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Updated Oct 16, 2026, 2:28 PM ET
Democratic · 3 November 2026
George Whitesides
U.S. Representative for California's 27th congressional district (since 2025)
George Whitesides, a Democrat and former Virgin Galactic CEO who has represented California's 27th congressional district since 2025, faces Republican Jason Gibbs, a Santa Clarita city councilor, in the 2026 general election.
2026 Races & Market Forecast
Live TruthIndex™ and prediction market consensus for races contested by George Whitesides.
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Recent media coverage for George Whitesides.
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ANCA Endorses Congressional Allies; Grades Members of Congress on Pro-Armenian Priorities
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101 Members of Congress Support Measure to Ask Rubio to Continue Waiver of Military Support for Azerbaijan - The Armenian Mirror-Spectator
Friedman (D-CA), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Sam Liccardo (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Dave Min (D-CA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Luz…
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Press Release: Vindman Introduces Bill to Ban Live-Streaming of Military Executions
Topic: Rep. Eugene Vindman introduced the American Integrity Act to bar live-streaming of military executions under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice.
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Vindman
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- Born
- March 3, 1974
- Birthplace
- Massachusetts
- Education
- Newton North High School (1992)
Princeton University (bachelor's degree, 1996)
King's College, Cambridge (MPhil in geographic information systems and remote sensing)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
George Whitesides was born on March 3, 1974, in Massachusetts and was raised in Newton, where he graduated from Newton North High School in 1992.
He studied at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, earning a bachelor's degree in 1996, and later served four years on Princeton's Board of Trustees.
He went on to earn an MPhil in geographic information systems and remote sensing from King's College, Cambridge, and was a Fulbright Scholar in Tunisia.
He is married to Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides, with whom he co-founded Yuri's Night, an annual celebration of human spaceflight, and they have two children.
Career
Whitesides began his career in the space sector as executive director of the National Space Society from 2004 to 2008.
After working on Barack Obama's 2008 presidential transition, he was appointed chief of staff of NASA under Administrator Charles Bolden, serving until 2010 and receiving the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.
He then became Virgin Galactic's first CEO and led the company for a decade, announcing his departure in 2021. On February 22, 2023, he entered the 2024 race for California's 27th congressional district, and on November 5, 2024, he defeated Republican incumbent Mike Garcia by around 8,000 votes.
Sworn in on January 3, 2025, he serves on the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, where he is vice-ranking member.
2026 race
George Whitesides is the Democratic incumbent in California's 27th congressional district, which he flipped in 2024 with 51.3% of the vote. The district covers northern Los Angeles County, including Santa Clarita, Palmdale and Lancaster.
In the 2026 top-two primary Republican Jason Gibbs, a Santa Clarita city councilor, finished first with 40.98% of the vote, and Whitesides placed second with 40.63%, ahead of Democrats Roberto Ramos and Caleb Norwood. Whitesides faces Gibbs in the general election on November 3, 2026.