Robert Garcia

Before representing Assembly District 50, Robert Garcia served as an Etiwanda School Board trustee from 2016 until 2024. He did not win his 2014 school-board race, then ran again in 2016 and defeated an incumbent. His move to the Assembly came after Eloise Reyes announced her candidacy for the California State Senate, creating an open Assembly seat. Garcia finished first in the primary and then defeated Fontana School Board Trustee Adam Perez, a fellow Democrat, in the general election. He has represented the 50th district since December 2, 2024.

THE JOB BEFORE THE JOB

In 2014, Garcia challenged three incumbents for a place on the Etiwanda School District Board of Trustees and did not win. He ran again two years later, when two of the board’s five seats were up for election.

The 2016 field included incumbents David Long and Cathline Fort. Garcia secured second place, defeating Fort, while Long retained his seat. That result began Garcia’s service on the board, which continued until 2024.

Before his Assembly election, Garcia lost the 2014 board race, returned to run for the same local office in 2016 and served as an Etiwanda trustee until 2024.

THE JUMP

The Assembly opening came in 2024, after Reyes announced her campaign for the state Senate. Garcia declared his candidacy for the seat Reyes was leaving and received her endorsement, along with endorsements from several other elected officials.

Garcia placed first in the Assembly primary. Perez, then a Fontana School Board trustee, finished a distant second. Garcia and Perez, both Democrats with school-board experience, then faced each other in the general election.

Garcia campaigned with the backing of the California Democratic Party and endorsements that included actress and activist Jane Fonda. He defeated Perez in the general election and began serving in the Assembly on December 2, 2024.

Reyes’s Senate candidacy created an open Assembly seat. Garcia entered with her support, placed first in the primary and won the general election, moving from service on the Etiwanda School Board to the Assembly.

WHAT TO KNOW

Garcia served on the Etiwanda School Board from 2016 until 2024. His service in the California State Assembly began in December 2024.

His documented campaigns include the unsuccessful 2014 school-board race, the successful 2016 school-board race and the successful 2024 Assembly race. In the Assembly campaign, he received support from Reyes, several other elected officials, the California Democratic Party and Jane Fonda.