Long Beach, CA — Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia announced his endorsement of Vice Mayor Rex Richardson in the race to succeed him as Long Beach’s next Mayor.
“I’m proud to join Planned Parenthood, our Firefighters and Nurses, and the Democratic Party in endorsing Vice Mayor Rex Richardson for Mayor,” stated Mayor Garcia. “For the last eight years, Rex has been a partner and a collaborative leader who gets results. He’s ready on day one to take on our biggest challenges: homelessness, public safety, and protecting the civil rights of all people. He’s going to be a Mayor for all of Long Beach.”
Mayor Garcia has served the City of Long Beach as its Mayor since 2014 and was re-elected in 2018. He took a leadership role in putting Long Beach at the forefront of economic development, sustainability, and investing in technology. Garcia was recognized nationally for spearheading Long Beach’s efforts to tackle COVID-19 and increase access to mobile testing and vaccinations.
“I’m honored to have Mayor Robert Garcia’s endorsement and am grateful for his confidence in my ability to lead the City of Long Beach,” stated Vice Mayor Richardson. “I’ve worked with Mayor Garcia to tackle Long Beach’s biggest challenges such as moving the unhoused into shelter and reducing emergency response times. With Mayor Garcia’s support, I will continue delivering results for Long Beach families as our next Mayor.”
Since launching his campaign on January 3, 2022, Vice Mayor Richardson built a broad coalition of support from the Democratic Party, Labor, Environmental, and Women’s Rights organizations, and community leaders from nearly every corner of Long Beach.
In the primary, Vice Mayor Richardson finished in first place, earning 44% of the vote and dominated in seven out of Long Beach’s nine council districts. His priorities include addressing homelessness, protecting neighborhood health and public safety, investing in opportunities for youth, and confronting the effects of climate change.
About Long Beach Vice Mayor Rex Richardson
Rex Richardson is a Long Beach City Councilmember and regional leader with a proven track record of collaboration and problem solving that has helped improve the lives of Long Beach residents.
Throughout his life, Richardson has overcome tough odds. A son of working-class parents, Richardson’s father served our country in the Air Force, and his mother––a child of the South who integrated her school––worked as a union assembly line welder at General Motors. Richardson’s family fell on hard times when his parents divorced, exasperated by housing insecurity and deep poverty. With the help of public schools and youth opportunity programs, Richardson set on a path toward a better future. His and his mother’s hard work culminated in Richardson’s college acceptance, opening the door to a life different than he had experienced growing up. After serving as the Student Body President of Cal State Dominguez Hills, Richardson became a community organizer with SEIU Local 721, helping blue-collar workers in South Los Angeles County. At age 25, he bought his first home in North Long Beach, the first in his family to own real estate. Soon after, he began serving as Chief of Staff to Councilmember Steve Neal. Seeking to create greater change, Richardson won his City Council race in 2014 with 73% of the vote, making history as Long Beach’s youngest member ever to serve. Richardson quickly established himself as a collaborative leader and change agent, seeking to provide equitable investment and opportunities for the members of his community. He was re-elected to his position in 2018, and his peers chose him to serve as Long Beach’s Vice Mayor twice.
Richardson is the Immediate Past President of the Southern California Association of Governments and currently serves as a South Coast Air Quality Management District Board Member.
He and his wife, Nina Richardson, Ed.D., are homeowners in North Long Beach, where they reside with their two young daughters.