John Garamendi

[constituency_baseline] District summary: California's 8th Congressional District encompasses much of Contra Costa and Solano Counties in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area, including the cities of Vallejo, Fairfield, Richmond, and parts of Vacaville. The district has a population of approximately 752,539 and is a majority-minority district (36.4% Hispanic, 27.5% White non-Hispanic, 18.4% Asian, 13.9% Black). It is considered a safe Democratic seat (D+48 PVI). The economy blends urban industrial activity (oil refining, maritime shipping) with suburban commuter communities and agricultural regions in the Sacramento Delta. The district features significant income diversity: median household income of $97,897 but an 8% poverty rate. Approximately 29% of residents are foreign-born. The district's heavy reliance on federal health programs — with 303,000 people covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or VA benefits — makes federal fiscal policy particularly salient.

Voted nay_unverified on H.R. 3746 (Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023) on 2023-05-31: Garamendi broke with 78% of House Democrats (165 Yes, 46 No) to oppose the bipartisan debt-ceiling deal negotiated by President Biden and Speaker McCarthy. In a district where 303,000 constituents rely on Medicare, Medicaid, or VA benefits — programs he warned were at risk — his opposition reflected progressive fiscal priorities over party unity on the emergency measure.