With various other potential candidates backing him, and two influential LGBTQ rights groups endorsing him hours after he made his candidacy official, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia is the clear frontrunner to succeed Congressmember Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach).
Elected leaders from around the state have also lined up behind Garcia's House bid. Garcia, 44, the first openly gay and first Latino mayor of his city, made his long-speculated run for Congress official December 17, a day after Lowenthal announced he would retire rather than seek reelection next year.
As far back as 2011, when the congressional seat was last open, Garcia was said to be interested in it. This week, Congressmember Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Downey), elected to