Unlike many career politicians, Cisneros didn’t need to claw his way back into politics for financial security or status. His lottery win had taken care of that. And while his early life and career might have pushed him in different directions, his motivation now was singular: he simply wanted to serve.
In the sprawling drama of American politics, few stories resonate quite like that of Gil Cisneros. His return to the U.S. House of Representatives stands as one of those rare political comebacks that defies the odds, driven by a complex mix of personal reinvention, unexpected fortune, and a sincere desire to serve. On a Tuesday night election, while headlines were dominated by larger-than-life figures and fiery rhetoric, Cisneros quietly made his way back to Congress—a journey that seems more suited for a Hollywood screenplay than a Capitol Hill office.
Cisneros’s story began in the heart of Los Angeles, where he was born to a family that had seen California through generations, dating back to when it was still part of Mexico. Raised by a mother who worked in a school cafeteria and a father who served in Vietnam, Cisneros learned resilience and grit from a young age. His father’s struggles after exposure to Agent Orange were formative, instilling in him both a sense of duty and a nuanced understanding of the struggles faced by veterans and working-class families alike.
After high school, Cisneros followed in his father’s footsteps, albeit in a different branch of service. He enlisted in the Navy, serving as a supply officer for over a decade, ultimately rising to the rank of lieutenant commander. This career in the military not only strengthened his values but also gave him an understanding of leadership and accountability that would serve him well in the years to come. Yet, after 11 years in uniform, he found himself facing the civilian world again, and life took an unexpected turn.
After his discharge, Cisneros found work with Frito-Lay as a shipping and manufacturing manager—a respectable job, but a role that did not hint at the momentous change awaiting him. In 2010, just weeks after he was laid off, Cisneros and his wife, Jacki, won a Mega Millions jackpot worth $266 million. Overnight, they became multimillionaires—a surreal twist of fate that forever altered their lives. Instead of slipping away quietly into a life of luxury, they embraced their fortune as a call to action. They became philanthropists, dedicating their newfound wealth to helping others, particularly Latino students hoping to break the cycle of poverty through education.
They established endowments at universities and launched Generation First Degree Pico Rivera, a foundation committed to ensuring every Latino family in Pico Rivera had at least one college graduate. The couple also launched the Gilbert and Jacki Cisneros Foundation with an initial investment of $20 million, creating a legacy of educational access and mentorship in underserved communities. This charitable spirit paved the way for Cisneros’s entry into the political arena; it was, he later explained, his experience in philanthropy and his desire to make a difference that inspired him to run for Congress.
In 2018, Cisneros’s political career truly began. Once a Republican, he had shifted his allegiance to the Democratic Party, a choice he described as a response to the GOP’s ideological rigidity and its attacks on healthcare reform. Inspired by his belief in the Affordable Care Act and a commitment to protecting veterans, Cisneros launched a campaign against then-Congressman Ed Royce. When Royce decided not to seek re-election, Cisneros’s race against Republican Young Kim became one of the most closely watched in the country.
Against the odds, and with a hefty price tag, Cisneros managed to secure the seat. He was part of the blue wave that restored Democratic control of the House in 2018, but his political honeymoon was short-lived. In 2020, he faced Young Kim again, only to lose by a margin of just 1.2%. This defeat might have been enough to dissuade anyone else, but for Cisneros, it only sharpened his resolve.
In the meantime, he received a nod from President Joe Biden, who appointed him as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness in 2021. In this role, Cisneros oversaw issues ranging from military recruitment and retention to personnel readiness—a job that combined his military background with his commitment to service. By 2023, however, his desire to represent his home district in Congress had rekindled. He stepped down from his Pentagon post in September and announced his candidacy for California’s 31st congressional district, seeking the seat of the retiring Grace Napolitano.
Cisneros’s return to the campaign trail came with the same sincerity and commitment that had defined his earlier run. Unlike many career politicians, Cisneros didn’t need to claw his way back into politics for financial security or status. His lottery win had taken care of that. And while his early life and career might have pushed him in different directions, his motivation now was singular: he simply wanted to serve.
One of the remarkable aspects of Cisneros’s story is how profoundly it differs from the stereotypical tale of wealth and ambition in politics. Here was a man who had literally won the lottery, been given a second chance, and rather than disappearing into the trappings of wealth, he opted to stay connected to the people and communities that had shaped him. He had learned, in a very real way, the value of reinvention—not for personal gain, but for public good.
In the final weeks leading up to Tuesday’s election, Cisneros campaigned tirelessly, leaning into his reputation as a man of the people and his ongoing commitment to educational and economic reform. Among Latino voters, who knew him well from his philanthropic work, his message resonated strongly. This time around, he had the support of veterans, working-class families, and community leaders alike, each seeing in him a steadfast ally.
As Cisneros steps back into Congress, he brings with him a lifetime of experience—a Navy veteran, a philanthropist, a former legislator, and now, a survivor of the high-stakes game of American politics. And his story offers a reminder that sometimes, the most inspiring public servants are the ones who know both the sting of loss and the sweetness of victory, who have tasted both defeat and comeback.
Gil Cisneros’s journey is not just a story of political resurgence; it’s a testament to the unexpected paths that bring people to serve, the twists of fate that shape destinies, and the belief that service to others is the highest calling. In an era where political theater often overshadows the real work of governance, Cisneros’s return signals something refreshing and grounded: a reminder that, for some, the desire to serve is real and deeply rooted in life experiences and a dedication to community, even when the stakes are high and the road is long.
In the end, it’s clear that Gil Cisneros didn’t need to be here, back in Congress, facing the whirlwind of American politics again. He could have been anywhere, surfing the coasts or quietly continuing his philanthropic work. Instead, he chose the harder path, the path that brought him back to the people who mattered most, a path filled with commitment, resilience, and a profound sense of purpose. And that, more than any victory or loss, might just be the real legacy he leaves behind.
TONY CASTRO, the former award-winning Los Angeles columnist and author, is a writer-at-large and the national political writer for LAMonthly. org. He is the author of the forthcoming novel The Book of Marilyn. He can be reached at tony@tonycastro.com.
