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How Congress is cashing in on the AI boom
The Washington Post report notes that Congress has yet to regulate AI amid rising threats, while lawmakers personally profit from the AI boom.
Updated Oct 16, 2026, 2:28 PM ET
Democratic · 3 November 2026
Gil Cisneros
U.S. Representative for California's 31st congressional district (since 2025)
Gil Cisneros, a Democrat and former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness who has represented California's 31st congressional district since 2025, faces Republican Eric Ching, a former Walnut city councilor, in 2026.
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Live TruthIndex™ and prediction market consensus for races contested by Gil Cisneros.
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- Born
- February 12, 1971
- Birthplace
- Torrance, California
- Education
- George Washington University (Bachelor of Arts in political science)
Regis University (Master of Business Administration)
Brown University (Master of Arts in Urban Education Policy)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Gil Cisneros was born on February 12, 1971, in Torrance and is of Californio heritage. His mother worked in a cafeteria, and his father served in the Vietnam War, where he was exposed to Agent Orange.
Cisneros served in the United States Navy as a supply officer for 11 years and was discharged in 2004 as a lieutenant commander.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from George Washington University, a Master of Business Administration from Regis University and a Master of Arts in Urban Education Policy from Brown University.
Career
Cisneros worked as a shipping and manufacturing manager for Frito-Lay until he was laid off in 2010, and weeks later he won a Mega Millions jackpot worth $266 million.
He and his wife became philanthropists, endowing scholarships for Latino students and founding the Gilbert and Jacki Cisneros Foundation, and in 2014 President Barack Obama appointed him to the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
A Republican until 2008, he switched to the Democratic Party and in 2018 won California's 39th congressional district after incumbent Ed Royce retired, then lost the seat to Young Kim in 2020.
The Senate confirmed him unanimously in August 2021 as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, a post he held until September 8, 2023. He then ran for the 31st district, left vacant by the retirement of Grace Napolitano, and defeated Republican Daniel Martinez in 2024.
He serves on the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Small Business.
2026 race
Gil Cisneros is the Democratic incumbent in California's 31st congressional district and was elected with 59.7% of the vote in 2024. In the 2026 top-two primary he finished first with 94,805 votes, or 61.06%.
Republican Eric Ching, a former Walnut city councilor and the runner-up for the 38th district in 2022 and 2024, placed second with 23.83%, and Republican Erskine Levi, a retired teacher, was eliminated with 15.10%. Cisneros faces Ching in the general election on November 3, 2026.