Gil Cisneros

Cisneros was born in Los Angeles, of Californio heritage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vozdeamerica.com/estadosunidos/latinos-en-congreso-eeuu-podr%C3%ADan-producir-cambios|title=¿Hispanos en Congreso de EE.UU. podrían producir cambios? | Voice of America - Spanish|website=www.vozdeamerica.com|access-date=January 23, 2023|archive-date=July 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720131527/https://www.vozdeamerica.com/estadosunidos/latinos-en-congreso-eeuu-podr%C3%ADan-producir-cambios|url-status=dead}} His great-grandmother was born in Los Angeles when it was still part of Mexico. His mother worked in a cafeteria, while his father served in the Vietnam War and suffered from exposure to Agent Orange.{{cite web|url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2017/07/17/former-navy-vet-lottery-winner-unseat-ed-royce/ |title=Former Navy Vet, Lottery Winner Joins Race To Unseat GOP Congressman|publisher=Losangeles.cbslocal.com |date=July 17, 2017 |access-date=June 13, 2018}} He is Hispanic.

Cisneros served in the United States Navy as a supply officer for 11 years.{{cite web |date=July 19, 2017 |title=Republicans-turned-Democrats challenging O.C. GOP Congress members |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2017/07/19/republicans-turned-democrats-challenging-o-c-gop-congress-members/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180103072607/https://www.ocregister.com/2017/07/19/republicans-turned-democrats-challenging-o-c-gop-congress-members/ |archive-date=January 3, 2018 |access-date=June 13, 2018 |work=Orange County Register}} He discharged from the Navy in 2004,{{Cite web |title=The Honorable Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr. |url=https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/2776938/the-honorable-gilbert-r-cisneros-jr/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US}} as a lieutenant commander, and his decorations included the Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science from George Washington University and his Master of Business Administration from Regis University.{{cite web |author=L.S. Hall |date=June 24, 2015 |title=Lucky and Focused: A Lottery Winner Uses His Millions to Boost Hispanic Students — Inside Philanthropy |url=https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2015/6/24/lucky-and-focused-a-lottery-winner-uses-his-millions-to-boos.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613184748/https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2015/6/24/lucky-and-focused-a-lottery-winner-uses-his-millions-to-boos.html |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |access-date=June 13, 2018 |publisher=Insidephilanthropy.com}}

Cisneros worked as a shipping and manufacturing manager for Frito-Lay until he was laid off in 2010.

Weeks after he was laid off, Cisneros won a Mega Millions jackpot worth $266 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-tv-news-employee-in-la-has-266m-winning-ticket-2010may05-story.html |title=TV news employee in LA has $266M winning ticket |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |date=May 6, 2010 |access-date=June 13, 2018}} He and his wife became philanthropists, establishing endowments for scholarships to be given to Latino students at GWU and the University of Southern California. They also founded Generation First Degree Pico Rivera, with the goal of ensuring every Latino household in Pico Rivera has at least one college graduate, and the Gilbert and Jacki Cisneros Foundation with an initial investment of $20 million to provide mentorship in education.{{cite web |author=David Callahan |url=https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/higher-education/2014/8/6/the-big-money-behind-a-new-college-fund-for-immigrant-dreame.html |title=The Big Money Behind a New College Fund for Immigrant "DREAMers" — Inside Philanthropy |publisher=Insidephilanthropy.com |access-date=June 13, 2018 |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613184651/https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/higher-education/2014/8/6/the-big-money-behind-a-new-college-fund-for-immigrant-dreame.html |url-status=dead }}

Gil Cisneros' work in philanthropy led him to an appointment by President Barack Obama to be on the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2014.[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/realitycheck/the-press-office/2014/12/04/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts Advisory Committee]

After setting up the foundation, Cisneros earned a Master of Arts from Brown University in Urban Education Policy, and an MBA from Regis University.

{{Main|2018 California's 39th congressional district election}}

File:Rep. Gilbert Cisneros meets with California State Military Reserve.jpg, 2019]]

Cisneros was a Republican until 2008, but left the party because he felt it had become "too ideological" and switched to the Democratic Party.{{cite web|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/lottery-winner-challenge-royce |title=Lottery Winner to Challenge Royce in California |publisher=Rollcall.com |date=July 17, 2017 |access-date=June 13, 2018}}

