California — 8th District

John Garamendi

Supports manufacturing investments and middle-class growth

Garamendi focuses on growing the middle class through 'Make It In America' manufacturing policies, infrastructure investments, and strengthening labor partnerships. He has championed higher Buy America requirements for federally funded transit and vocational training programs.

• Increased Buy America requirements from 60% to 70% for federally purchased rail cars and buses.
• Promoted infrastructure investments in roads, bridges, transit, and ports via the FAST Act.
• Supported vocational training, apprenticeship programs, and streamlining job certifications for veterans.

“Congressman John Garamendi is focused on growing the middle class. He is the leading voice in Congress for “Make It In America” policies that will help bring manufacturing jobs back to America.”

Rudy Recile

Supports tax cuts and spending restraint

Recile argues that excessive government spending and money printing are driving hyperinflation, advocating for reduced federal spending and lower tax burdens. He favors a flat or fair tax structure and easing burdens on small businesses.

• Advocates for a Fair Tax or Flat Tax to simplify the tax code and lower overall rates.
• Criticizes federal spending and money printing as key drivers of hyperinflation.
• Prioritizes reducing regulations to support small business growth.

“Government spending is out of control. Democrats in Washington want to print money as a way out of our current situation. What they are creating is a pathway for hyperinflation.”

John Garamendi

Supports clean energy and Delta protection

Garamendi views climate change as a critical threat, advocating for federal investments in renewable energy, public transit, and weatherization. He leads opposition to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta twin tunnels and works to clear federal hurdles for offstream water storage at Sites Reservoir.

• Secured 5-year extensions for the Wind Production Tax Credit and Solar Investment Tax Credit.
• Opposes the $15 billion twin tunnels project in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
• Worked with Rep. Doug LaMalfa to advance the Sites Reservoir project in Colusa County.

“Congressman Garamendi is dedicated to stopping the tunnels and saving the Delta. In addition, he has introduced legislation that makes vital investments in water infrastructure to protect the local species and better address future droughts.”

Rudy Recile

Supports energy independence and nuclear power

Recile advocates for domestic energy independence, criticizing green energy reliance for electrical grid instability and rolling brownouts. He calls for expanded nuclear energy alongside carbon fuels and emphasizes water management for Central Valley agriculture.

• Promotes nuclear energy as a clean, safe, and reliable baseload power source.
• Attributes electrical grid reliability problems and rolling brownouts to over-reliance on renewable energy.
• Highlights Central Valley drought concerns, low reservoir levels at Lake Oroville and Folsom Lake, and water needs for agriculture.

“The Left refuses to look at the cleanest and safest form of energy: nuclear energy!!!”

John Garamendi

Supports public education funding and loan relief

Garamendi advocates for strong federal support for public education, opposing budget cuts to schools and supporting smaller class sizes. He authored legislation to lower student loan interest rates and supports federal STEM education initiatives.

• Authored the Student Loan Refinancing and Recalculating Act to lower student loan rates to 3.23% for undergraduate and graduate borrowers.
• Voted against tuition increases while serving as a UC Regent and CSU Trustee.
• Supports federal funding for STEM programs, arts, music, and after-school initiatives.

“In the halls of Congress and throughout his career, Congressman Garamendi has been a fierce advocate for students and teachers, believing that America's prosperity depends on a well-educated workforce.”

Rudy Recile

Supports school choice and curriculum restrictions

Recile criticizes public school academic performance and teachers' unions, proposing that taxpayer dollars follow the child through school choice and tax credits. He opposes Critical Race Theory and DEI initiatives in schools and supports parental rights and homeschooling.

• Supports nationwide school choice policies where education funding follows the student.
• Opposes Critical Race Theory, DEI, and biological males participating in female athletic programs.
• Promotes parental rights and provides resources for homeschooling families.

“Money should follow the child not the child following the money. Parents should have a choice where their children are taught.”

John Garamendi

Supports targeted federal investments

Garamendi favors federal spending focused on infrastructure, defense, healthcare, and middle-class economic growth. In the 119th Congress, he voted against major Republican budget and reconciliation packages.

• Voted Nay on H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act reconciliation bill) in 2025.
• Voted Nay on H.Con.Res. 14 establishing budgetary levels and debt limit reconciliation instructions.
• Supported bipartisan debt ceiling adjustments like the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.

“Garamendi understands that it is the responsibility of Congress to invest in transportation, clean technology, education, and research while also extending tax relief for hard working middle class families.”

Rudy Recile

Supports strict fiscal audits and spending cuts

Recile argues that federal spending is excessive and unmonitored, advocating for strict tracking and audits of taxpayer funds sent to government agencies. He calls for shrinking the size of the federal government and enforcing strict fiscal accountability.

• Calls for full audit transparency and tracking of federal funds sent to agencies and contractors.
• Demands shrinking the size and scope of the federal government.
• Opposes deficit spending and money printing that inflate national debt.

“The problem the US Government has with transparency is it doesn't want to let the people know where the money has gone.”

John Garamendi

Supports military base investments and veteran services

Garamendi uses his senior role on the House Armed Services Committee to secure military construction funding for Travis and Beale Air Force bases. His office has recovered millions in delayed benefits for district veterans and works to streamline veteran job certifications.

• Secured nearly $1 billion in military construction for Travis Air Force Base as Ranking Member of the Readiness Subcommittee.
• Returned over $9.1 million in earned benefits to district veterans through congressional casework.
• Stopped the early deactivation of the 13th Reconnaissance Squadron and Global Hawk mission at Beale Air Force Base.

