LA TIMES: “Mike Garcia campaign runs misleading ad on the House Republican’s role in Violence Against Women Act”

"Garcia voted against a version of the reauthorization measure…[and] he was not a co-sponsor of the amended reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act"

New reporting this morning from the LA Times exposes self-proclaimed "moderate" Mike Garcia for falsely touting his role in enshrining the landmark Violence Against Women Act - when in fact, he voted to block its reauthorization in 2021.

"Politically vulnerable" Garcia "voted against a version of the reauthorization measure that was passed by the Democratic House majority, joining conservatives who protested provisions that expanded protections" for survivors and "tightened gun access for people convicted of abusing or stalking a dating partner."

Even still, Garcia recently applauded himself for supporting the bill on the campaign trail, calling it "'a big deal' because 'not very many Republicans' had sponsored reauthorization." Again, Garcia was not one of these members.

DCCC Spokesperson Dan Gottlieb:
"The truth Mike Garcia apparently can't bear to admit is that he voted to block the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2021 - a move that risked gutting funding to improve criminal justice responses to sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking, and cutting the availability of services for victims and survivors across California. The bottom line is that women across California are less safe with Mike Garcia in office, and voters will see through his self-serving lies this November."

Read more below.

LA Times: Mike Garcia campaign runs misleading ad on the House Republican's role in Violence Against Women Act
Hailey Branson-Potts | September 4, 2024

• In its first advertisement for the general election season, the campaign for Rep. Mike Garcia, a politically vulnerable Santa Clarita Republican, offers a misleading description of the congressman's role in passing the Violence Against Women Act, which provides aid for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

• Garcia made the same co-sponsorship claim at a Santa Clarita town hall event last month, calling his support "a big deal" because "not very many Republicans" had sponsored reauthorization of the landmark 1994 law.

• But in 2021, Garcia voted against a version of the reauthorization measure that was passed by the Democratic House majority, joining conservatives who protested provisions that expanded protections for LGBTQ+ people and tightened gun access for people convicted of abusing or stalking a dating partner.

• He was not a co-sponsor of the amended reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act that Democratic President Biden ultimately signed into law the following year as part of a wide-ranging federal spending measure. It is that version of the act that remains in force today.

• The Garcia campaign did not respond to requests for comment.

• The race between Garcia and Whitesides to represent Congressional District 27 in northern Los Angeles County, including the Antelope Valley, is one of the most competitive - and consequential - in the country.

• Erin Covey, an analyst for the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, said the race will be crucial in determining whether Republicans maintain their narrow majority in the U.S. House. Although Garcia has been elected three times, he represents a district where Democrats hold a significant voter registration advantage, and which President Biden won by double digits in 2020.