue in our sources.

  • NOSAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).[17]
Broad tariffs on imported goods

No statement on this issue in our sources.

  • YESResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.[18]

Biography

Democrat Robert Garcia is the U.S. Representative for California's 42nd District and won re-election on November 3, 2026, according to unofficial results. He immigrated from Peru as a child, taught at Long Beach-area colleges, and served on the Long Beach City Council (2009-2014) and as mayor of Long Beach (2014-2022) before his first election to the U.S. House in 2022. He serves on the Oversight and Transportation and Infrastructure committees, where he became the Oversight Committee's ranking member in 2025.[1][2][3]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Garcia was born in Lima, Peru, in 1977. According to Wikipedia, he arrived in the United States with his mother in 1982 at age 5, graduated from Covina High School in 1995, and became a U.S. citizen in his early 20s.[2][3] He earned a bachelor's degree in communication studies from California State University, Long Beach, in 2002, a master's degree in communication management from the University of Southern California in 2005, and an Ed.D. in higher education from CSU Long Beach in 2010. Wikipedia notes he was Associated Students president at CSU Long Beach.[2][3] He worked as a professor of public policy and communications at USC, CSU Long Beach and Long Beach City College, and Wikipedia also says he worked as a public information officer at Long Beach City College.[2][3]

In 2007 Garcia founded the Long Beach Post, a local news and sports website, which he sold before being elected mayor, according to Wikipedia.[3] He was elected to the Long Beach City Council in 2009 and served until 2014, including as vice mayor from 2012 to 2014.[2][3] He was elected mayor of Long Beach in a June 2014 runoff with 52% of the vote and re-elected in April 2018 with about 80%, serving until 2022, according to Wikipedia.[2][3]

Garcia won the 42nd District seat in November 2022, defeating Republican John Briscoe 68.4% to 31.6%, and took office on January 3, 2023.[2][3] In the 119th Congress he serves on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, where he became ranking member on June 24, 2025, and on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Ballotpedia lists his earlier Homeland Security Committee assignment.[2][3] He advanced from the June 2, 2026 top-two primary with 56.5% of the vote and faced Republican Brian Burley in the November general election.[2][19] He won the November 3, 2026 general election with 62.1% of the vote to Brian Burley's 37.9%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1]

Campaign website ↗

Recent votes

DateParty lineMeasure
2026-06-03With partyvoted yesWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207
2026-02-11With partyvoted yesResolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210
2026-02-03With partyvoted noConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21
2026-01-08With partyvoted yesBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196
2025-12-17With partyvoted yesWar Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212
2025-12-10Against partyvoted noNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18
2025-11-18With partyvoted yesEpstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1
2025-11-12With partyvoted noContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2

Showing the 8 most recent of 17 votes.

All 17 recorded votes
DateParty lineMeasure
2026-06-03With partyvoted yesWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilitiesH. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–1 · Republicans 4–207The 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.
2026-02-11With partyvoted yesResolution disapproving tariffs on CanadaH.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–1 · Republicans 6–210The 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.
2026-02-03With partyvoted noConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government fundingH.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 21–193 · Republicans 196–21The 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.
2026-01-08With partyvoted yesBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extensionH.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · roll call ↗Democrats 213–0 · Republicans 17–196The 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.
2025-12-17With partyvoted yesWar Powers Resolution on VenezuelaH. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 208–1 · Republicans 3–212The 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.
2025-12-10Against partyvoted noNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · roll call ↗Democrats 115–94 · Republicans 197–18The 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.
2025-11-18With partyvoted yesEpstein Files Transparency ActH.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · roll call ↗Democrats 211–0 · Republicans 216–1The 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.
2025-11-12With partyvoted noContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · roll call ↗Democrats 6–207 · Republicans 216–2The 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.
2025-07-17With partyvoted noCLARITY Act — digital asset market structureH.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · roll call ↗Democrats 78–134 · Republicans 216–0The 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.
2025-07-17Against partyvoted yesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulationS. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · roll call ↗Democrats 102–110 · Republicans 206–12The 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.
2025-07-03With partyvoted noOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passageH.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 218–2H.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.
2025-06-12With partyvoted noRescissions Act of 2025H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–208 · Republicans 214–4The 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.
2025-05-22With partyvoted noOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passageH.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–212 · Republicans 215–2H.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.
2025-04-10With partyvoted noSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registrationH.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · roll call ↗Democrats 4–208 · Republicans 216–0The 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.
2025-03-11With partyvoted noFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 1–212 · Republicans 216–1The 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.
2025-01-22With partyvoted noLaken Riley Act — final passageS. 5 · Passed 263–156 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–156 · Republicans 217–0The 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.
2023-05-11With partyvoted noSecure the Border Act of 2023 — House passageH.R. 2 · Passed 219–213 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–211 · Republicans 219–2Would have resumed border-wall construction, restricted asylum eligibility, expanded detention, and mandated E-Verify for employers.

