David Garcia (politician)

Last updated
David Garcia
David Garcia by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
Personal details
Born1969 (age 5455)
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Education Arizona State University (BA)
University of Chicago (MA, PhD)
Military service
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Branch/serviceFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army

David Garcia is an American politician and education professor who was the Democratic Party's nominee in the 2018 Arizona gubernatorial election. [1]

Contents

Garcia is an associate professor at Arizona State University's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. He was the 2014 Democratic candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction, but was defeated by the Republican Party's nominee, Diane Douglas. [2] Garcia challenged Republican governor Doug Ducey in the November 2018 Arizona gubernatorial election, losing by 14%.

Early life and education

Garcia, a fourth generation Mexican-American, was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona. [3] He served as an infantryman in the United States Army. [4] Garcia graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A. in communication in 1993. [5] He also graduated from the University of Chicago with a M.A. in education research in 1997 and a Ph.D. in education research in 2002. [5]

Career

An education researcher, Garcia previously worked in the Arizona Department of Education and currently works as an associate professor at ASU's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. [6] In 2014, Garcia ran unsuccessfully for state superintendent against Republican Diane Douglas. [7]

Despite his loss to Douglas, who was considered a historically weak candidate, Garcia announced his plan to challenge incumbent Republican governor Doug Ducey in April 2017. [2] Garcia defeated state legislator Steve Farley in the August 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary. [8]

While Garcia's 2014 bid attracted independent and Republican support, his 2018 campaign was considered progressive. [4] Garcia's 2018 bid focused on supporting Medicare for All, [9] raising income taxes to spend more on education initiatives, [10] and opposing a wall along Arizona's southern border with Mexico. [11] He also supported a “top-to-bottom” overhaul of ICE. [12] Garcia's candidacy for governor had been compared to the candidacies of Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. [13] In 2021, the Arizona Daily Star described Garcia as "a weak candidate with a campaign beset by missteps, including what was interpreted as a call for open borders". [14]

On Election Day, Garcia was defeated by Ducey, 56.0%-41.8%. [15] [16]

Personal life

Garcia is married to Lori Higuera, a corporate attorney in the Phoenix area. [17] They have two daughters.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 5, 2002, in 36 states and two territories. The Republicans won eight seats previously held by the Democrats, as well as the seat previously held by Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura, who was elected on the Reform Party ticket but had since renounced his party affiliation. The Democrats won 10 seats previously held by the Republicans, as well as the seat previously held by Maine governor Angus King, an independent. The elections were held concurrently with the other United States elections of 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Arizona elections</span>

The 2010 Arizona state elections were held on November 2, 2010, with primaries on August 24, 2010. These include gubernatorial and both sides of Congress. A special election was also on May 18 for Proposition 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Ducey</span> Governor of Arizona from 2015 to 2023

Douglas Anthony Ducey is an American businessman and politician who served as the 23rd governor of Arizona from 2015 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Ducey was CEO of the ice cream parlor chain Cold Stone Creamery from 1995 to 2007 and was Arizona State Treasurer from 2011 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 4, 2014, in 36 states and three territories, concurrent with other elections during the 2014 United States elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Arizona gubernatorial election</span> Review of the election

The 2014 Arizona gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor of Arizona, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. J. Shope</span> American politician (born 1985)

Thomas Ray "T. J." Shope Jr. is an American Republican politician and businessman who has been a member of the Arizona Legislature from the 16th Legislative District, which covers central and eastern Pinal County and southern Gila County. First elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2012, he was a member of the House from January 2013 to January 2021; in the latter part of his time in the state House, he was Speaker Pro Tempore. Shope was elected to the Arizona State Senate in November 2020, and took office in January 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Mosley</span> American politician

Paul Mosley is an American Republican politician and a former member of the Arizona House of Representatives elected to represent District 5 in 2016 through 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Farley</span> American politician and Arizona state senator

Steve Farley is an American politician, artist, and graphic designer who previously served as a State Senator from Arizona, including serving in the capacity of assistant minority leader. He also served previously in the Arizona House of Representatives, serving as assistant minority leader there as well. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Arizona gubernatorial election</span> Review of the election

The 2018 Arizona gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the Governor of Arizona, concurrently with the election of Arizona's Class I U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Arizona elections</span>

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Arizona on November 6, 2018. All of Arizona's executive offices were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat and all of Arizona's nine seats in the United States House of Representatives. The Republican Party won the majority of statewide offices, albeit by much narrower margins than in previous elections, while the Democratic Party picked up three statewide offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Montgomery (Arizona politician)</span> American judge (born 1967)

