Democrat George Whitesides Wins California’s 27th Congressional District, Defeating Incumbent Mike Garcia

Democrat George Whitesides has emerged victorious in the highly contested race for California‘s 27th Congressional District, defeating Republican incumbent Rep. Mike Garcia. Garcia conceded the race on Monday evening, marking a significant shift in the district’s representation[2][3].

The final vote tally showed Whitesides securing 51.2% of the votes, while Garcia garnered 48.8%. This win is particularly noteworthy as the 27th Congressional District is considered one of the most competitive in the country. The district includes areas such as Santa Clarita, Palmdale, and Lancaster[2][3].

Whitesides, a former NASA chief of staff and CEO of Virgin Galactic, has a diverse background that includes serving on former President Barack Obama’s transition team in 2008. He is also the chairman of the board of Megafire Action, a group focused on policies to prevent large wildfires. During his campaign, Whitesides emphasized his commitment to creating local jobs, lowering everyday costs, building safe communities, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and defending reproductive freedom[2][4].[5]

Garcia, a U.S. Navy veteran and former employee of defense giant Raytheon, had held the seat since his first election in 2020. Despite his conservative voting record and support from former President Donald Trump, Garcia faced strong opposition from Whitesides, who criticized Garcia’s stance on abortion rights and his vote to overturn the 2020 presidential election results[2][4].[5]

The race was closely watched due to its potential impact on the balance of power in the House of Representatives. Whitesides out-fundraised Garcia, collecting over $9 million compared to Garcia’s nearly $6 million[2].[3]