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John Garamendi
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Dan Lungren
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 10th district
In office November 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	Ellen Tauscher
Succeeded by	Jeff Denham
46th Lieutenant Governor of California
In office January 8, 2007 – November 3, 2009
Governor	Arnold Schwarzenegger
Preceded by	Cruz Bustamante
Succeeded by	Mona Pasquil as Acting Lieutenant Governor
1st and 5th California Insurance Commissioner
In office January 6, 2003 – January 8, 2007
Governor	Gray Davis Arnold Schwarzenegger
Preceded by	Harry W. Low
Succeeded by	Steve Poizner
In office January 7, 1991 – January 2, 1995
Governor	Pete Wilson
Preceded by	new position
Succeeded by	Chuck Quackenbush
United States Deputy Secretary of the Interior
In office 1995–1998
President	Bill Clinton
Member of the California State Senate from the 5th district
In office 1984–1991
Preceded by	Milton Marks
Succeeded by	Patrick Johnston
Member of the California State Senate from the 13th district
In office 1976–1984
Preceded by	Clare Berryhill
Succeeded by	Al Alquist
Member of the California State Assembly from the 7th district
In office 1974–1976
Preceded by	William T. Bagley
Succeeded by	Norman S. Waters
Personal details
Born	John Raymond Garamendi (1945-01-24) January 24, 1945 (age 79) Camp Blanding, Florida
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Patricia W. Garamendi
Children	6 children
Residence(s)	Walnut Grove, California
Alma mater	UC Berkeley (B.A.) Harvard Business School (M.B.A.)

John Raymond Garamendi (born January 24, 1945) is an American politician and the U.S. Representative for California's 3rd congressional district. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Garamendi was the California State Insurance Commissioner from 1991 to 1995, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior from 1995 to 1998, and the California State Insurance Commissioner again from 2003 to 2007. He then served as the 46th Lieutenant Governor of California from January 8, 2007 until he was elected to Congress in November 2009.

Garamendi was temporarily a candidate for Governor of California in the 2010 election after announcing his candidacy on July 31, 2008. However, he suspended his candidacy on April 29, 2009, to run for Congress in the 10th congressional district. This seat was vacated by Ellen Tauscher, who resigned to become Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. Garamendi won the Democratic Party nomination in the primary election for the seat on September 1 and then won the special election on November 3, 2009. Garamendi was re-elected to a full term in 2010 and 2012.

Early life and education

Garamendi was raised in Mokelumne Hill, California, the son of Mary Jane (née McSorley) and Raymond V. Garamendi. His paternal grandparents were Basque immigrants and his mother was of half Irish and half Italian ancestry. Garamendi received a B.A. in business from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was both a football player and wrestler, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School. He served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia from 1966 to 1968. Garamendi is an Eagle Scout. Garamendi is also a member of Sigma Chi, as a brother of the Alpha Beta Chapter at Berkeley.

California legislature (1977–1991)

Elections

In 1974, Garamendi decided to run in California's 7th State Assembly district. He defeated incumbent Republican Assemblyman Douglas Carter, 64%-36%.

In 1976, he decided to retire after one term to run in California's 13th State Senate district. He defeated Republican Bob Whitten 53%-47%. He won re-election in 1980 (60%), 1984 (69%), and 1988 (69%).

Tenure

While in the California Senate, he served as Majority Leader. His sponsored legislation reformed health care, welfare, and the state tax code. He also protected Lake Tahoe and Mono Lake.

Committee assignments

He was Chairman of the Joint Committee on Science and Technology, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee.

Later political career (1991–2009)

Insurance Commissioner (1991–1995)

His early years in the office brought him much controversy due to the state seizure of Executive Life Insurance Company, a bankruptcy that was coincidental with the creation of the state Department of Insurance. In addition to this had a number of other accomplishments. He successfully implemented Proposition 103, reforming the auto and homeowner insurance industry. Under his leadership, the department protected homeowners from the Oakland Hills Fire by forcing insurance companies to fully pay for rebuilding. His department earned a reputation as the best consumer protection agency in the nation.

1995–2003

After his tenure as Insurance Commissioner, he spent four years in the private sector. He led groups of Peace Corps volunteers that helped negotiate peace in the Eritrean–Ethiopian War and Congo Civil War. In 1999, President Bill Clinton appointed Garamendi to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Interior, the second-highest post in the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Insurance Commissioner (2003–2007)

He created a Home Owners Bill of Rights. This helped create laws that reduced workers compensation costs 58% and reduced premiums by over $500 million. He re-established an anti-fraud task force. He also developed a report analyzing California’s health care system with 43 recommended improvements.

