John Garamendi
John Garamendi, a Democrat who has served in the U.S. House since 2009 and was previously lieutenant governor of California, faces Republican Rudy Recile in the 2026 race for California's 8th congressional district.
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Recent media coverage for John Garamendi.
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ANCA endorses congressional allies for 2026 midterm elections
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA-42) – B [...] Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) – A
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- Born
- January 24, 1945
- Birthplace
- Camp Blanding, Florida
- Education
- University of California, Berkeley (Bachelor of Arts in business)
Harvard Business School (Master of Business Administration)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
John Garamendi was born on January 24, 1945, in Camp Blanding, Florida, and was raised in Mokelumne Hill, California. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in business from the University of California, Berkeley, where he played offensive guard on the football team and competed as a wrestler, and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. From 1966 to 1968 he served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia. Garamendi is an Eagle Scout.
Career
Garamendi was elected to the California State Assembly in 1974 and to the California State Senate in 1976, serving in the Senate until 1990 and holding the post of Majority Leader.
He became California's first elected insurance commissioner, serving from 1991 to 1995, and was U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior under President Bill Clinton from 1995 to 1998.
After a second period as insurance commissioner from 2003 to 2007, he served as the 46th lieutenant governor of California from 2007 to 2009, having defeated Republican Tom McClintock in 2006. He also ran for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1982 and 1994.
Garamendi entered the U.S. House after Ellen Tauscher resigned from California's 10th congressional district, winning the November 2009 special election against Republican David Harmer by 53% to 43%. He was sworn in on November 5, 2009, and after redistricting he won the newly drawn 3rd district in 2012, defeating Republican Kim Vann. He represents areas of Northern California between San Francisco and Sacramento, including the cities of Fairfield and Vacaville.
2026 race
In California's 8th congressional district, John Garamendi is the Democratic incumbent, having been re-elected with 74.0% of the vote in 2024.
In the top-two primary he finished first with 54.41%, and Republican Rudy Recile, a businessman who was the district's runner-up in 2022 and 2024, placed second with 27.78%. Democrats Nicolas Carjuzaa, a financial policy analyst, and Aaron Rowden, a public health policy analyst, were eliminated.
Garamendi faces Recile in the general election on November 3, 2026.