Jimmy Gomez Bio
Jimmy Gomez (born November 25, 1974) is an American politician serving as the United States Representative for California’s 34th congressional district since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, his district includes the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Eagle Rock, Boyle Heights, Downtown Los Angeles, and Koreatown. Before entering electoral politics, Gomez worked as a labor organizer and political director for health-care and public-employee unions, experience that shaped his policy focus in Congress.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, Jimmy Gomez serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and the Committee on Oversight and Reform. He is a founding member of the Medicare for All Caucus and is active in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus. His work in Congress has centered on health care, labor rights, and social justice.
Early Life and Background
Jimmy Gomez was born and raised in Southern California, growing up in a working-class family shaped by immigration. He is the son of immigrant parents; his mother worked as a domestic worker and a nursing home laundry attendant, while his father was a bracero, or farm worker. Their sacrifices and labor laid the foundation for his later commitment to workers’ rights and public service.
After graduating from high school, Jimmy Gomez did not initially plan to attend college and took jobs at Subway and Target. He eventually enrolled at Riverside Community College before transferring to the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in urban planning. He later completed a Master of Arts in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, strengthening his path toward a career in government and advocacy.
Path to US Politics
Jimmy Gomez began his professional life as a labor organizer, working as the legislative and political director for the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) starting in 2009. He also served as a political representative for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), advocating for nurses, health-care professionals, and public employees across California.
Before running for office, Jimmy Gomez worked as a staffer for former U.S. Representative Hilda Solis, gaining firsthand experience in federal policymaking. These experiences in labor organizing and congressional work prepared him to transition into elected office. In 2012, he was elected to the California State Assembly, representing the 51st district, marking the start of his career in electoral politics.
Jimmy Gomez Career
Early Career (2012–2017)
Jimmy Gomez was first elected to the California State Assembly in 2012, representing the 51st district, which covers Northeast Los Angeles and unincorporated East Los Angeles. He was reelected in 2014 with more than 83 percent of the vote, demonstrating strong constituent support. During his time in the Assembly, he served as the State Assembly Majority Whip from 2013 to 2014 and was a member of the California Latino Legislative Caucus.
As an Assembly member, Jimmy Gomez was known for his focus on labor, health care, and immigrant communities. Before being elected, he served as the political director for the United Nurses Association of California, an affiliate of AFSCME, giving him a strong base of union support. His legislative work in Sacramento established his reputation as a progressive voice ahead of his move to federal office.
2017 Congressional Special Election (2017)
On December 5, 2016, Jimmy Gomez announced his candidacy for the special election to succeed Xavier Becerra in California’s 34th congressional district. He received endorsements from Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, and Senate leader Kevin de León, among others. On April 4, 2017, he finished first in the special election but did not secure a majority, leading to a runoff against fellow Democrat Robert Lee Ahn.
Jimmy Gomez won the June 6, 2017 runoff with 60 percent of the vote and was sworn into office on July 11, 2017. He became only the third person to represent the district since its creation in 1963, following Ed Roybal and Xavier Becerra. In the same year, he won the general election against Green Party candidate Kenneth Mejia with 72.5 percent of the vote.
Reelection Campaigns (2018–2024)
Jimmy Gomez has continued to win reelection, though with varying margins. In 2020, he was challenged by fellow Democrat David Kim and won with 53 percent of the vote, a closer-than-expected result. David Kim challenged him again in 2022, and although Gomez won, his margin was smaller than in 2020. These races highlighted both his strong base and the competitive nature of the district.
During his tenure, Jimmy Gomez has remained a vocal advocate for progressive causes. In 2020, he co-signed a letter condemning Azerbaijan’s offensive operations against Nagorno-Karabakh and called for an immediate ceasefire. In January 2021, he introduced legislation to expel Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, and after the 2022 State of the Union, he introduced a similar resolution targeting both Greene and Representative Lauren Boebert.
House Ways and Means Committee (2017–Present)
Jimmy Gomez serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and the Committee on Oversight and Reform, two of the most powerful panels in Congress. His committee work has allowed him to shape policy on taxation, trade, health care, and government accountability. He was among 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.
Beyond his committee assignments, Jimmy Gomez is a founding member of the Medicare for All Caucus and remains active in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus. He has also been recognized for his environmental record, earning a 98 percent lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters based on 2017–2021 annual scores.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Jimmy Gomez’s most significant early milestones was winning the 2017 special election to represent California’s 34th congressional district, a seat held by only two other lawmakers since 1963. He has since been a leading voice on Medicare for All and labor rights, drawing on his background as a union organizer. In November 2020, he was named a candidate for United States Trade Representative in the Biden administration, reflecting his influence on trade policy.
Jimmy Gomez Career Wins
Jimmy Gomez has built a record of electoral victories at both the state and federal levels. His wins include a California State Assembly seat in 2012, a commanding reelection in 2014, and the 2017 special election for Congress, followed by subsequent general-election victories. These results reflect consistent support from his district’s diverse working-class communities.
U.S. House of Representatives Highlights
Jimmy Gomez’s first congressional victory came in the 2017 special election runoff, where he won 60 percent of the vote against Robert Lee Ahn. He followed that with a 72.5 percent win against Green Party candidate Kenneth Mejia in the 2017 general election. His most recent wins include a 53 percent victory over David Kim in 2020 and a narrower win over Kim again in 2022.
Other Wins & Achievements
Jimmy Gomez was first elected to the California State Assembly in 2012 and reelected in 2014 with over 83 percent of the vote, a sign of his strong local support. He served as State Assembly Majority Whip from 2013 to 2014. He has also earned perfect scores from the Human Rights Campaign in both the 115th and 116th Congresses, highlighting his consistent advocacy for civil rights.
Jimmy Gomez Family
Family Background and Political Lineage
Jimmy Gomez is the son of working-class immigrant parents whose labor shaped his worldview. His mother worked as a domestic worker and a nursing home laundry attendant, while his father was a bracero, or farm worker. Their experiences inspired his lifelong advocacy for working families and immigrant communities in Southern California.
Personal Life
Jimmy Gomez is married to Mary Hodge, an aide to former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. The couple married in 2011 and lives in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles. They have one son, and Gomez has often spoken about how his family’s immigrant story continues to motivate his work in public service.