Eric Garcia

Eric Garcia was born in Fresno, California. Garcia served in the United States Marine Corps from 2005 to 2012. He earned his B.S. from the University of Phoenix in 2017. [2][3] Garcia's career experience includes working as a therapist.[4]

U.S. House California District 21

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U.S. House California District 22

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Special election

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Regular election

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Campaign website

Garcia's campaign website stated the following:

HEALTHCARE FOR ALL

With over 45,000 Californians lost to COVID-19 in under a year, defeating the devastating pandemic clearly must be Congress’s number one priority. First and foremost, the federal government must speed up the delivery of the vaccine in a fair manner, first to those most vulnerable.

Once we defeat the virus, we need to address our broken healthcare system. The COVID-19 pandemic has made clear the inequities in our system and exposed what has been clear to many of us: healthcare should be a human right. But due to the endless profiteering in our system, healthcare is more expensive in America than anywhere else in the world.

That’s why Eric is a passionate supporter of Healthcare for All and will fight for its implementation in Congress to ensure that everyone can affordably access the care they need. Just like almost every democracies throughout the world, America must ensure cost is never a barrier for someone getting the treatment they need.

Additionally, Eric is committed to lowering skyrocketing prescription drug prices and boosting funding for mental health services as well as incentivizing medical healthcare providers to work in underserved and rural communities by an increased student loan forgiveness program.

ECONOMY

The economic ramifications of the pandemic have also put a spotlight on the devastating inequities in our economy.

At a time when millions of working and middle-class families throughout the country are struggling to put food on the table and falling further behind on paying their bills, millionaires and billionaires have been getting richer and richer, aided by tax cuts and gigantic loans from the federal government.

This cannot continue. That’s why Eric is committed to building an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top.

That starts with providing aid to the working families and small businesses that have been devastated over the course of the past year and are in dire need of help. In Congress, Eric will be committed to rebuilding and promoting small and new businesses, including tax credits for small businesses so they can pay fair wages and build for the future.

Additionally, we must pass a comprehensive infrastructure package that provides desperately-needed funding to transportation, water, and energy projects in underserved communities like the 22nd District. To fund these programs, and restore equity in our tax system, we must also repeal the Trump tax hike on working and middle-class families, and raise taxes on the highest earners.

WATER

As someone who spent most of his childhood on a farm where he lived off of well water, Eric has a deep understanding of the unique water challenges facing communities in the Central Valley. The lack of access to clean, drinkable water has been a problem for families in the 22nd District for far too long.

For over 11 years, 22nd District residents have had toxic tap water that if consumed can cause cancer and other deadly health issues. These families that are forced to live with a toxic water supply usually live in marginalized communities where they have been utterly abandoned.

Despite amendments to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, millions of Californians still do not currently have clean drinking water. It is far past time that the federal government takes responsibility and ensures clean, drinkable water for every American by providing much-needed funding to communities like those in the 22nd District that cannot afford the equipment necessary to clean the toxic groundwater.

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE

According to data from NASA, the years 2016 and 2020 are tied for the hottest year on record. 2020's hurricanes and tropical storms caused $37 billion in damages and in 2020, over 58,250 wildfires burned 10.3 million acres, the most acreage impacted in a year.

The evidence is clear. There is no denying that climate change is real, and the consequences of our climate crisis are deadly and costly. We see it up close in the Central Valley, where the dry landscape is causing tremendous problems for farmers.

We need to take immediate action to slow down climate change by switching to renewable energy and leaving dirty, costly fossil fuels in the past. Solar panels, wind turbines, tidal power, and more green energy can help meet our electric needs without the harmful effects of pollution. This switch to green energy would have a tremendous impact on the air quality in the 22nd District and the rest of California’s Central Valley, which has some of the worst air quality in the country.

That’s why I support the Green New Deal, because we need a green energy revolution that both restores our environment and provides quality middle-class jobs.

EDUCATION

For many people, having a quality education is the key to breaking a generational cycle of poverty. That’s why Eric is committed to ensuring our education system from K-12 to colleges and universities is affordable, accessible, and high quality for all students.

This includes making community college tuition-free nation-wide, canceling student loan debt, and working toward tuition-free public colleges and universities across America. The cost must no longer be a barrier to entry for so many low-income students throughout America.

Additionally, inequities in our K-12 schools remain rampant, particularly in rural communities like the 22nd District. As the product of public K-12 schooling, Eric will fight tirelessly to defend and uplift our public schools, which are still recovering from the last recession and decades of cuts, even before the pandemic.

Eric is committed to better connecting a quality education to real jobs for those who don’t get a college degree, which is why he’ll work to provide more funding for trades and apprenticeship training programs.

Finally, Eric is a believer in early childhood education programs and believes that we should fully fund Pre-school and early start programs to help give everyone an equal start in the education system.

IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

As the great-grandson of Mexican immigrants, Eric understands intimately that everyone deserves an opportunity to succeed, regardless of their citizenship status.

California is a state that’s run by immigrants, where our unparalleled diversity has always enriched us and made our state the 5th largest economy in the world.

Under the Trump Administration, immigrants all over the country were under constant threat of deportation and other abuse. And while the Biden Administration is a breath of fresh air for immigrants all throughout the country, America’s immigration system has long been deeply flawed and in need of reform.

That’s why in Congress, Eric will fight for a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants living in the United States without legal status, protect DREAMers, keep families together, and streamline the visa and green card process to eliminate unfair discrepancies.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM

As the nationwide protests last summer put in full view, our nation is in dire need of comprehensive criminal justice and policing reform.