William Gerard Montgomery is an American attorney who has served as a justice of the Arizona Supreme Court since September 2019. He previously served as the County Attorney for Maricopa County, Arizona from 2010 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Stringer</span> American politician

David Stringer is an American attorney, businessman, and former Republican member of the Arizona

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States gubernatorial elections</span> Election of 39 state governors

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 8, 2022, in 36 states and three territories. As most governors serve four-year terms, the last regular gubernatorial elections for all but two of the seats took place in the 2018 U.S. gubernatorial elections. The gubernatorial elections took place concurrently with several other federal, state, and local elections, as part of the 2022 midterm elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Arizona's 8th congressional district special election</span> Review of the election

A special election for Arizona's 8th congressional district was held in 2018 subsequent to the resignation of Republican U.S. Representative Trent Franks. Governor Doug Ducey called a special primary election for Tuesday, February 27, 2018, and a special general election for the balance of Franks' eighth term for Tuesday, April 24, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States Senate special election in Arizona</span> Election of US Senator Mark Kelly

The 2020 United States Senate special election in Arizona was held on November 3, 2020, following the death in office of incumbent Republican U.S. Senator John McCain on August 25, 2018. Governor Doug Ducey was required by Arizona law to appoint a Republican to fill the vacant seat until a special election winner could be sworn in. On September 5, 2018, Ducey appointed former U.S. Senator Jon Kyl to fill McCain's seat. However, Kyl announced he would resign on December 31, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathy Hoffman</span> American educator and politician (born 1985)

Kathy Hoffman is an American educator, speech-language pathologist, and politician who served as the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction from 2019 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, she took her oath of office with her hand placed on top of the book Too Many Moose, which holds special significance for her and her former students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States Senate election in Arizona</span>

The 2022 United States Senate election in Arizona was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Arizona gubernatorial election</span> Election for Governor of Arizona

The 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election occurred on November 8, 2022, to elect the next governor of Arizona, concurrently with other federal and state elections. Incumbent Republican governor Doug Ducey was term-limited and ineligible to run for a third consecutive term. Democratic Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs narrowly defeated Republican former television journalist Kari Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction election</span> Review of the election

The 2018 Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, concurrently with the election of Arizona's Class I U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Gaynor</span> American businessman and political candidate

Steven Jeffrey Gaynor is an American businessman and political candidate in Arizona. He ran for Secretary of State of Arizona in 2018, and won the Arizona Republican Party nomination, but narrowly lost the general election to Democrat Katie Hobbs. Gaynor was a candidate in the Republican primary for the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial election before he withdrew from the race in April 2022.

References

  1. "Can David Garcia catch the blue wave to become Arizona's next governor?". NBC News. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  2. 1 2 Stern, Ray (2017-04-13). "David Garcia Couldn't Beat Diane Douglas but Wants to Challenge Doug Ducey for Arizona Governor". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  3. Diaz, Elvia (10 August 2018). "Is it 'insulting' for David Garcia to tout being Latino in Arizona's governor race?". AZCentral. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  4. 1 2 Forman, Carmen. "Garcia makes 'dramatic tilt' left in run for governor – Arizona Capitol Times". azcapitoltimes.com. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  5. 1 2 "David Garcia". Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. 2018-08-13. Archived from the original on 2018-08-25. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  6. "Robb: David Garcia's plan won't fund #RedforEd's demands. Not even close". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  7. Grado, Gary. "Garcia concedes schools chief race to Douglas – Arizona Capitol Times". azcapitoltimes.com. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  8. Forman, Karen (28 August 2018). "David Garcia clinches Democratic gubernatorial nomination". Arizona Capitol Times. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  9. Editorial board. "Why the battle for Arizona governor is being fought in your kid's classroom". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  10. Fischer, Howard. "Arizona's 3 Democrats for governor spar over immigration, ed taxes, experience". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  11. "Did Arizona governor candidate David Garcia just call for an open border?". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  12. Forman, Carmen. "David Garcia's call to reform ICE politically risky in Arizona – Arizona Capitol Times". azcapitoltimes.com. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  13. Robb, Robert (2018-07-11). "Democrats have a shot for Arizona governor. Here's what you need to know about them". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  14. Fischer, Howard (March 29, 2021). "Arizona Gov. Ducey hopeful about GOP's future, says it will be helped by Democrat Biden". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  15. "Statewide canvass" (PDF). azsos.gov.
  16. "Arizona Governor Election Results". January 28, 2019 via NYTimes.com.
  17. "DAVID GARCIA: "Transformational" education is the goal - Raising Arizona Kids Magazine". www.raisingarizonakids.com. Retrieved 2018-08-25.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Arizona
2018
Succeeded by