Pete Aguilar Bio
Peter Rey Aguilar, known publicly as Pete Aguilar, is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who has represented California in the United States House of Representatives since 2015. Born on June 19, 1979, in Fontana, California, Aguilar grew up in a working-class family in San Bernardino and has lived in Redlands, California, since 1997. He chairs the House Democratic Caucus, a position he assumed in 2023, and is the highest-ranking Latino in Congress.
Before his time in Washington, Aguilar built a career in local government in the Inland Empire, including service on the Redlands City Council and two terms as mayor of Redlands. He graduated from the University of Redlands with a Bachelor of Science in government and business administration. Aguilar’s legislative work in Congress has focused on immigration, job creation, small-business support, and veterans’ issues.
Early Life and Background
Peter Rey Aguilar was born on June 19, 1979, in Fontana, California, and raised in nearby San Bernardino. He grew up in a working-class family and is of Mexican descent, experiences that have shaped his focus on working-family economic policy and Latino representation in national politics.
Aguilar moved to Redlands, California, in 1997 and has remained a resident of the city. He went on to attend the University of Redlands, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in government and business administration. His studies at the University of Redlands helped lay the foundation for a career in public service that began in state government before shifting to city-level leadership.
Path to US Politics
Aguilar’s path to US politics began in 2001, when California Governor Gray Davis appointed him deputy director of the Inland Empire Regional Office of the Governor. He later rose to serve as the office’s Interim Director, gaining early experience in state-level administration and regional coordination.
In 2006, Aguilar became the youngest member of the Redlands City Council in the city’s history when five council members, Democrats and Republicans, selected him from 11 candidates to fill an open seat. He was elected to the seat a year later, and his colleagues appointed him mayor in 2010 and again in 2012, a role he held until December 2014. During his time on the council and as mayor, he was recognized for his professionalism, leadership during difficult financial periods, balanced budgeting, and commitment to government transparency.
Pete Aguilar Career
Early Career (2001-2014)
Aguilar’s early career combined state-government service with city leadership in the Inland Empire. After his appointment as deputy director of the governor’s Inland Empire Regional Office in 2001 and his subsequent rise to Interim Director, he transitioned to local government with his 2006 selection to the Redlands City Council.
He won election to the council in 2007 and served as mayor of Redlands from 2010 to 2014, guiding the city through challenging financial conditions while building financial reserves and supporting road improvements. His tenure as mayor also included service as president of the Inland Empire Division of the League of California Cities.
US House of Representatives Breakthrough (2014-2018)
Aguilar launched his first congressional campaign in January 2012, running for California’s 31st congressional district seat held by Republican Gary Miller. In California’s open primary that year, he finished third with 22.6 percent of the vote, allowing the two Republicans to advance to the general election. In March 2013, he announced a second campaign and won the June 2014 primary, advancing to the November 2014 general election.
In the 2014 general election, Aguilar defeated Republican Paul Chabot with 51.4 percent of the vote, capturing California’s 31st congressional district for the Democratic Party. He defeated Chabot again in 2016 with 56.1 percent of the vote. In 2018, he won 45.96 percent in the primary against Kaiser Ahmed and Sean Flynn and went on to win the general election with 58.7 percent of the vote, establishing himself as a durable incumbent in the district.
House Democratic Caucus Era (2018-Present)
Following the 2018 midterm elections, Aguilar ran for vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus and initially lost to Katherine Clark by a vote of 144-90. He later won the position by a 148-82 vote over Robin Kelly after Clark decided to run for Assistant Speaker, and he became vice chair in the 117th Congress. After the 2020 redistricting cycle moved his district and renumbered it from the 31st to the 33rd, Aguilar won his 2020 race with 61 percent of the vote against Republican Agnes Gibboney.
In 2022, Aguilar defeated Republican John Mark Porter in the new 33rd district and was elected House Democratic Caucus Chairman, becoming the highest-ranking Latino in congressional history. He was re-elected in 2024, defeating Republican Tom Hermon with 57.4 percent of the vote, and is currently serving his sixth term in Congress. He is also a member of the U.S. House Select Committee that investigated the January 6 attack on the Capitol, and he co-led the committee’s third televised hearing in June 2022 alongside investigative counsel John Wood.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Aguilar’s most significant moments in Congress was his appointment in July 2021 to the U.S. House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol, where he pledged a fair, thorough, and evidence-based inquiry. His 2022 election as House Democratic Caucus Chairman marked a historic milestone, making him the highest-ranking Latino in congressional history. He has also played a key role in local recovery efforts, helping communities secure funding after the 2015 San Bernardino attack, which occurred in his district.
Pete Aguilar Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Aguilar was raised in a working-class family in San Bernardino, California, and is of Mexican descent. Those family roots have informed his long-standing advocacy for working families, immigrant communities, and small businesses across the Inland Empire.
Aguilar is married to Alisha Aguilar, and the couple has two sons. The family resides in Redlands, California, where Aguilar has lived since 1997.