Staff Reports
Gil Cisneros, a former member of the House of Representatives and a Defense Department official under the Biden administration, has announced his campaign for California’s 31st Congressional District. This seat is currently held by retiring Rep. Grace Napolitano, a Democrat who has been in office for 25 years.
During his time at the Department of Defense, Cisneros often found himself defending President Biden’s policies, particularly those centered around diversity and inclusion efforts. However, he faced criticism from Republican lawmakers who believed that these initiatives were unnecessary for the military. In fact, Rep. Lauren Boebert even filed amendments to slash Cisneros and three other officials’ salaries down to $1. Ouch!
Cisneros, who comes from a military background as the son of a Vietnam war veteran, expressed his passion for serving the country and supporting others. He highlighted his volunteer work with the Navy, as well as his educational foundation that has helped numerous first-generation college students. Cisneros also took pride in being appointed by President Biden as the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
Former congressman and Biden Pentagon official launches House campaign https://t.co/EEWzt5Z3zO
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) September 19, 2023
On his campaign website, Cisneros emphasized his work in protecting LGBTQ rights and implementing important policies on reproductive health care and access to contraceptives for military personnel. While his Democratic opponent, Archuleta, has already received Napolitano’s endorsement, it’s important to remember that Napolitano’s district leans heavily Democrat with a 27-point registration advantage.
It’s interesting to note that prior to his role in the Defense Department, Cisneros served as a Democrat in the House representing California’s 39th District for one term. However, he lost his reelection bid in 2020 to Young Kim. Looks like Cisneros is hoping for a comeback with this new campaign.
As a conservative, it’s clear that Cisneros’ alignment with Biden’s policies might not sit well with many Republican voters. With his emphasis on diversity and inclusion, as well as reproductive rights, it’s no surprise that he faced criticism from the GOP during his time in the Defense Department. Only time will tell if Cisneros can win over voters in this heavily Democratic district, but it’s sure to be an uphill battle for him.
