15 Facts About Sylvia Garcia

Sylvia Rodriguez Garcia was born in San Diego, Texas, and raised in Palito Blanco in west central Jim Wells County, the daughter of Luis and Antonia Rodriguez Garcia.

Sylvia Garcia graduated with a degree in social work and began a career as a social worker.

Sylvia Garcia later received her Juris Doctor degree from Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law and was licensed to practice law in Texas.

Sylvia Garcia was elected to the Harris County Commissioner's Court in 2002.

Sylvia Garcia was the first woman and first Latina elected to that post in her own right.

Sylvia Garcia's precinct featured a major base of operations for NASA, the nation's largest petrochemical complex, the Houston Ship Channel and the Port of Houston, the sixth largest port in the world.

In 2010, Sylvia Garcia was defeated for reelection to the Harris County Commissioner's Court by Republican Jack Morman.

In 2013, Sylvia Garcia defeated State Representative Carol Alvarado in a special election runoff to replace the late state Senator Mario Gallegos.

Sylvia Garcia took the oath of office for state senator on March 11,2013.

Sylvia Garcia served on the Criminal Justice, Intergovernmental Relations, Natural Resources and Economic Development, and Transportation committees.

Sylvia Garcia finished third in the five-way primary behind City Councilman Ben Reyes and State Senator Gene Green.

Sylvia Garcia is the first Hispanic to represent a significant portion of Houston in Congress.

On January 15,2020, Sylvia Garcia was selected as one of seven House impeachment managers who presented the impeachment case against President Donald Trump during his trial before the United States Senate.

Sylvia Garcia was among the 46 Democrats who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.

In 2024, Sylvia Garcia publicly asked CenterPoint Energy why more than 1 million Houston residents were without power following the impact of Hurricane Beryl.