FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 27, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
US Senator Mark Kelly Endorses Gil Cisneros In CA-31
Covina, CA – Today, U.S. Naval Aviator, NASA Astronaut, and United States Senator for Arizona, Mark Kelly, announced his 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 with the retirement of Rep. Grace Napolitano. Senator Kelly, and his wife former Representative Gabby Giffords founded the gun safety organization GIFFORDS in 2013, shortly after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and Gil and Jacki Cisneros were founding donors of the organization. Senator Kelly’s endorsement comes on the heels of strong polling showing Cisneros leading a crowded primary.
“My mother lost her father, my Grandfather, at the age of 10 years old due to a robbery at a store that he owned and operated. His loss is something that has affected my mother and our family to this day. It has created a sense of loss and the way things could have been. That is why it is an honor to have the support of Senator Mark Kelly. Mark and his wife Congresswoman Giffords have been fierce supporters of gun safety advocacy. I look forward to working with them in Congress to bring common sense gun safety legislation forward.”
“When Gabby and I launched GIFFORDS, Gil and Jacki were one of our first partners.” said Kelly “Gil lost his grandfather to gun violence and has been a champion for common sense gun safety legislation. We need Gil in Congress to help keep our communities safe.”
Gil Cisneros supporters include Supervisor Hilda Solis, Congressmember Judy Chu, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, Retired Assemblymember Mike Eng, BOLD PAC Chair Congresswoman Linda Sánchez, Giffords PAC, BOLD PAC, ASPIRE PAC, California Environmental Voters, League of Conservation 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.
