Gil Cisneros

BIO: Gil Cisneros is a Democrat representing California’s 39th congressional district. The former Navy lieutenant commander and lottery winner was sworn into office on Jan. 3, 2019.

Cisneros is the son of a Vietnam veteran and continued the family tradition of military service by graduating from college on an ROTC scholarship and then spending 10 years in the Navy, working his way up to the rank of lieutenant commander. He was part of Operation Desert Shield during the Gulf War.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from George Washington University, an MBA from Regis University and a master’s degree in urban education policy from Brown University. After his service, Cisneros briefly worked for Frito-Lay as a shipping and production manager.

In 2010, he won the California Lottery Mega Millions jackpot, which was worth $266 million. He and his wife used those winnings to open the Gilbert and Jacki Cisneros Foundation, which helps students and veterans get affordable access to a college education.