Washington, DC – Today, Equality PAC Co-Chairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA) and Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) released the following statement celebrating Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia advancing to the November general election to represent California’s 42nd Congressional District. Garcia is running to succeed Congressman Alan Lowenthal, who is retiring at the end of the 117th Congress. When elected, Garcia will be the first openly LGBTQ immigrant elected to Congress, the first openly LGBTQ Peruvian American elected to Congress, and will join Congressman David Cicilline as only the second openly LGBTQ mayor to ever serve in Congress.
“Equality PAC is immensely proud of the campaign Robert ran, working hard to connect with voters and share his vision for making Southern California a better place for all,” said Equality PAC Co-Chairs Chairman Mark Takano and Congressman David Cicilline. “Whether it is keeping people safe from COVID-19 to standing up for LGBTQ rights, Robert has been on the right side of every issue, leading his constituents through the most difficult of times. In Congress, Robert will continue fighting for the LGBTQ community in California and around the country. We look forward to supporting Robert through the November election and cannot wait to welcome him into the Equality Caucus.”
Brought to America by his mother, Robert immigrated to the United States when he was just 5 years old. He says becoming a citizen is his proudest moment, and it’s the reason he went into public service. Robert is most widely known for his tenure as Long Beach Mayor and his leadership of the city during the worst of the pandemic. After losing both his mom, a health care worker, and stepfather to COVID-19, Robert vowed to work as hard as he could to ensure other families wouldn’t experience the same pain. He threw himself into expanding Long Beach’s mobile testing and vaccination efforts — programs which went on to receive national recognition from health experts and praise from the White House and Governor Gavin Newsom.
As mayor, he has been a strong supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and has strengthened protections for the LGBTQ+ folks by establishing trans-inclusive health care coverage in the city, increased access to STD checks and treatments, and facilitated a more welcoming community citywide. Long Beach has received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign for inclusive cities every year Robert has served as mayor. Mayor Garcia also oversaw a period of unprecedented economic growth and expansion of opportunity for city residents in his city. Robert worked to launch programs like tuition-free community college, a universal basic income pilot program and a pandemic recovery package to ensure every Long Beach resident could share in the city’s success.
Equality PAC is the political arm of the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus and is dedicated to the full legal and societal equality for LGBTQ Americans. All funds raised into Equality PAC are spent supporting and electing openly LGBTQ individuals and strong LGBTQ allies to the United States Congress who are committed to passing the Equality ACT and to ensuring full civil rights and protections for all LGBTQ Americans.
To learn more about Robert Garcia and his campaign, please visit his website here.
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