John Garamendi

John Garamendi
Born	John Raymond Garamendi 24 1, 1945
Birthplace	Camp Blanding, Florida, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Known for	U.S. Representative from California, California Insurance Commissioner, Lieutenant Governor of California
Education	University of California, Berkeley (BA) Harvard University (MBA)
Children	6
Awards	Significant Sig (Sigma Chi fraternity)
Website	[https://garamendi.house.gov Official site]

John Raymond Garamendi (born January 24, 1945) is an American politician and businessman who has served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from California since November 2009. A member of the Democratic Party, Garamendi represents areas of Northern California between San Francisco and Sacramento, including the cities of Fairfield and Vacaville. His career in public service spans more than five decades, during which he has held a remarkable range of offices at the state, federal, and international levels. Before entering Congress, Garamendi served two terms as California Insurance Commissioner, was the first United States Deputy Secretary of the Interior, and served as the 46th Lieutenant Governor of California. He also served in the California State Legislature, first in the State Assembly and then in the California State Senate, over a period of sixteen years. A former Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia, Garamendi has built a legislative career focused on healthcare, insurance regulation, water policy, national defense, and American manufacturing. He serves as a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Early Life

John Raymond Garamendi was born on January 24, 1945, at Camp Blanding, a military installation in Clay County, Florida, where his father was stationed during World War II. After the war, the Garamendi family relocated to California, and John was raised in Mokelumne Hill, a small community in Calaveras County in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The rural, agricultural setting of California's Gold Country shaped Garamendi's early years and would later influence his political priorities concerning water policy, agriculture, and rural communities.

Garamendi attended local schools in Calaveras County before moving on to higher education at the University of California, Berkeley. His upbringing in a small California town, combined with his father's military service, instilled in him a strong sense of civic duty that would define his long career in public service.

Education

Garamendi enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business. While at Berkeley, he became a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and was later recognized as a "Significant Sig" by the organization's foundation.

Following his undergraduate studies, Garamendi served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia from 1966 to 1968, an experience that provided him with international perspective during a formative period of his life. After returning from Ethiopia, he continued his education at Harvard Business School, where he earned a Master of Business Administration degree. The combination of his Berkeley business education, Peace Corps service, and Harvard MBA provided Garamendi with a foundation in both policy analysis and practical management that he would draw upon throughout his political career.

Career

California State Legislature (1974–1990)

Garamendi entered electoral politics in 1974, winning a seat in the California State Assembly representing the 7th district. He succeeded Bill Bagley and served a single two-year term in the Assembly before seeking higher office.

In 1976, Garamendi was elected to the California State Senate, initially representing the 13th district. He succeeded Al Alquist in the Senate and went on to serve four terms, remaining in the upper chamber until 1990. During his time in the Senate, the district boundaries were redrawn, and Garamendi represented the 5th district from 1984 to 1990. He was succeeded in the State Senate by Patrick Johnston.

During his tenure in the California State Senate, Garamendi rose to the position of Majority Leader, giving him significant influence over the legislative agenda. His sixteen years in the state legislature—two in the Assembly and fourteen in the Senate—established him as a major figure in California Democratic politics.

Garamendi also pursued statewide office during this period. In 1982, he ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor of California, but was unsuccessful in the primary. He later sought the Democratic nomination for California State Controller in 1986 but again fell short. Despite these setbacks, Garamendi continued to build his reputation as a legislator with expertise in healthcare, insurance, and economic policy.

California Insurance Commissioner (1991–1995)

In 1990, Garamendi was elected as the first elected California Insurance Commissioner, a position that had previously been an appointed office. The creation of the elected commissioner position was a result of Proposition 103, a 1988 ballot initiative that mandated elected oversight of the insurance industry in California. Garamendi won the inaugural election and took office on January 7, 1991, succeeding Roxanni Gillespie, who had served in the appointed role under Governor George Deukmejian.

As insurance commissioner, Garamendi focused on regulating insurance rates and advocating for consumer protections. His tenure in the position lasted until January 2, 1995. He was succeeded by Chuck Quackenbush.

During his first term as insurance commissioner, Garamendi made another attempt to win the governorship. He entered the 1994 Democratic primary for Governor of California but was defeated, failing to secure his party's nomination for the second time.

Deputy Secretary of the Interior (1995–1998)

After leaving the insurance commissioner's office in 1995, Garamendi transitioned to the federal level of government. President Bill Clinton appointed him as the United States Deputy Secretary of the Interior, a position that had been newly established. Garamendi became the first person to hold the title, serving from August 15, 1995, until April 1998.

As Deputy Secretary, Garamendi served under Secretary Bruce Babbitt and was involved in federal land management, natural resource policy, and environmental issues. He was succeeded in the position by David J. Hayes. After departing the Department of the Interior, Garamendi returned to work with the Peace Corps, the organization where he had begun his career in public service decades earlier.

