On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia of California made history as the first out gay immigrant to lead House Democrats on the powerful Oversight and Accountability Committee. At just 47, Garcia is now the youngest Democrat to hold such a high-ranking committee post.
A former mayor of Long Beach, and an immigrant from Peru, Garcia has long been known for his bold, unapologetic voice, especially in challenging far-right extremism. House Democrats made the announcement official in a post on Twitter, saying, “House Democrats elect @RepRobertGarcia the Ranking Member of the @OversightDems.”
Garcia takes the baton from the late Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia, who stepped down from the role during cancer treatment and passed away in May. Rather than stick with the old guard, Democrats signaled a generational shift. Garcia won the caucus vote after other contenders, including Representative Kweisi Mfume and Jasmine Crockett, withdrew.
His final opponent, Representative Stephen Lynch, couldn’t match Garcia’s momentum. Garcia is the only Democrat on every committee where Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene serves. And he’s met her fire with facts. He’s also led LGBTQ rights efforts abroad, confronting the Trump Administration over the deportation of gay asylum-seeker Andry Hernández Romero to a mega-prison in El Salvador.
Equality PAC co-chairs, Representative Ritchie Torres and Mark Takan, called Garcia’s election “a powerful moment for LGBTQ representation in Congress.” For LGBTQ Americans watching Congress — this is a win.