In Congress, Eric will fight to end mass incarceration and policing abuses by continuing to make our criminal justice system fairer and more just. This includes banning private prisons and detention centers nationwide, working to roll back mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, and ensuring accountability for police violence.

GETTING BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS

It’s critical that we defend our democracy against the corruption and big-money special interests that have flooded our nation’s Capitol.

If Americans want a federal government that represents the will of the people and not the priorities of special interests, we have to change the way we finance our campaigns. That’s why Eric refuses to ever accept a dime from federal corporate PACs or lobbyists and will fight to end Citizens United.[5]

—Eric Garcia's campaign website (2022)[6]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a father, wartime United States Marine Corps veteran, college graduate, graduate student; Central Valley born and raised with roots in agriculture stemming from my time spent working on my family farm in Selma, CA. I joined the Marine Corps at the age of 17 in 2005. I had a Top Secret clearance by 18. Having just turned 20 I was deployed to Iraq in 2007. Despite becoming extremely ill on my first deployment, I again deployed in 2008, celebrating my 21st birthday over the Atlantic Ocean and purchasing my first beer in Germany while in transit to Iraq. My sickness from my first deployment eventually caused me to be medically separated from the Marine Corps in 2012. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2017. I started a Master of Science in Counseling/Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy program in 2018 and expect to graduate in 2021. I have been married for 11 years to the love of my life and have three young children.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Clean drinking water is a top priority and sustainable water for agriculture.Transparency and accountability of elected officials.Equality for all no exceptions.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I have several military service related disabilities and have experienced horrible medical coverage, sometimes none at all. People should not have to choose between food and medicine. The entire medical system needs to be evaluated to cut costs and lower the cost to receive care. Everyone needs to have access to medical care if that is through Medicare for all or ACA with improvements to ensure everyone is covered. Some people in my district have not had clean drinking water for over 10 years, this is unacceptable. No one in The United States of America should be unable to turn on the tap and have clean drinking water. Too many injustices happen in my district and our country; I will fight tirelessly for those that have been marginalized and forgotten.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my grandfather. I would follow my grandfather's example. I would follow his example because he came to this country with nothing and worked in the fields his whole life to provide for his family. He taught me the meaning of hard work and that sometimes you have to endure horrible situations to provide for those you love. His example showed me that life is not easy and you have to dig deep to push forward despite any difficulties that may hinder your progress. He would give me one dollar to clear out the leaves in his yard. He did not have a rake so I would pick them up by hand one by one. He showed me the meaning of hard work from the age of five. Our country has several difficult problems that will take a tremendous amount of work to solve. Because of what my grandfather taught me I will not be intimidated or deterred from working hard until our country is problem free.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Two characteristics are most important for an elected official they are integrity and openness. An elected official needs to have a high level of integrity especially when it comes to their duties to serve the people. When an elected official says something that official must do everything possible to accomplish it. Openness is a key component to be a successful elected official. Communicating with the people and keeping the people informed by being open with them not only engages people but builds trust. An honest transparent elected official is exactly what our country not only needs but deserves.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I possess two qualities that I believe would make me a successful officeholder, humbleness and determination. I have several military service related disabilities that cause me to experience vast amounts of pain daily and limit my mobility. The pain I endure daily because of my military service has made me realize two things. One, I am not invincible and only human just like everyone else. Two, it has made me keenly aware to the suffering of others and drives me to help alleviate the suffering of others. My determination, my drive, my unwavering spirit, my fire, and my passion compel me to always move forward. My grandfather used to tell me that you do not fail when you fall; you only fail when you do not stand back up. I will never give up I will always strive to do what is best for the people of my district and the country.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

If I could be any fictional character it would have to be Goku. He is always putting the needs of others first and never backs down from a fight even against a stronger opponent. He stands by his morals and always protects his friends even with his life. He doesn't start off as the strongest, but with each new stronger opponent he faces he pushes forward until he becomes strong enough to achieve victory. Also instant transmission would make traveling to D.C and back to California a lot faster and cheaper.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Two of the greatest challenges the United States faces as a nation over the next decade are climate change and division. California produces 2/3 of the country's fruit and 1/3 of the country's vegetables yet is prone to droughts. Aside from switching to clean energy and reducing or eliminating carbon emissions we need to upgrade not only California's irrigation systems, but the country's as well. Our country seems to be more divided than any time I can remember in my life. The House passes bills and the Senate does nothing because of the division that has torn our country apart. We must bridge the gap that has been torn asunder by hate and extreme partisanship. Only by standing united, compromise and cooperation can we defeat the division that has darkened our nation.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Term limits both have advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that it gives a chance for other people to become representatives. With new representatives comes new ideas and innovation that could solve previously unsolved problems like homelessness. One disadvantage is that if too many representatives are replaced at the same time, because they reach their term limit, there will be no one to train the new representatives. A balance between new ideas and experience must be kept. Term limits may do more harm than good if implemented incorrectly. Instead of term limits fair elections that give all candidates the same amount of money to campaign can even the playing field. Elections that are not based on raising money will make candidates run on their merits and not their campaign fund size. This approach will bring in new members at a rate that will not replace the entire Congress at once.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

A representative I would model myself after is Nancy Pelosi. I have not followed her entire career but her most recent action in withholding the articles of impeachment was commendable. She showed courage and determination to withhold the articles until a fair trial could be guaranteed. Even after members of her own party turned against her she remained resolute, even after being attacked by the President, Republicans, and the media she stayed steadfast in her conviction to hold the articles. The courage she emulated bore the fruit of new evidence by Lev Parnas that otherwise would have not made it to the trial without the courage of Nancy Pelosi.