Lieutenant Governor (2007–2009)

As Lieutenant Governor of California Garamendi was the de jure President of the State Senate, regent of the University California, Trustee of the California State University System, member of the California State Lands Commission, Chairman of the California Commission for Economic Development, and acting Governor.

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

Elections

2009

Despite living outside of California's 10th congressional district, Garamendi announced his intention to run for the 2009 special election in the 10th district, where Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher had vacated her seat. There was some confusion about the location of Garamendi's residence. Garamendi said: "My front yard is in the district, our bedroom is not." Garamendi continued to fuel speculation about the location of his residence when he made similar comments to the NYT in July, stating the same thing. The Sacramento Board of Elections later confirmed that no portion of Garamendi’s property lies within Congressional District 10.

In the September election, no candidate reached the 50% threshold to avoid a run-off election. Garamendi ranked first among Democrats with 26% of the vote, defeating State Senator Mark DeSaulnier (18%) and Assemblymember Joan Buchanan (12%). In the November run-off special election, Garamendi defeated Republican nominee David Harmer 53%-43%. After winning the special election on November 3, Garamendi was sworn in as a member of the US House of Representatives on November 5, 2009.

2010

Garamendi won re-election to his first full term defeating Republican nominee Gary Clift 59%-38%.

2012

After redistricting, Garamendi filed papers in March 2012 to run in the newly redrawn California's 3rd congressional district.

He currently represents just 23% of the district. While his current 10th Congressional District traditionally favors Democrats, the new 3rd District is now considered swing district by some.

Tenure

During the 111th Congress, Garamendi voted with his party 98% of the time.

While Democrats had the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2009 to 2010, Garamendi voted for most of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's agenda. Some key votes include his support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.

John Garamendi has voted with the Democratic party 93% of the time. Garamendi also voted against the balanced budget amendment.

Defense

John Garmendi actively opposed a GOP-backed construction of a missile defense site on the East Coast, saying it was fiscally irresponsible to be "spending up to $5 billion in the next three years on a missile defense system that doesn't work."

Garamendi is also part of a bipartisan group that wants to challenge "a new law that allows the indefinite detention without trial of suspected terrorists." He also voted against extending the Patriot Act.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
  • Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
• Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
  • Subcommittee on Water and Power

Caucus memberships

• House Democratic Caucus
• International Conservation Caucus
• Military Families Caucus
• Populist Caucus

Statewide elections

1982 election for Governor

He ran for Governor of California for the first time in 1982. In the Democratic primary, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley defeated him 61%-25%.

1986 election for Controller

In the 1986 Democratic primary for California Controller, Garamendi lost to Assemblyman Gray Davis, 50%-38%.

1990 election for Insurance Commissioner

He ran for California Insurance Commissioner for the first time in 1990. He won the Democratic primary with a plurality of 36% of the vote. His closest challenger was radio talk show host Bill Press, who got 28% of the vote. In the general election, he defeated Republican Wes Bannister 52%-38%.

1994 election for Governor

Garamendi ran for California Governor a second time in 1994. In the Democratic primary, State Treasurer Kathleen Brown defeated him 48%-33%.

2002 election for Insurance Commissioner

He ran for California Insurance Commissioner for a second time in 2002. He won the Democratic primary with 39% of the vote. In the general election, he defeated Republican Gary Mendoza 46%-42%.

2003 election for Governor

On August 7, 2003 Garamendi announced his candidacy for Governor a third time in the gubernatorial recall election, but dropped out two days later to endorse Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante.

2006 election for Lieutenant Governor

On July 16, 2004, Garamendi announced his candidacy to run for Lieutenant Governor of California, the first and only time he would run for this position. Incumbent Cruz Bustamante was term-limited and decided to run to replace Garamendi as Insurance Commissioner. Garamendi's endorsers included former Vice President Al Gore, Sierra Club, the California Teachers Association, the California League of Conservation Voters, the Peace Officers Research Association of California, the California Professional Firefighters Association, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, and former U.S. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt. Garamendi won the Democratic primary by defeating state senators Jackie Speier and Liz Figueroa 43%-40%-18%. In the general election, he defeated Republican State Senator Tom McClintock 49%-45%.

Electoral history

Personal life

Garamendi is married and has six children.

