FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 26, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus’ “ASPIRE PAC” Endorses Gil
Representing Over 21 AANHPI Members of Congress, ASPIRE Joins Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ BOLD PAC in Backing CA-31 Frontrunner
Covina, CA – Today, the political arm of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, ASPIRE PAC announced their endorsement of former LA County Congressman, Under Secretary of Defense, and Education and Veterans Advocate Gil Cisneros in California’s 31st Congressional District which is being vacated by retiring Rep. Grace Napolitano. Representing over 21 AANHPI Members of Congress and 2 U.S. Senators, ASPIRE’s endorsement adds to a broad coalition of support behind Cisneros in a District which proudly boasts 19% of constituents identifying as Asian American and Pacific Islander. Riding a wave of popularity, Cisneros maintains commanding lead in primary after a December public poll showed the Navy Veteran with a commanding lead in a crowded top two primary
“Gil Cisneros has been an incredible ally to the AANHPI community. When he previously served in Congress, he prioritized his AANHPI constituents through in-language outreach, hiring AANHPI staff from the community, and fighting for their priorities in Washington, like gun safety reform, resources for Asian American-owned small businesses, and protecting reproductive rights. We can trust Gil as an advocate for all Asian Americans in the San Gabriel Valley, and ASPIRE is excited to endorse his campaign.” said ASPIRE PAC
“I am humbled to be endorsed again by the Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders Rising & Empowering PAC.” said Cisneros. “ASPIRE PAC exists to empower Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander voices and give them a seat at the table, and I have dedicated my life to doing just that. I represented a district that was over 30% AANHPI when I previously served in Congress, and worked hard on our political outreach in order to gain their support. Our campaigns were nationally recognized for intentional culturally competent and in-language outreach to different AAPI communities. I will once again bring that level of service to the San Gabriel Valley.”
Gil Cisneros supporters include Supervisor Hilda Solis, Congressmember Judy Chu, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, Congressmember Mark Takano, Retired Assemblymember Mike Eng, California Environmental Voters, SEIU California, Democrats Serve, the New Democratic Coalition Action Fund, Operating Engineers Local 12, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers, and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 36. A full endorsement list can be found here.
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Gil Cisneros is the former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and the Military’s Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer. A former U.S. Naval Officer, Gil was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (2), the National Defense Medal, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for his exemplary service to his country.
From 2019 to 2021, Cisneros served as U.S. representative for Los Angeles County in California’s 39th Congressional District where he served on the Armed Services and Veterans Affairs committees.
Gil is an advocate and co-founder of The Gilbert & Jacki Cisneros Foundation, an organization committed to improving the level of Hispanic education in the country and the lives of Veterans. Gilbert’s dedication toward philanthropy began when he purchased a winning California Mega Millions lottery ticket in 2010. Gil and Jacki partnered with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and the city of Pico Rivera, California to create Generation First Degree Pico Rivera, with the goal of putting a college degree in every Hispanic household in the city. Gil’s commitment to education led him to be appointed to former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative’s advisory board.
California’s 31st is an open Congressional District in Los Angeles County covering the San Gabriel Valley. Incumbent Congressmember Grace Napolitano is retiring. The district includes all or part of the Cities of Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bradbury, City of Industry, Covina, Duarte, El Monte, Glendora, Irwindale, La Puente, La Verne, Monrovia, San Dimas, South El Monte, and West Covina. 51.2% of the registered voters in CA-31 identify as Latino, and 15.3% are of Asian or Pacific Islander descent.
Gil Cisneros is a former Navy officer and the use of his military rank, job titles and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.
