Garcia to run against Katie Hill, is endorsed by former Congressmen Buck McKeon and Elton Gallegly
Today, Mike Garcia announced his candidacy for Congress against Katie Hill in California Congressional District 25.
Garcia, a first-generation American citizen, is a highly decorated United States Naval Officer who was honored with becoming one of the first F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter pilots in the Navy. He flew over 30 combat missions during Operation Iraqi freedom over Baghdad, Fallujah, and Tikrit.
“I have been at the edge where bullets fly and lives are lost,” Mike Garcia said. “I believe America is the greatest country in the world. I’ve seen men and women lose their lives defending this country. And I am disgusted that politicians in Washington are voting in lockstep with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to push a Socialist agenda that jeopardizes everything we’ve risked blood and treasure to defend.”
Former Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon endorsed Garcia for Congress: “I’ve known Mike for 25 years. It was my honor to nominate him for the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1994. He served our country on the battlefield and he’ll serve us again in Congress.”
Having represented the area for over two decades, former Congressman Elton Gallegly has also recognized Mike Garcia as the best candidate for the 25th district: “I’m delighted that we have a well-rounded field of candidates in the primary campaign for the 25th congressional seat. This is a district that I represented for over 25 years and I know it well. After careful review I feel that Mike Garcia is the best prepared candidate. He is a fighter and a leader with a life experience that will serve the 25th Congressional district at a critical time in the history of our nation.”
Garcia graduated in the top 3% of his Annapolis class. During his senior year at the Naval Academy, Garcia received an M.A. in National Security Studies at Georgetown University. Garcia received his wings of Gold and was officially designated a Navy Pilot/Naval Aviator.
His performance during Advanced Jet Pilot Training in the T-45 jet set records and earned him the opportunity to become of the first F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter pilots in the Navy.
As an F/A-18E pilot Garcia was deployed several times on the USS Nimitz, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. He was lauded as one of the best leaders and one of the most naturally talented pilots in the Navy by his troops, his peers and his leadership.
He is a native of Santa Clarita since 1983. His father legally immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico in 1959.
Mike is the husband to Rebecca Garcia, and the father of Preston (12) and Jett (2).
California Congressional District 25 includes parts of northern Los Angeles County and part of eastern Ventura County. It includes the cities of Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Palmdale, Lancaster, and the northern part of the San Fernando Valley.