Pete Aguilar | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Chair of the House Democratic Caucus | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Leader | Hakeem Jeffries |
| Preceded by | Hakeem Jeffries |
| Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus | |
| In office January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Katherine Clark |
| Succeeded by | Ted Lieu |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Gary Miller |
| Constituency | 31st district (2015–2023) 33rd district (2023–present) |
| Mayor ofRedlands | |
| In office December 7, 2010 – December 2, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Pat Gilbreath |
| Succeeded by | Paul Foster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Peter Rey Aguilar (1979-06-19)June 19, 1979 (age 45) Fontana, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Alisha Aguilar |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Redlands (BS) |
| Website | House website |
Pete Aguilar explains how theAmerican Rescue Plan Act of 2021 will benefit his district Recorded March 9, 2021 | |
Peter Rey Aguilar (/ˈæɡjəˌlɑːr/AG-yə-LAR; born June 19, 1979) is an American politician who has beenchair of the House Democratic Caucus since 2023. He has been theU.S. representative forCalifornia's 33rd congressional district (renumbered from the 31st after the 2020 redistricting cycle) since 2015. He served as mayor ofRedlands, California, from 2010 to 2014, and as the president of the Inland Empire Division of theLeague of California Cities.[1][2][3] Aguilar served on the Redlands City Council from 2006 until his election toCongress.[4][5]
Aguilar chairs theHouse Democratic Caucus and is the highest-rankingLatino in Congress.[6]
Aguilar was born inFontana, California, and grew up in a working-class family inSan Bernardino, California.[7] He is ofMexican descent.[8] He graduated from theUniversity of Redlands, where he studied government and business administration.[9]
Aguilar began his career in public service in 2001 when then-California GovernorGray Davis appointed him deputy director of the Inland Empire Regional Office of the governor, eventually becoming the Interim Director. In 2006, Aguilar became the youngest member of the Redlands City Council in the city's history when five council members, Democrat and Republican, picked him out of 11 candidates to fill an open seat. He was elected a year later. His fellow council members appointed him mayor in 2010 and again in 2012.[10][11] As mayor, Aguilar was regarded for his professionalism, leadership during difficult financial times, balancing the city budget while building financial reserves, road improvements, government transparency, and fair treatment of municipal employees.[4][12] Aguilar served as mayor and councilman until December 2014.[13]
California's 31st congressional district became more favorable to theDemocratic Party as a result of redistricting following the2010 census.[14] TheCook Partisan Voting Index rates the district D+5. In January 2012, Aguilar announced he would run for the seat held by incumbent RepublicanGary Miller.[15] Although the top Democratic vote-getter, with 22.6% of the vote, he finished behind Miller andRobert Dutton, theCalifornia State Senate Republican Leader. Because of California's open primary, both Republicans advanced to the November general election.[16] In March 2013, Aguilar announced he would run again.[17] In the June 2014 primary, he finished second, qualifying for the November2014 general election,[18] where he defeated RepublicanPaul Chabot with 51.4% of the vote.[19] Aguilar defeated Chabot again in the2016 election with 56.1% of the vote.[20]
In the 2018 primary, Aguilar faced Kaiser Ahmed[21] and Sean Flynn, a Republican economist and aikido artist.[22] Aguilar received 45.96% of the vote to Flynn's 45.45% and Ahmed's 8.59%.[23] In the2018 general election, Aguilar won 58.7% of the vote to Flynn's 41.3%.[24]
Aguilar won his 2020election cycle with 61% of the vote, defeating Republican Agnes Gibboney. Aguilar was elected Vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus.[25]
Redistricting from the2020 US census, placed Aguilar in the new33rd CA house district. He defeated Republican John Mark Porter and won re-election during the2022 election cycle. He was also elected asHouse Democratic Caucus Chairman, becoming the highest ranking Latino-American in congress, in congressional history.[26]
Aguilar was re-elected in the2024 election cycle. He defeated Republican Tom Hermon, a local real estate investor with 57.4% of the local vote. He is currently serving his 6th term inCongress .[27]
Aguilar's time in Congress has focused on immigration, job creation, trade practices,gun control, national security, LGBT issues, veteran affairs, drug prevention, student loan debt, and environmental protection. Aguilar has supported legislation to attract individuals in the cybersecurity field to join the military;[28] prevent discrimination against LGBT people by government contractors;[29] provide funding for homeless veterans;[30] and provide funding for research into opioid addiction.[31] He has introduced the Grace Period Alleviation (GPA) Act, which would give college graduates an optional grace period before beginning to repay certain types of loans.[32] With SenatorDianne Feinstein and RepresentativePaul Cook, Aguilar introduced legislation to protect the habitat along theSanta Ana River.[33] He has vowed to fight the repeal of theAffordable Care Act[34] and to protect women's reproductive rights.[35] In addition, he has worked closely with law enforcement and local, state and federal officials and agencies to help communities recover costs incurred from the emergency response to the2015 San Bernardino attack,[36] which took place in Aguilar's district,[37] and helped secure additional funding for survivors of the attack.[38]