In 2017, he declared his candidacy against Ed Royce in the 2018 election for the United States House of Representatives to represent {{ushr|CA|39}}.{{cite web|author=Christine Mai-Duc |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-ed-royce-challenger-gil-1500080377-htmlstory.html |title=Navy veteran/lottery winner to challenge Orange County Rep. Ed Royce for Congress |work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 5, 2017 |access-date=June 13, 2018}}{{cite web|last=Wildermuth |first=John |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Lottery-millionaire-wins-again-National-12849369.php |title=Lottery millionaire wins again: National Democrats help him in Orange County race |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=April 21, 2018 |access-date=June 13, 2018}} He specifically cited Royce's vote to repeal the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, as a reason he chose to run. In January 2018, Royce announced he would retire rather than seek reelection to a 14th term.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/rep-ed-royce-of-california-to-retire-the-8th-gop-chairman-to-bow-out-ahead-of-midterms/ |title=Rep. Ed Royce of California to retire, the 8th GOP chairman to bow out ahead of midterms |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=November 18, 2018}} Later, the election attracted national attention as the "weirdest race in the country" after the California Democratic Party and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee brokered a truce on negative campaigning between Cisneros and Andy Thorburn, who had each spent $6 million on their respective campaigns.{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/03/california-house-democrats-orange-county-617958|title=This is the weirdest race in the country|work=POLITICO|access-date=July 1, 2018|language=en}}

Fears of a lockout by either party were not realized when Cisneros advanced to the November runoff election, finishing second in the June primary election to Republican former state Assemblywoman Young Kim,{{cite web|last=Robertson |first=Derek |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/06/democrats-california-2018-primary-628602 |title=This is basically a home run for Democrats |publisher=Politico |date=June 6, 2018 |access-date=June 13, 2018}} with 19.35% of the vote.{{cite web |title=Gil Cisneros |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Gil_Cisneros |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=July 2, 2018}} This election was rated a "Toss-up" by the Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball.{{Cite news|url=https://ballotpedia.org/California's_39th_Congressional_District_election,_2018|title=California's 39th Congressional District election, 2018 - Ballotpedia|access-date=July 1, 2018|language=en-US}} The Associated Press called the election for Cisneros on November 17.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/414817-dem-gil-cisneros-scores-win-in-open-seat-race-in-california |title=Dem Gil Cisneros scores win in open-seat race in California |date=November 18, 2018 |publisher=TheHill |access-date=November 18, 2018}}

File:Gil Cisneros official portrait.jpg

{{Main|2020 California's 39th congressional district election}}

Cisneros lost to Young Kim by a margin of 1.2% in the 2020 House of Representatives election for {{ushr|CA|39}}, in a rematch of the 2018 election.

{{Main|2024 California's 31st congressional district election}}

On September 18, 2023, Cisneros announced his intention to make a return to Congress by announcing his candidacy for the vacant 31st congressional district seat that became available with the retirement of Grace Napolitano.{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |date=2003-09-24 |title=Reference Guide |url=https://rollcall.com/2003/09/24/reference-guide/ |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Roll Call |language=en-US}} He defeated Republican Daniel Martinez in the 2024 election.

;Current:

• Committee on Armed Services (116th and 119th Congresses)
• Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations (119th Congress)
• Subcommittee on Military Personnel (116th and 119th Congresses)
• Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces (116th Congress)
• Committee on Small Business
• Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure (Ranking Member)
• Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations

;Former

• Committee on Veterans' Affairs (116th Congress)
• Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
• Subcommittee on Health
• Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus
• Congressional Progressive Caucus
• Congressional Taiwan Caucus
• New Democrat Coalition

{{update section|date=August 2024}}

File:DOD Welcomes New Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs 230322-O-VO263-687.jpg in 2023]]

On April 12, 2021, the White House announced that Cisneros would be nominated to serve as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness in the Biden administration;{{Cite web|date=2021-04-12|title=President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate 11 Key Administration Leaders on National Security and Law Enforcement|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/12/president-biden-announces-his-intent-to-nominate-11-key-administration-leaders-on-national-security-and-law-enforcement/|access-date=2021-04-12|website=The White House|language=en-US}} his nomination was received on April 27.{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/426?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22cisneros%22%5D%7D&s=7&r=1 |title=PN426 — Gilbert Ray Cisneros Jr — Department of Defense |website=congress.gov |publisher=United States Congress |access-date=July 31, 2021}} On July 27, the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) voted to advance Cisneros's nomination to the full chamber for a future vote.{{cite press release |author= |title=SASC Advances Nominations of Del Toro, Cisneros, Miller, Karlin, Connor, 1,986 Military Promotions |url=https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/press-releases/sasc-advances-nominations-of-del-toro-cisneros-miller-karlin-connor-1986-military-promotions |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Senate Armed Services Committee |date=July 27, 2021 |access-date=July 31, 2021}} Cisneros was confirmed unanimously by the Senate on August 11, 2021, by voice vote,{{cite web|title=PN426 - Nomination of Gilbert Ray Cisneros Jr for Department of Defense, 117th Congress (2021-2022)|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/426|website=congress.gov|date=August 11, 2021|publisher=Library of Congress|access-date=2021-09-17}} and he was sworn in on August 24, 2021.

