Gil Cisneros
Gilbert Ray Cisneros Jr. is an American politician and former naval officer serving as the United States [House of Representatives|U.S. representative] for California's 31st congressional district since 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness in the Biden administration and was the U.S. representative for from 2019 to 2021.
In 2010, he and his wife won a $266 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot and became philanthropists. He was elected to the House in 2018 to represent. He was defeated in his 2020 bid for reelection by former California State Assembly member Young Kim, whom he had defeated in 2018. In April 2021, he was nominated by President Biden to serve as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and after confirmation by the Senate, he assumed office on August 24, 2021.
On August 1, 2023, he announced he was stepping down from his position in the Pentagon in early September. On September 18, he announced his candidacy for California's 31st congressional district and defeated Republican Daniel Martinez in the 2024 election.
Early life and education
Cisneros was born in Torrance, of Californio heritage. His great-grandmother was born in Los Angeles when it was still part of Mexico. His mother worked in a cafeteria, while his father served in the Vietnam War where he suffered from exposure to Agent Orange. He is Hispanic.Cisneros served in the United States Navy as a supply officer for 11 years. He was discharged from the Navy in 2004, as a lieutenant commander, and his decorations included the Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science from George Washington University and his Master of Business Administration from Regis University.
Career
Cisneros worked as a shipping and manufacturing manager for Frito-Lay until he was laid off in 2010.Lottery win
Weeks after he was laid off, Cisneros won a Mega Millions jackpot worth $266 million. He and his wife became philanthropists, establishing endowments for scholarships to be given to Latino students at GWU and the University of Southern California. They also founded Generation First Degree Pico Rivera, with the goal of ensuring every Latino household in Pico Rivera has at least one college graduate, and the Gilbert and Jacki Cisneros Foundation with an initial investment of $20 million to provide mentorship in education.Gil Cisneros' work in philanthropy led him to an appointment by President Barack Obama to be on the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2014.
Continuing education
After setting up the foundation, Cisneros earned a Master of Arts from Brown University in Urban Education Policy, and an MBA from Regis University.U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2018
Cisneros was a Republican until 2008, but left the party because he felt it had become "too ideological" and switched to the Democratic Party.In 2017, he declared his candidacy against Ed Royce in the 2018 election for the United States House of Representatives to represent. He specifically cited Royce's vote to repeal the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, as a reason he chose to run. In January 2018, Royce announced he would retire rather than seek reelection to a 14th term. Later, the election attracted national attention as the "weirdest race in the country" after the California Democratic Party and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee brokered a truce on negative campaigning between Cisneros and Andy Thorburn, who had spent a combined eight million dollars on their campaigns.
Fears of a lockout by either party were not realized when Cisneros advanced to the November runoff election, finishing second in the June primary election to Republican former state Assemblywoman Young Kim, with 19.35% of the vote. This election was rated a "Toss-up" by the Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball. The Associated Press called the election for Cisneros on November 17.
2020
Cisneros lost to Young Kim by a margin of 1.2% in the 2020 House of Representatives election for, in a rematch of the 2018 election.2024
On September 18, 2023, Cisneros announced his intention to make a return to Congress by announcing his candidacy for the vacant 31st congressional district seat that became available with the retirement of Grace Napolitano. He defeated Republican Daniel Martinez in the 2024 election.Committee assignments
;Current:- Committee on Armed Services
- *Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations
- *Subcommittee on Military Personnel
- *Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
- Committee on Small Business
- *Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure
- *Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs
- * Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
- * Subcommittee on Health
- * Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Caucus memberships
- Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Congressional Taiwan Caucus
- New Democrat Coalition