On the record

Official actions: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.

  • actionAssigned to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the 2025-2026 term.[20]

In their own words

Priorities

  • Defending democracy, citing support for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.[4]
  • Raising the minimum wage and expanding the social safety net, including Medicaid, Social Security, Medicare and universal child care.[4]
  • Expanding pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.[4]
Campaign money$2.6M raised · 76% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30

Totals this cycle

Raised$2.6M
Spent$1.6M
Cash on hand$1.4M

Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.

Who gave

  • Individuals $2.0M
  • PACs & committees $626K

Largest committee contributions

  1. American Bankers Association PAC (Bankpac) PAC$10K
  2. Amalgamated Transit Union - COPE PAC$10K
  3. Matson, Inc. Federal Election Committee PAC$10K
  4. American Association for Justice Political Action Committee (AAJ PAC) PAC$10K
  5. National Beer Wholesalers Association Political Action Committee PAC$10K
  6. Ernst & Young Political Action Committee PAC$10K
  7. Machinists Non Partisan Political League of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers PAC$10K
  8. Deloitte Political Action Committee PAC$10K
  9. American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Political Action Committee PAC$10K
  10. American Crystal Sugar Company Political Action Committee PAC$10K

Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗

Profile: /people/robert-garcia-ca-house-42

Where they stood out

Voted against most of their party on 2 of 464 party-divided votes on file.

  • GENIUS Act

    What it does: Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act or the GENIUS Act This act establishes a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins (digital assets which an issuer must redeem for a fixed value).

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 102–110, Republicans 205–12

    Jul 17, 2025Official record ↗

  • Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Internal Revenue Service relating to “Gross Proceeds Reporting by Brokers That Regularly Provide Services Effectuating Digital Asset Sales”

    What it does: This joint resolution nullifies requirements for persons effectuating decentralized financial (DeFi) transactions to report certain information regarding digital asset sales to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 76–132, Republicans 215–0

    Mar 11, 2025Official record ↗

Full voting recordHow this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

See all their split votes

Compare all 2 candidates side by side ›

Sources cited in this profile

  1. 1.California's 42nd District election results 2026 · NBC News News report
  2. 2.Robert Garcia (California) · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.Robert Garcia (California politician) · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  4. 4.Robert Garcia campaign website, quoted on Ballotpedia · Robert Garcia for Congress (via Ballotpedia) Candidate's own words
  5. 5.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  6. 6.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  7. 7.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  8. 8.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  9. 9.Roll call: Secure the Border Act of 2023 — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2023-05-11 Official record
  10. 10.Defending the Right to Abortion · Office of Rep. Robert Garcia Official record
  11. 11.Ending the Gun Violence Epidemic · Office of Rep. Robert Garcia Official record
  12. 12.H.R. 8085: Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act of 2026 (119th Congress) · Congress.gov Official record
  13. 13.H.Con.Res. 38 (Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  14. 14.H.Con.Res. 40 (Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  15. 15.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
  16. 16.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
  17. 17.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
  18. 18.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  19. 19.Brian Burley · Ballotpedia Reference
  20. 20.Robert Garcia (California) · Ballotpedia Reference