During theObama Administration, Aguilar supported expanding theDeferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for undocumented children and creating theDeferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program.[39] He introduced the Academic Success Centers and Education Networks for Dreamers (ASCEND) Act, which would establish grants for college and university programs and services to benefit undocumented students.[40] Aguilar voted in favor of legislation that would effectively halt the resettlement of refugees from Syria and Iraq to the U.S., citing national security concerns,[41] but subsequently criticized PresidentDonald J. Trump'sExecutive Order as "xenophobic" and said it sent a message of "hate and bigotry to the rest of the world."[42] Aguilar criticized Trump and his staff for citing the2015 San Bernardino attack in defending the executive order.[43] In 2018, with RepresentativeWill Hurd, Aguilar authored legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for DACA recipients and address border protection concerns.[44]
Aguilar released a job-creation initiative for his district that includes cutting taxes on small businesses, investing in infrastructure, expanding job-training programs, expandingPell Grants, increasing theminimum wage, and equal pay for women.[45] He has introduced a number of bills focusing on small businesses, including legislation to provide tax credits to small businesses for on-the-job training expenses,[46] tax credits for small business for full-time newly hired employees,[47] legislation to make it easier for small businesses to repay loans,[48] and legislation making it easier for small businesses to advertise job openings.[49] Aguilar annually hosts a jobs fair that connects job-seekers with employers in his district.[50] In April 2017, he started a quarterly "Job For a Day" tour where he works throughout the Inland Empire doing jobs such as train conducting for Metrolink, sorting Goodwill donations, and bagging groceries at local markets.[51][52][53] The tour's goal is to interact with community members directly and learn about local businesses' daily operations.
In 2017, Aguilar introduced a bill that would provide active-duty service members and reservists access to training for commercial drivers’ licenses granted by theFAST Act.[54] He authored the Active Duty Voluntary Acquisition of Necessary Credentials for Employment (ADVANCE) Act[55] and the OPPORTUNITY (Offering Promising Persons Occupations Relevant To Upholding National Interests For Years) Act, both of which Trump signed into law in 2018. The latter bill connects students of color with the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship program.[56]
Aguilar introduced the Displaced Jobs Relief Act, which increases authorization of funds for theTrade Adjustment Assistance for Firms program (TAA-F) to help businesses that have been negatively affected by trade. He has urged theUnited States International Trade Commission to find that imported steel subsidized byKorea,Mexico andTurkey creates unfair competition and hurts steel manufacturers in his district.[57]
Aguilar has advocated for reforms to curb gun violence[58][59] by closing loopholes that terrorists have used to obtain guns[60] and banningassault weapons.[61] After the 2016Orlando nightclub shooting, Aguilar participated in the2016 United States House of Representatives sit-in to show support for gun control legislation.[62]
At the start of the117th Congress, Aguilar was in the House Well, at the US Capitol building during theJanuary 6 United States Capitol attack. On July 1, 2021, Speaker Pelosi appointed eight House members, including Aguilar, to theU.S. House Select Committee investigating the attack. After the announcement, Aguilar said of the committee and its investigation: "We owe them—and we owe the American people—a fair, thorough and evidence-based investigation into what happened that day so that we can ensure it never happens again."[63]
On June 16, 2022, Aguilar and John Wood, an investigative counsel for the Select Committee, led the committee's third televised hearing, focusing on Trump's efforts to pressuringMike Pence into decertifying the2020 presidential election. The witnesses wereGreg Jacob, Pence's counsel, who told Pence he did not have the authority to decertify the election results, andJ. Michael Luttig, a retired conservative judge on theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, who called Donald Trump and his allies and supporters "a clear and present danger to American democracy."[64]
For the118th Congress:[65]
Aguilar announced his candidacy for vice chair of theDemocratic Caucus in September 2018, but lost toKatherine Clark by a vote of 144–90.[71] By a vote of 148–82, he defeatedRobin Kelly for the no. 6 spot in theHouse Democratic Caucus.[72] The position became vacant after Clark decided to run for Assistant Speaker in theHouse Democratic Caucus. Aguilar then became vice chair in the 117th Congress and voted in as chair in the 118th Congress.
