Bio
Eduardo Garcia has honorably represented cities and unincorporated communities in eastern Riverside County and Imperial County in the California State Assembly since 2014. Garcia currently presides as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy; overseeing critical issues such as ensuring energy stability, affordability, and safety, and California’s groundbreaking efforts to decarbonizing its electrical grid. He serves on the Assembly Committees on Appropriations, Communications and Conveyance, and Governmental Organization. Assemblymember Garcia also sits as an Ex Officio Member of the California Air Resources Board and has been named Chair of the newly established Assembly Select Committee on California’s Lithium Economy.
During his tenure, Garcia has achieved tremendous legislative success across a vast policy portfolio and has secured historic investments for regional environmental priorities such as the Salton Sea and New River. Garcia led a bipartisan coalition of legislators to bridge the digital divide, which has resulted in a historic $6 billion broadband infrastructure investment. He has been steadfast advocate for increased access to healthcare, additional early childhood educational resources, worker protections, workforce development, small business support, and expanding equitable economic opportunities to uplift the communities he represents.
To help address homelessness and the shortfall of affordable housing, Garcia has effectively brought home over $100 million dollars in state housing resources for local affordable housing projects, veteran housing, and other vital housing resources for foster youth and other vulnerable populations.
His work on Prop 68 (SB 5), the California Parks, Environment, and Water Bond Act of 2018, released $4 billion in long overdue and much-needed resources into our state’s water, parks and recreation opportunities; notably prioritizing funds for underserved areas. Garcia, former Chair of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife, worked together with local leaders to bring over $44 million in Prop 68 funds to improve and build new parks throughout his district.
Assemblymember Garcia has distinguished himself as a climate change and environmental justice champion working to ensure equity, improve public health, and create new clean energy jobs. In 2016, Garcia authored historic climate change legislation (SB 32 and AB 197), establishing California’s landmark emission reduction mandate, and constructed a policy framework prioritizing climate investments for disadvantaged communities most impacted by pollution. Building upon those efforts, in 2017, Garcia passed AB 398, which developed a statewide climate action plan, and AB 617, the Community Air Protection Program, which serves as a national model of empowering communities to lead the creation of local air quality action plans. Assemblymember Garcia received a National Climate Leadership award from the United States Environmental Protection Agency in recognition of his climate action accomplishments.
Prior to serving the State Assembly, Garcia was elected to the Coachella City Council in November 2004. Two years later, at the age of 29, he became Coachella’s first elected Mayor. His legacy serving in the City of Coachella included expanding health and wellness, repairing roads and sidewalks, and creating new parks that swiftly became the envy of the surrounding areas. His innovative vision transformed the city into an emerging economic and cultural center of the Coachella Valley.
A graduate of local public schools, Garcia attended Coachella Valley High School and the University of California, Riverside. He also completed the “Senior Executives in State and Local Government” Public Administration program from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Southern California School of Policy, Planning and Development.
He is a proud father, husband, and life-long resident of the Coachella Valley.
Paid for by Eduardo Garcia for State Assembly 2024 (ID#1457051)
83-103 Avenue 48 Suite IB 111
Coachella, CA 92236