Rep. Robert Garcia: Huntington Beach's MAGA days are over

Rep. Robert Garcia has a message for Huntington Beach: the MAGA era is done. In a clip shared by Juice Unlocked on Nov. 5, the Long Beach Democrat said "the days of Huntington Beach being a MAGA city are over" and that the city and the county "voted for change."

Garcia was on the Nov. 3 ballot against Republican Brian Burley in the 42nd Congressional District. Huntington Beach was drawn into that district after California voters approved Proposition 50 in November 2025.

What Garcia said

Garcia said he is proud to represent all of Orange County, "but especially here in Huntington Beach." He called HB a diverse community where people "just want good services" and "good representation."

"It's clear that this city voted for change, the county voted for change," he said, "and we're looking forward to delivering that change."

“I just want to also be very clear that the days of Huntington Beach being a MAGA city are over.”

The numbers so far

Unofficial California Secretary of State results updated Nov. 7 show Garcia with 155,435 votes (61.9%) to Burley's 95,803 (38.1%) districtwide.

The Orange County side is much closer. As of Nov. 6, Garcia led there by 1,020 votes, 73,709 (50.3%) to 72,689 (49.7%). No city-level breakdown for Huntington Beach was available, and all results stay unofficial until they are certified.

“It's clear that this city voted for change, the county voted for change, and we're looking forward to delivering that change.”

Why HB is in a Long Beach district

Prop. 50 moved Huntington Beach out of the 47th Congressional District and into a district that, as Voice of OC put it, stretches up the coast to Long Beach. Before the vote, NBC Los Angeles reported the new lines would cut registered Democrats in the district from 53% to 40% and raise Republicans from 18% to 30%.

City leaders pushed back from the start. Mayor Pat Burns, a strong Trump supporter, told NBC LA, "I don't trust him." He told Voice of OC that Garcia does not believe in local control for HB. Councilman Butch Twining wrote that Garcia's values "don't align with a huge majority of HB Citizens." Councilman Andrew Gruel was more open, saying "there might be some shared interests."

“Folks just want good services, people want good representation, and I'm excited to represent the entire community.”

Background

Garcia is an outspoken Trump critic, according to Voice of OC. In June 2025, House Democrats elected him ranking member of the House Oversight Committee in a 150-63 caucus vote. CBS News reported he would be in line to chair the committee if Democrats retake the House in 2026.

Republicans have held a majority on the Huntington Beach City Council since 2022 and, as of late 2025, held every seat, according to Voice of OC. In early council returns on election night, Casey McKeon, Pat Burns and Andrew Gruel were the top three vote-getters, according to NBC LA's results page as of 8:14 p.m. Nov. 3.

What’s next

Election results are unofficial until counties and the Secretary of State certify them. Check ocvote.gov and the Secretary of State's results site for updated totals.