“Thanks to the advocacy of Congressman Garamendi and his staff, more than $9.1 million in benefits earned by district veterans have been returned to them.”

Rudy Recile

Supports veteran benefit reforms and bureaucratic reduction

Recile, a retired U.S. Army Major, focuses on overcoming VA bureaucracy and ensuring veterans receive earned medical and financial benefits. He supports specific pending federal legislation to expedite veteran services and reduce backlogs.

• Draws on 26 years of military service, including Pentagon logistics experience.
• Endorses federal legislation (H.R. 333 and S. 1147) to address veteran disability assistance and benefits delays.
• Developing a non-profit veterans' support center and serves as treasurer for a local VFW post.

“Many Veterans have difficulties receiving the benefits due to them. There are bureaucratic processes, overworked workers, not enough case workers and politicians who say they care about our veterans but only act when the spotlight is on them.”

John Garamendi

Supports expanding ACA and drug price negotiation

Garamendi supports strengthening the Affordable Care Act, introducing a national public option, and allowing Medicare to directly negotiate prescription drug prices. He advocates for incentives to preserve rural hospitals and student loan forgiveness for primary care doctors in underserved areas.

• Authored the Rural Health Act during his state legislative career to support healthcare access in rural areas.
• Supports a national public option to expand health insurance competition.
• Promotes Medicare prescription drug price negotiation and importing safe prescription drugs from abroad.

“Congressman Garamendi wants to make America’s healthcare delivery system more effective in keeping us healthy, including additional incentives to keep hospitals and community clinics in underserved communities.”

Rudy Recile

Opposes healthcare mandates and protects parental choice

Recile opposes government health mandates, arguing that individuals and parents should maintain complete authority over medical decisions. He specifically spoke out against COVID-19 vaccine mandates for school children before local school boards.

• Opposes government and school board medical mandates, including COVID-19 vaccination mandates for students.
• Affirms that parents, not school boards or government agencies, must make medical decisions for children.
• Opposes proof-of-vaccination mandates for travelers.

“Mandates are horrible. People are free to make their own decisions. Parents make decisions for their children regarding medical procedures not schools.”

John Garamendi

Opposes restrictive Republican border legislation

Garamendi has consistently voted against major Republican immigration enforcement bills in the House. His voting record reflects opposition to strict asylum limits, mandatory E-Verify mandates, and state authority to sue over federal enforcement failures.

• Voted Nay on the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2).
• Voted Nay on the Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act of 2025 (H.R. 875).
• Recorded as Not Voting on the Laken Riley Act (S. 5).

“The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or the SAVE Act (H.R. 22)... Required a simple majority vote in the House.”

Rudy Recile

Supports border security and immigration enforcement

Recile lists border security and managing immigration as top nation-level challenges. He advocates for securing the border, enforcing existing immigration laws, and requiring electronic verification for employment eligibility.

• Calls for securing the U.S. border and enforcing existing immigration laws.
• Supports electronic verification (E-Verify) for employer worker eligibility checks.
• Identifies managing immigration into the USA as one of the country's greatest national challenges over the next decade.

“Securing our border and enforcing current immigration laws”

John Garamendi

Supports LGBTQ+ equality and voting rights protections

Garamendi advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, co-sponsoring the Equality Act, supporting marriage equality, and voting to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell. He supports restoring the Voting Rights Act and opposes state voter restriction efforts.

• Supports the Equality Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in workplace and housing settings.
• Calls for federal legislation to restore the Voting Rights Act and counter voter suppression measures.
• Lobbied the DOJ to begin tracking hate crimes targeting Sikhs, Hindus, and Arab Americans.

“Congressman Garamendi supports full equality for the LGBT community, including marriage equality.”

Rudy Recile

Supports Constitutional rights, election integrity, and age limits

Recile strongly defends the Bill of Rights, particularly Second Amendment gun rights and free speech against overreach. He advocates for strict election integrity measures and proposed age limits preventing candidates aged 70 or older from running for office.

• Defends Second Amendment gun rights and affiliated with the NRA and California Rifle Pistol Association.
• Promotes election integrity by calling for verification of voting machines, mail-in ballots, and banning ballot harvesting.
• Proposes age limits prohibiting candidates 70 years of age or older from seeking election to Congress.

“I believe a legislator should not be allowed to run for office if they are 70+ years of age.”

John Garamendi

Supports specialty crop funding and family farm protections

Garamendi, a rancher and pear farmer, served on the Farm Bill Conference Committee to secure funding for specialty crops, organic research, and veteran farming programs. He advocates for offstream storage like Sites Reservoir to supply agricultural water.

• Secured Specialty Crop Block Grant Program funding increases and Specialty Crop Research Initiative funds in the Farm Bill.
• Led the Farm-to-Fork effort preventing local school districts from buying canned peaches from China over local produce.
• Established USDA outreach programs for socially disadvantaged and military veteran farmers and ranchers.

“As a rancher and pear farmer, Congressman Garamendi understands the concerns of the 8th District’s agriculturalists.”

Rudy Recile

Supports reducing regulatory inspections and drought relief

Recile highlights the economic importance of California's agricultural products and the severe impacts of drought on farmers and livestock. He advocates for streamlining agricultural regulations and reducing duplicative inspections.

• Focuses on reducing repetitive regulatory inspections for agricultural goods and livestock.
• Emphasizes the severe economic loss and job cuts in agriculture caused by drought and water restrictions.
• Advocates for prioritizing agricultural water access across Northern California reservoirs.

“Without California’s ability to grow, produce and husband livestock, California’s economy and peoples’ lives will be severely hampered.”