

Rep. Gil Cisneros is a former naval officer, Under Secretary of Defense, Los Angeles County Congressmember, and education leader. The son of a public school cafeteria worker and Vietnam veteran, he dedicated his career to public service and enlisted in the Navy after high school. After purchasing a winning California Mega Millions lottery ticket in 2010, he dedicated himself to philanthropy and established scholarships to ensure tuition costs were not a barrier to educational opportunities in his community. He ran for Congress during Trump’s presidency and championed gun safety reform, reproductive rights, and climate action. In 2021, he was appointed Under Secretary of Defense for President Biden. In 2024, he ran for California’s 31st Congressional District, which he won. Rep. Cisneros traveled to Israel on a Congressional trip, where he saw the importance of taking steps to achieve a sustainable two-state solution. Following October 7, Cisneros condemned the Hamas attack and emphasized his support for the Israeli people. JDCA endorsed Rep. Cisneros in 2020 and in 2024.