Return to California: Insurance Commissioner and Lieutenant Governor (2002–2009)

Garamendi returned to California electoral politics in 2002, when he ran for and won a second term as California Insurance Commissioner. He took office on January 6, 2003, serving under Governors Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

During this period, California underwent significant political upheaval with the recall election of Governor Gray Davis in 2003. Garamendi briefly entered the race as a potential replacement candidate but withdrew from the contest to support Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante's candidacy. Arnold Schwarzenegger ultimately won the recall election.

Garamendi served as insurance commissioner until January 8, 2007, and was succeeded by Steve Poizner. In 2006, he successfully ran for Lieutenant Governor of California, succeeding the term-limited Cruz Bustamante. Garamendi took office as the 46th Lieutenant Governor on January 8, 2007, serving under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

As lieutenant governor, Garamendi served as president of the California State Senate, sat on the boards of the University of California and California State University systems, and served on several state commissions. He initially planned to run for governor for a fourth time in the 2010 election cycle, but events would redirect his career toward the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives (2009–present)

2009 Special Election

In 2009, U.S. Representative Ellen Tauscher, who represented California's 10th congressional district, resigned her seat after being confirmed as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. Garamendi, who was still serving as lieutenant governor, entered the special election to succeed her. He won the November 5, 2009, special election, taking office and ending his service as lieutenant governor. Mona Pasquil served as acting lieutenant governor following his departure.

Subsequent Elections and Redistricting

Garamendi won re-election in 2010 to a full term representing California's 10th congressional district. Following the redistricting that took effect after the 2010 United States Census, Garamendi chose to run in the newly drawn 3rd congressional district for the 2012 elections. He won that race and continued to represent the 3rd district through subsequent election cycles.

After another round of redistricting following the 2020 United States Census, Garamendi began representing California's 8th congressional district starting in 2023. He has continued to win re-election and serve in this capacity.

Legislative Priorities

In Congress, Garamendi has focused on several key policy areas. He serves as a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, where he has been involved in defense policy, military readiness, and shipbuilding issues. He has served as a ranking member on subcommittees of the Armed Services Committee, including those dealing with seapower and force readiness.

Garamendi has been a prominent voice on maritime policy. In February 2026, he issued a statement regarding the administration's proposed Maritime Action Plan, drawing on his work as a co-author of related legislation aimed at strengthening American shipbuilding and maritime capabilities.

Water policy has been another central issue for Garamendi, reflecting both his Northern California constituency and his long history with the state's water disputes. In February 2026, he joined Representative Josh Harder in calling on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reject permits for the Delta Tunnel project, describing it as a "boondoggle" that would harm the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region.

Garamendi has also been active on immigration and education issues. In February 2026, he joined 70 Democratic members of Congress in demanding answers from the Secretary of Education regarding the impact of ICE operations on students. He invited a 73-year-old grandmother and local constituent who had been deported by ICE as his guest to the 2026 State of the Union address to highlight his concerns about immigration enforcement practices.

On trade and tariff policy, Garamendi has been vocal in his opposition to executive overreach. In February 2026, he filed an amicus brief in a Supreme Court case challenging tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. After the Court struck down the tariffs, Garamendi issued a statement praising the decision as a defense of constitutional principles regarding congressional authority over trade policy.

Personal Life

John Garamendi has six children. He and his family have maintained roots in Northern California's rural communities, consistent with his upbringing in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Garamendi's early experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia from 1966 to 1968 had a lasting impact on his worldview, and he returned to work with the organization after his service as Deputy Secretary of the Interior in the late 1990s.

Garamendi is a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, having joined the organization during his undergraduate years at the University of California, Berkeley.

Recognition

Garamendi has been recognized by his college fraternity, Sigma Chi, as a "Significant Sig," an honor bestowed upon members who have achieved distinction in their professional fields or public service.

His distinction as the first elected California Insurance Commissioner remains a notable achievement in state political history, as the position was created by voter initiative through Proposition 103 in 1988 and first filled by election in 1990. Garamendi is also notable as the first person to serve as United States Deputy Secretary of the Interior, a position established during the Clinton administration in 1995.

Legacy

John Garamendi's political career, spanning more than five decades from the mid-1970s to the present, represents one of the longest continuous records of public service in modern California politics. His career has encompassed service in the California State Assembly, the California State Senate, two statewide elected offices (insurance commissioner and lieutenant governor), a federal cabinet-level appointment (Deputy Secretary of the Interior), and more than fifteen years in the United States Congress.

Garamendi's role as the first elected California Insurance Commissioner established the framework for elected oversight of the state's insurance industry, a model that has continued since the position was created by Proposition 103. His tenure as the first Deputy Secretary of the Interior similarly helped define a new federal position within the United States Department of the Interior.

In Congress, Garamendi has established himself as a figure focused on national defense, maritime policy, water infrastructure, and consumer protection—themes that connect to various phases of his earlier career. His work on the House Armed Services Committee, particularly regarding shipbuilding and military readiness, has been a defining element of his congressional service. His opposition to the Delta Tunnel project reflects his longstanding involvement in California water policy, an issue he has engaged with since his days in the state legislature.

At over eighty years of age, Garamendi continues to serve as the representative for California's 8th congressional district, remaining an active voice in legislative debates on trade policy, immigration, education, and national defense.