This article uses bare URLs, which are uninformative and vulnerable to link rot. Please consider converting them to full citations to ensure the article remains verifiable and maintains a consistent citation style. Several templates and tools are available to assist in formatting, such as reFill (documentation) and Citation bot (documentation). (March 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

References

1. ^ "Representative John Garamendi (CA)". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
2. "Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA 10th District)". Congress.org. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
3. "Congressional District 10 Special General Election Results". Secretary of State of California. 2009-11-03. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
4. Garamendi bid press release
5. John Garamendi announces for Congress
6. "Tauscher accepts State Department post - San Jose Mercury News". Mercurynews.com. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
7. John Garamendi in an exclusive interview with EuskoSare: "There is a culture of education and advancement within the Basque community"
8. John Garamendi ancestry
9. "Biography". US House of Representatives. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
10. "Notable former Peace Corps Volunteers in Government." About the Peace Corps.
11. List of Notable Sigma Chi's on fraternity's website
12. "Our Campaigns - CA State Assembly 07". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
13. "Our Campaigns - CA Senate 13". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
14. Our Campaigns - CA State Senate 13 Race - Nov 04, 1980
15. Our Campaigns - CA State Senate 05 Race - Nov 06, 1984
16. Our Campaigns - CA State Senate 05 Race - Nov 08, 1988
17. ^ http://garamendi.house.gov/about/biography.shtml
18. Our Campaigns - Candidate - John Garamendi
19. "Biography, Representative John Garamendi". Retrieved 11 March 2012.
20. Meet John | Garamendi for Congress
21. Marinucci, Carla (23 April 2009). "Garamendi changes course for Tauscher's seat". SF Gate. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
22. Our Campaigns - CA - District 10 - Special Election Runoff Race - Nov 03, 2009
23. California Secretary of State election results, Tenth CD, November 2009
24. "Garamendi Takes Oath In Congress", KCRA.com, November 5, 2009.
25. Our Campaigns - CA - District 10 Race - Nov 02, 2010
26. Solano County's Congressman John Garamendi files election papers - The Reporter
27. Garamendi is a candidate for new third congressional district
28. "California Redistricting: The Democrats' Proposal". Swing State Project. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
29. "John Garamendi (D)". The U.S. Congress Votes Database. The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
30. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll165.xml
31. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll413.xml
32. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll638.xml
33. "Garamendi Votes Database". U.S. Congress Votes Database. The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
34. Cassata, Donna (9 May 2012). "House panel OKs missile defense site on East Coast". Associated Press. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
35. Cassata, Donna (16 May 2012). "Bipartisan House group wants end to indefinite detention, without trial, for terror suspects". Associated Press. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
36. The Washington Post http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/112/house/1/votes/66/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
37. Our Campaigns - CA Governor - D Primary Race - Jun 08, 1982
38. Our Campaigns - CA Controller - D Primary Race - Jun 03, 1986
39. Our Campaigns - CA Insurance Commissioner - D Primary Race - Jun 05, 1990
40. Our Campaigns - CA Insurance Commissioner Race - Nov 06, 1990
41. Our Campaigns - CA Governor - D Primary Race - Jun 07, 1994
42. "1994 Election Returns: Statewide Races." Office of the California Secretary of State (November 9, 1994).
43. Our Campaigns - CA Insurance Commissioner - D Primary Race - Mar 05, 2002
44. Our Campaigns - CA Insurance Commissioner Race - Nov 05, 2002
45. Our Campaigns - CA Lieutenant Governor - D Primary Race - Jun 06, 2006
46. Our Campaigns - CA Lieutenant Governor Race - Nov 07, 2006
47. "Official Canvass: United States Representative 10th Congressional District Special Primary Election, September 1, 2009" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
48. ^ 2010 general election results
49. "Official Canvass: United States Representative 10th Congressional District Special General Election, November 3, 2009" (PDF). Secretary of State of California. 2009-11-16. Retrieved 2009-11-16.
50. 2012 general election results

External links

• Congressman John Garamendi official U.S. House site
• John Garamendi for Congress official campaign site
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at Vote Smart

v t e Lieutenant governors of California
McDougal Broderick* Purdy R. Anderson Walkup Downey Quinn* de la Guerra* Chellis Machin Holden Pacheco Irwin* Johnson Mansfield Daggett Waterman White* Reddick Millard Jeter Neff A. Anderson Porter Wallace Eshleman Stephens Young Fitts Carnahan Merriam Hatfield Patterson Houser Knight Powers G. Anderson Finch Reinecke Harmer Dymally Curb McCarthy Davis Bustamante Garamendi Pasquil* Maldonado Newsom Kounalakis
* acting

v t e Insurance Commissioners of California
Garamendi Quackenbush Kelso Low Garamendi Poizner Jones Lara

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