News · Press Release · The Case Against

The Case Against Mike Garcia

“Mike Garcia is asking voters to send him to Congress as a shill for Washington Republicans’ reckless agenda. Instead of standing up for the community he is running to represent, Garcia supports raising taxes by thousands of dollars on middle class California homeowners and has pledged to cut Medicare for over 45,000 in this district. That is the last thing hardworking Californians need.” – DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos

To:                   Interested Parties

From:             Andy Orellana, DCCC Regional Press Secretary

Date:               March 9, 2020

Subject:         The Case Against Mike Garcia

Mike Garcia kicked off his bid for Congress embodying the self-serving values of the Washington Republican establishment. From health care to taxes, Garcia has run as a true believer in the DC Republican orthodoxy, calling for the full repeal of the Affordable Care Act and cuts to Medicare. Garcia has also championed the Washington Republican Tax Scam that has hurt California families, saying that the tax hikes on California homeowners should become permanent.

But what is most revealing to the voters whose support he is looking to earn, while Garcia has campaigned hard on the GOP Tax Scam, he has repeatedly failed to pay his own taxes. Records filed with the Tulare County Recorder show Rhino Estates LLC, which Garcia is the sole executive of, has received two tax liens for failing to pay taxes in 2019.

In stark contrast, Christy Smith, the daughter of an Army veteran and a nurse, is continuing to build momentum with her focus on lowering health care costs, taking on the rising cost of prescription drugs and standing up for hard working Californian homeowners who have been socked with Washington Republicans’ Tax Scam.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

HEADLINE: Mike Garcia, Too Radical for the 25th District. [Santa Clarita Gazette, Op-Ed, 1/30/20]

“The best choice voters can make is the candidate whom many of them already have voted for: Christy Smith, a low-key but effective member of the California Assembly and former school board member. Smith is a centrist, pragmatic Democrat who in just a year in the state Legislature has distinguished herself as an elected official more interested in pushing good policy than playing politics, something we’d like to see more often in Congress.” [Los Angeles Times, 2/12/20]

Headline: Assemblywoman Christy Smith Is Passionate About Public Safety, Education. [Santa Clarita Valley Signal, 8/25/19]

“There’s scant evidence that the political environment in California or nationally has improved for Republicans since […] unseating Rep. Steve Knight by 9 points.” [Roll Call, 10/28/19]

MIKE GARCIA: TOO EXTREME, OUT OF TOUCH, PLAYS BY HIS OWN SET OF RULES

Supports Cuts to Medicare, Called for Fully Repealing the ACA including for those with Preexisting Conditions

Garcia has campaigned on fully repealing the Affordable Care Act saying we need to get it “off the books.” And Garcia has gone on to campaign on cutting Medicare and Medicaid, saying he was “not a big fan of Medicaid” and that he only supports Medicare “at certain levels.”

Garcia’s agenda of stripping health care from California families, while CA-25 has over 45,000 Medicare beneficiaries shows how out of step Garcia is with the voters of this district. The Trump-GOP agenda championed by millionaire Mike Garcia has endangered healthcare for 60,000 individuals in CA-25 and has gutted protections for over 300,000 people in CA-25 with pre-existing conditions.

In contrast, Christy Smith won’t take a dime of corporate PAC money and is ready to take on big drug companies to bring down costs for hardworking Californians, make sure people with pre-existing conditions are protected from greedy insurance companies, and our seniors get the care they’ve earned.

Full Time Champion for the GOP Tax Scam, BUT Repeatedly Failed to Pay His Own

Mike Garcia has campaigned hard on supporting the Washington Republican tax hike on middle class families in California that has forced everyday Californians to pay thousands of dollars more in taxes, with Garcia even calling to make it permanent. All the while, Garcia has repeatedly failed to pay his own taxes.

Trump and House Republican’s signature piece of legislation is expected to reduce home values in Ventura County by an average of $47,530 and eliminate savings on $11,743 of taxes on the average SALT deduction beneficiary in this district. Additionally, experts have warned that Californians could now face “double taxation” due to the Tax Scam and California families are already feeling the impact.

Meanwhile, Christy Smith has spoken out strongly against the GOP’s tax hike on middle class families in Southern California, telling voters last election that, “when the federal government falls short, I don’t think it’s fair for California to get hit again.” It’s abundantly clear that Smith will fight hard for families and homeowners in Californian’s 25th from being hit twice by the GOP Tax Scam.

THE PATH TO VICTORY

California’s 25th Congressional District is a majority suburban seat situated in northern Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County. The district boasts a large population of working families, and the voting age population is 30% Latino. In total, the district is more than 46% Hispanic, AAPI, or African American and Democrats hold a 6-point registration advantage district-wide.

Mike Garcia has been running as a right-wing conservative with full support of the Trump Agenda and has shown no signs of aligning with the district’s needs by breaking with Trump or standing up to his disastrous policies hurting California voters.

In Christy Smith, Democrats have a battle-tested leader from the community who has a clear record of service and results. Christy currently represents 60% of the district and has won on the 25th districts’ most difficult terrain. She has out-raised and out-hustled Mike Garcia and is a strong position going into the May 12 runoff and the General Election in November.

###





Please make sure that the form field below is filled out correctly before submitting.