Aguilar's top contributors throughout his career have been JStreet PAC, League of Conservation Voters, Credit Union National Association, Matich Corporation, and New World Medical. Since 2011, he has not contributed personally to his own campaign, and relies mostly on individual contributions from community members. He has obtained nearly $5.3 million in contributions from individuals (63.86% of total donations). Top donations are generally from Democrats, but also include lawyers and law firms, Leadership PACs, and labor unions. His total career campaign donations are $8.2 million.[73]
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Aguilar opposed theoverturning ofRoe v. Wade, calling it a "devastating decision".[74]
In 2022, Aguilar was one of 16 Democrats to vote against the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations' anti-competitive behavior.[75][76]
Aguilar voted to provide Israel with support following the2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[77][78]
•2024 •2022 •2020 •2018 •2016 •2014
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Pete Aguilar (incumbent) | 45,065 | 57.1 | |
| Republican | Tom Herman | 33,815 | 42.8 | |
| Republican | John Mark Porter(write-in) | 104 | 0.1 | |
| Republican | Ernest Richter(write-in) | 3 | 0.0 | |
| Total votes | 78,987 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Pete Aguilar (incumbent) | 81,595 | 57.4 | |
| Republican | Tom Herman | 60,495 | 42.6 | |
| Total votes | 142,090 | 100 | ||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Pete Aguilar (incumbent) | 41,046 | 59.8 | |
| Republican | John Mark Porter | 12,096 | 17.6 | |
| Republican | Rex Gutierrez | 10,587 | 15.4 | |
| Republican | Ernest Richter | 4,878 | 7.1 | |
| Total votes | 68,607 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Pete Aguilar (incumbent) | 76,588 | 57.7 | |
| Republican | John Mark Porter | 56,119 | 42.3 | |
| Total votes | 132,707 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Pete Aguilar (incumbent) | 81,994 | 62.1 | |
| Republican | Agnes Gibboney | 49,889 | 37.8 | |
| No party preference | Eugene Weems (write-in) | 51 | 0.0 | |
| Total votes | 131,934 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Pete Aguilar (incumbent) | 175,315 | 61.3 | |
| Republican | Agnes Gibboney | 110,735 | 38.7 | |
| Total votes | 286,050 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Pete Aguilar (incumbent) | 41,337 | 45.9 | |
| Republican | Sean Flynn | 40,622 | 45.1 | |
| Democratic | Kaisar Ahmed | 8,108 | 9.0 | |
| Total votes | 90,067 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Pete Aguilar (incumbent) | 110,143 | 58.7 | |
| Republican | Sean Flynn | 77,352 | 41.3 | |
| Total votes | 187,495 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Pete Aguilar (incumbent) | 48,518 | 43.1 | |
| Republican | Paul Chabot | 25,534 | 22.7 | |
| Republican | Joe Baca | 14,020 | 12.4 | |
| Democratic | Kaisar Ahmed | 12,418 | 11.0 | |
| Republican | Sean Flynn | 12,130 | 10.8 | |
| Total votes | 112,620 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Pete Aguilar (incumbent) | 121,070 | 56.1 | |
| Republican | Paul Chabot | 94,866 | 43.9 | |
| Total votes | 215,936 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Paul Chabot | 14,163 | 26.6 | |
| Democratic | Pete Aguilar | 9,242 | 17.4 | |
| Republican | Lesli Gooch | 9,033 | 17.0 | |
| Democratic | Eloise Reyes | 8,461 | 15.9 | |
| Democratic | Joe Baca | 5,954 | 11.2 | |
| Democratic | Danny Tillman | 4,659 | 8.7 | |
| Republican | Ryan Downing | 1,737 | 3.3 | |
| Total votes | 53,249 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Pete Aguilar | 51,622 | 51.7 | |
| Republican | Paul Chabot | 48,162 | 48.3 | |
| Total votes | 99,784 | 100.0 | ||
| Democraticgain fromRepublican | ||||
Aguilar has lived inRedlands, California, since 1997. He and his wife, Alisha, have two sons.[91]
Like so many other Latinos with deep roots in the U.S., he's fuzzy on the family history, which he is still digging out. He knows the family went from Mexico to Kingman, California, through the railroad industry.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia's 31st congressional district 2015–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia's 33rd congressional district 2023–present | Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus 2021–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of the House Democratic Caucus 2023–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 129th | Succeeded by |
| People | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