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title = {{ushr|California|39}} election, 2018

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Young Kim

| votes = 30,019

| percentage = 21.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gil Cisneros

| votes = 27,469

| percentage = 19.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Phil Liberatore

| votes = 20,257

| percentage = 14.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Andy Thorburn

| votes = 12,990

| percentage = 9.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Shawn Nelson

| votes = 9,750

| percentage = 6.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Bob Huff

| votes = 8,699

| percentage = 6.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Sam Jammal

| votes = 7,613

| percentage = 5.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Mai-Khanh Tran

| votes = 7,430

| percentage = 5.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Herbert H. Lee

| votes = 5,988

| percentage = 4.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Steven C. Vargas

| votes = 4,144

| percentage = 2.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Suzi Park Leggett

| votes = 2,058

| percentage = 1.5

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = John J. Cullum

| votes = 1,747

| percentage = 1.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = No party preference (United States)

| candidate = Karen Lee Schatzle

| votes = 903

| percentage = 0.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = No party preference (United States)

| candidate = Steve Cox

| votes = 856

| percentage = 0.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Andrew Sarega

| votes = 823

| percentage = 0.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = American Independent Party

| candidate = Sophia J. Alexander

| votes = 523

| percentage = 0.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = American Independent Party

| candidate = Ted Alemayhu

| votes = 176

| percentage = 0.1

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 141,445

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gil Cisneros

| votes = 126,002

| percentage = 51.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Young Kim

| votes = 118,391

| percentage = 48.4

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes =229,860

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change

| title = {{ushr|California|39}} election, 2020

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Young Kim

| votes = 83,941

| percentage = 48.3

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gil Cisneros (incumbent)

| votes = 81,402

| percentage = 46.9

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = No party preference

| candidate = Steve Cox

| votes = 8,286

| percentage = 4.8

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 173,629

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Young Kim

| votes = 173,946

| percentage = 50.6

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Gil Cisneros (incumbent)

| votes = 169,837

| percentage = 49.4

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 343,783

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=California's 31st congressional district election, 2024{{Cite web |year=2024 |title=Statement of Vote |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2024-primary/sov/complete-sov-updated.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240618164043/https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2024-primary/sov/complete-sov-updated.pdf |archive-date=June 18, 2024 |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=sos.ca.gov |publisher=Secretary of State of California |page=86 |publication-place=Sacramento}}{{Cite web |year=2024 |title=Statement of Vote |url=https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2024-general/sov/complete-sov.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230021501/https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2024-general/sov/complete-sov.pdf |archive-date=December 30, 2024 |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=sos.ca.gov |publisher=Secretary of State of California |page=7 |publication-place=Sacramento}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Gil Cisneros|votes=23,888|percentage=23.6}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Daniel Martinez|votes=19,464|percentage=19.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Pedro Casas|votes=17,077|percentage=16.9}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Susan Rubio|votes=16,006|percentage=15.8}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Bob Archuleta|votes=10,151|percentage=10.0}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Mary Ann Lutz|votes=6,629|percentage=6.5}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Greg Hafif|votes=4,914|percentage=4.9}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Kurt Jose|votes=1,415|percentage=1.4}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=No party preference|candidate=Erskine Levi|votes=1,166|percentage=1.2}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=No party preference|candidate=Marie Manvel|votes=534|percentage=0.5}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=101,244|percentage=100.0}}

{{Election box open primary general election no change}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Gil Cisneros|votes=148,095|percentage=59.7}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party= Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Daniel Martinez|votes=99,856|percentage=40.3}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=247,951|percentage=100.0}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

| winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Cisneros and his wife Jacki have twin sons. They own a home in Pico Rivera,{{cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2011/05/24/she-won-266-million-chatted-on-oprah/|title=She won $266 million; chatted on 'Oprah'|work=Orange County Register|date=May 24, 2011|access-date=June 13, 2018}} and lived in Newport Beach until they moved to Yorba Linda in late 2017, the year he began running for election. Before Cisneros won the lottery, Jacki worked for KNBC in Los Angeles. Gil currently resides in Covina, California.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} He is Catholic.{{cite web |title=Religious affiliation of members of the 119th Congress |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/12/pr_2025-01-02_faith-on-the-hill_member-list.pdf |publisher=Pew Research Center |access-date=January 8, 2025}}

• List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress
• List of new members of the 119th United States Congress

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://www.cisnerosforcongress.com/ Campaign website]

{{CongLinks|votesmart=179370|congbio=C001123|fec=H8CA39174|congress=gilbert-cisneros/C001123}}

• {{C-SPAN|116521}}

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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cisneros, Gil}}

Category:1971 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American naval officers

Category:21st-century California politicians

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives

Category:Biden administration personnel

Category:Brown University alumni

Category:California Republicans

Category:Californios

Category:Catholic politicians from California

Category:Columbian College of Arts and Sciences alumni

Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California

Category:Hispanic and Latino American members of the United States Congress

Category:Hispanic and Latino American military personnel

Category:Lottery winners

Category:People from El Monte, California

Category:People from Newport Beach, California

Category:People from Pico Rivera, California

Category:People from Yorba Linda, California

Category:Politicians from Los Angeles

Category:Politicians from Orange County, California

Category:Regis University alumni

Category:United States Under Secretaries of Defense