Josey Garcia | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Member of the TexasHouseofRepresentatives from the 124th district | |
| Assumed office January 10, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Ina Minjarez |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | San Antonio,Texas,U.S. |
| Education | University of Notre Dame St. Mary's University |
Josey Garcia is an American politician serving in the Texas House of Representatives,representing Texas's 124th House of Representatives district since 2023. She is a member of the Democratic Party, [1] and serves as the first active-duty woman veteran to serve in the Texas House of Representatives.
As a child,Garcia lived with multiple families across the country as a foster child. [2] At the age of 16,she enlisted in the United States Air Force through the Delayed Entry Program. [2]
Garcia is a cofounder of Uniting America Outreach,a non-profit organization based in San Antonio that delivers food and supplies to people in need. During Winter Storm Uri in 2021,Uniting America Outreach delivered over 9,000 meals to vulnerable San Antonio residents. The organization raised over $50,000 for food,clothing,and hygiene products to be delivered to Ciudad Acuña,Mexico during the crisis at the border in 2022. [3] [4]
In 1996,she entered the service at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio,Texas after graduating high school. [2] She served in deployments to Cameroon,and Iraq,where she served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. She later served at Ramstein Air Base,Germany,before retiring after twenty years of service in 2014 [5]
In 2022,incumbent Democratic Representative Ina Minjarez announced her decision to run for Bexar County judge. [6] Garcia won the Democratic Primary for the open seat and faced Republican Johnny Arredondo in the general election. [7] She won the election with 67% of the vote. [8]
Garcia was reelected in 2024,defeating Sylvia Soto with 61.5% of the vote. [9]
In her first legislative session,Garcia authored 39 and joint-authored 175 bills. [10] Of these,30 were signed into law,including:
In the 88th Legislative Session,Garcia also Joint-Sponsored 14 bills including:
Garcia was voted "Fresh of the Year" by members of the House Democratic Caucus for her accomplishments in the 88th Legislative Session in 2023. [15]
Garcia is married to Ramon Alberto Salcedo,an Army veteran who served in both Operation Iraqi Freedom,Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom,Afghanistan,where he was awarded a Purple Heart when he was shot during a combat mission. Their blended family includes eight children. [2] She is openly bisexual. [16]