Juan Vargas
Democrat Representative of California's 52nd district
Representative
California, district 51
January 3, 2013 - January 3, 2015
Representative
California, district 51
January 6, 2015 - January 3, 2017
Representative
California, district 51
January 3, 2017 - January 3, 2019
Representative
California, district 51
January 3, 2019 - January 3, 2021
Representative
California, district 51
January 3, 2021 - January 3, 2023
Representative
California, district 52
January 3, 2023 - January 3, 2025
6
Congresses Served
6
House Terms
March 7, 1961 (63 years old)
Birthday
- Has been a U.S. representative since 2013
- Previously served in the California State Senate, California State Assembly, and the San Diego City Council
- Born and raised in National City, California, in a large family of ten children to parents who immigrated from Mexico
- Graduated magna cum laude with a BA from the University of San Diego, earned an MA in humanities from Fordham University, and a JD from Harvard Law School
- Worked in an orphanage in El Salvador and was part of the Jesuit Novitiate before attending law school
- Created “Operation Restore” on the San Diego City Council to employ homeless people for graffiti removal and home rehabilitation
- Authored legislation in the California State Assembly to ban smoking in children’s playgrounds and introduced laws aimed at protecting children from arcade video games and mandating life sentences for violent sex crimes against children
- Worked in the insurance industry focusing on diversity initiatives before returning to politics
- Narrowly won a seat in the California State Senate in 2010, resigning in 2013 to take his seat in Congress
- Endorsed a former rival for mayor of San Diego before running for and winning his congressional seat
- Spent campaign money on holiday cards for constituents and participated in a funded trip to Germany for legislative understanding
- Voted against the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022 and in favor of additional support for Israeli military operations
- Holds a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and an F rating from the Susan B. Anthony List for his abortion-related voting record
- Opposed the overturning of Roe v. Wade and voted in favor of directing the removal of U.S. troops from Syria
- Married with two daughters, hosted a Kosovar refugee family during the Kosovo conflict, and had a cameo in the 2023 movie “Dumb Money”
- Member of several caucuses including the New Democrat Coalition, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Climate Solutions Caucus, and Congressional Progressive Caucus