Speculation follows. Mayor Robert Garcia chose Sen. Harris to ceremonially swear him into office. Garcia actively campaigned for Harris in Iowa (then switched to Biden.) If Biden is elected, Garcia would have a close political ally one step away from the Oval Office.

It didn't take long for Garcia to Tweet his response to Biden's choice:

Congratulations to the next VP of the United States, Kamala Harris! So proud of our Senator and hopeful for the future of our country. I’ve supported her from day one because she has the integrity and character to lead. Thank you VP Biden for making this incredible choice. pic.twitter.com/vAlCUrVloK

— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarciaLB) August 11, 2020

Speculation follows:

• If Biden is elected president, Mayor Garcia might exit LB for a position in a Biden administration.

• If Garcia exits for DC, it would trigger a special citywide election for Long Beach Mayor.

• If a Council incumbent is elected Mayor, it would open a local Council seat.

• If Biden is elected, Gov. Newsom will have the opportunity to fill Harris' vacated U.S. Senate seat with anyone of his choice. Garcia has been a ally of Governor Newsom, supporting his COVID-19 responses and the Newsom administration's stance preempting local authority of Charter cities on housing and land use matters.

In October 2019, Mayor Garcia canceled a previously scheduled "Meet the Mayor" event to travel to Iowa to campaign for presidential candidate Senator Harris. A number of LB residents who signed up to attend the LB event received an email from the event's attendance organizer ("Eventbrite"): "Thank you for your RSVP to Meet the Mayor, however because of a change in schedule, we won't be able to have this event this Saturday. We're sorry for any inconvenience. s/ Office of Mayor Garcia."

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Garcia was in fact in Iowa campaigning for candidate Harris. A "Kamala Harris For the People" campaign release headlined "Long Beach Mayor Returns to Iowa to Campaign for Kamala Harris at Latino Political Network Gala" states:

I’m speaking with @QuePasaIowa in Des Moines about Kamala’s record on immigration and her commitment to DREAMERS and our undocumented neighbors. #ParaLaGente pic.twitter.com/Cq3xEMK2ik

— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarciaLB) October 26, 2019

Ive been out knocking on doors in Iowa for the #IACaucus and met Juan. He committed to Caucus for Kamala and is excited about her plans to support immigrants. #ForThePeople pic.twitter.com/F9yG5gs5C3

— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarciaLB) October 26, 2019

Best t-shirt in Iowa tbh pic.twitter.com/xTy6Qo1QnH

— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarciaLB) October 26, 2019

Ending a great day in Iowa by speaking on behalf of Kamala Harris at the @lpniowa gala in Des Moines. An amazing organization dedicated to supporting Latino and Latina elected officials. #ParaLaGente #ForThePeople pic.twitter.com/YYAp1AU85T

— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarciaLB) October 27, 2019

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After the Harris presidential campaign imploded, Garcia joined most establishment Democrats in backing Biden. .

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In 2016, while Sen. Bernie Sanders was battling Sec'y of State Hillary Clinton in the June 2016 CA primary, Mayor Garcia introduced Clinton at an election-eve LBCC "get out the vote" rally. A few weeks later, as a delegate to Democrats 2016 national convention, Garcia voted to nominate Clinton over Sanders.

On the day before her November election defeat, Mayor Garcia webposted the following Facebook message voicing his political loyalty to to her (arguably positioning himself for a spot in a Clinton administration.): .

I voted for Hillary Clinton and I'm looking forward to the election tomorrow. My vote is not a protest vote against Donald Trump, but a vote for Hillary. In fact, it's an enthusiastic vote to elect someone I believe is well qualified, ready on day one, and someone who is a fighter and never gives up. I believe her work as an attorney for children, as an advocate for the poor, as a progressive U.S. Senator, and as Secretary of State have provided her a worldview that is diverse and global. I've met Hillary, and she's nothing like the caricature that is often portrayed in the media. She is warm, funny, and kind. She's not perfect, and that's ok. No one is. I don't expect perfection in a president, but I do expect a person who will stand up for the values that I believe in: equality, compassion and hard work.

No one in the modern history of politics has had so much anger and vitriol thrown their way. No one has been more vilified, no one has been more unfairly investigated, no one has been more insulted, no one has been more attacked, and no one has been subjected to these inhumane levels of misogyny.

I also happen to like Hillary's platform. She supports rebuilding our nation's infrastructure, wants to reform our gun laws, wants to make college more affordable, believes in a woman's right to choose, supports gay rights, wants to improve not replace Obamacare, and believes in a robust foreign policy for our country.

And another thing. I'm an immigrant. I'm incredibly proud to be an American, but part of that story is my journey from being an immigrant to a citizen. This is where I get to Donald Trump. I could never support a man who has so thoroughly insulted my family, our experience, and our culture. From the day he started his campaign he has been attacking us. We are not criminals and rapists and thugs. We are people. We are humans. And I believe he is unfit to be President.

I know folks voting for Trump, and that's fine. I represent many of them as mayor. I respect everyone's right to vote and hope as many people vote as possible. After the election I hope we can all come together and move forward.

And finally - yes, I'm voting for Hillary because she's a woman. I love that. It's time. I'm not one iota ashamed that part of my vote is a gender consideration. Women make things better and they improve everything they are a part of. I want little girls to see themselves as future presidents.

I'm excited about the election. I'm fired up. I'm ready. And #ImWithHer.

In 2005, Garcia, then an aide to a Repubican LB Councilman, announced plans to revitalize LB's Young Republican Party. He told LBREPORT.com: "For years, the strongest presence has been the Long Beach Young Democrats...They're very organized, they do good work, they register and they get people out there...I have found that so many people that are Republicans that are interested but there was nothing to bring everybody together, so that was the impetus," co-founder Robert Garcia told LBReport.com. And Mr. Garcia added. "It's going to be huge. I honestly believe that within a year or two, this is going to be the most influential Republican organization in the city."

But when the LB Councilman finished second in the 2006 Mayor's race to former SCE President Bob Foster, Garcia moved into a disproporitonately Democrat Council district, where the incumbent Counciloman was expected to seek and win a Democrat Assembly seat. When she did in Nov. 2018, Garcia reinvited himself as a Democrat and won the seat in an April 2009 multi candidate race with less than a majority of votes cast in a no-runoff special election.

Councilman Garcia became an ally of Mayor Foster and (despite Garcia representing LB's high crime 1st Council district) supported Foster-recommended budgets that responded to the economic slowdown by erasing 20% of LB's police officers (2009-2015.)

Elected Mayor in 2014 with support from outgoing Mayor Foster, Garcia was re-elected in 2018 (after meeting with and persuading (on paperwork-filing deadline day) a potentially formidable opponet, Robert Fox, not to enter the race against him. Mr. Fox is currently the Reform Ticket candidate in a Nov.2020 2nd dist. Council eleciton, in which Garcia has endorsed Fox's opponent.)

Garcia currently faces a formal statutory recall -- with petition signatures now being collected -- launched in July 2019 by grassroots activist Franklin Sims.

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