Voter Choice

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U.S. House, District 8: who gets your vote?

What this role does

U.S. representatives work with the Senate on U.S. laws and spending.

These votes help set U.S. taxes and pay for public services.

  • National laws
  • Federal spending

Read about them. Then tap a button to pick one. You can change it later.

Data last updated: Oct 13, 2026 (federal ballot roster). Verify approaching elections with your state election office.

Our reading of the duties, not an official requirement. Doesn't rank or recommend anyone.

Office role sources

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In the role now
John Garamendi

John Garamendi

U.S. House · California District 8

NationalDemocrat

Candidate
Rudy Recile

Rudy Recile

Running for U.S. House · California District 8

NationalRepublican

John GaramendiCurrent repRudy RecileChallenger

Job fit

John Garamendi

Offices held

  • California Insurance Commissioner 1

Rudy Recile

Offices held

  • retired UNITED STATES ARMY MAJOR with over 26 years of military service 2

Top issues

Ranked by what Americans say matters most (Pew, 2026)

John Garamendi

No stated positions on file yet.

Rudy Recile

  • Health care costs
    A campaign profile reports Recile 'opposes medical mandates' and 'favors limited taxpayer-funded programs' rather than 'broader government-run healthcare expansions.' 3
  • Cost of living & jobs
    Recile's campaign site states: 'Government spending is out of control... What they are creating is a pathway for hyperinflation,' opposing continued growth in federal spending. 4
  • Guns
    A campaign profile reports Recile 'supports strong Second Amendment protections and opposes limits on citizens' ability to purchase firearms,' opposing civil liability for gun manufacturers. 3

No public stance found on: Immigration

More on their website →

How they voted on top issues

John Garamendi

  • What kids are taught in school → Teachers deciding, with lessons that include everyone (3 of 3 votes) 5
  • Abortion and reproductive care → Protecting access (2 of 2 votes) 5
  • Fair trade and prices at the store → Free trade and lower tariffs (2 of 2 votes) 5

Rudy Recile

Nothing found for this candidate yet.

Who pays them

John Garamendi

Where the campaign money came from6

small donorslarge donorslabor unionscompaniesindustry associationsOther kinds of donors
small donors$8Klarge donors$147Klabor unions$139Kcompanies$116Kindustryassociations$62KOther kinds ofdonors$34K$493K raised
$7,5596Small individual donors
$147,0346Large individual donors

Rudy Recile

Where the campaign money came from7

small donorslarge donors
small donors$2Klarge donors$7K$9K raised
$1,6287Small individual donors
$6,9237Large individual donors

Checks

John Garamendi

Checks run: missed votes

🚩 Missed 13.5% of votes in Congress — the chamber's usual rate is 1.9%. 8

Not checked yet: stock trades

Rudy Recile

No voting record to check yet

About red flags

These are Voter Choice's editorial choices, not a finding about any person. We flag: stock trading while in office, absences, money's influence in politics, and reported misuse of power or public funds. State and local items may come from local news, which can lean partisan. Take with a grain of salt. The judgment is yours.

Based on current data. May change in a future update.

Sources

  1. About John - John Garamendi · checked 2026-10-18 used in: Experience
  2. Major (Ret) Rudy Recile For U.S. Congress – "Ang Inyong Lingkod" (At Your Service) · checked 2026-10-18 used in: Experience
  3. predictionedge.com used in: Top issues
  4. rudyforuscongress.com used in: Top issues
  5. Congress.gov roll-call votes · 2022-11-04 to 2026-11-04 used in: How they voted on top issues
  6. FEC · 2026 cycle used in: Money
  7. FEC · 2026 cycle used in: Money
  8. GovTrack · 119th Congress used in: Checks