
The California Congressman Robert Garcia made history as Long Beach’s first openly gay and Latino Mayor.
He has been serving as the U.S. representative for California’s 42nd congressional district since 2023.
Robert has made significant strides in both his personal and professional life. And his husband, who is a political science professor, is someone who gives him more political advice than anyone else.
Who Is Robert Garcia’s Husband?
Robert Garcia’s husband is Matthew Mendez, now known as Matthew Mendez Garcia.
He is a distinguished academic and professor of political science at California State University, Long Beach.
Matthew, who is a graduate of the University of Southern California, has dedicated his career to the study of politics, immigration, and state legislatures. He graduated with his PhD in political science from USC in May 2015.
Before that, Matthew attended San José State University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
Matthew was born on August 23, 1985, and is currently at the age of 39. He is 8 years younger than his husband Robert as Robert is 47 years old, as of writing.
Matthew came out to his family and friends when he was 18 years old. He has an older brother and a fraternal twin brother.
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Robert Garcia and Matthew Mendez Relationship Details
Robert and Matthew’s love story began on July 4, 2008, at a gay nightclub in West Hollywood called The Factory.
The congressman was there by himself while Matthew stopped at the club with a friend while they were driving to San Diego.
It was an unexpected meeting where both of them caught each other’s eyes and started talking. The couple danced together and exchanged phone numbers.

The attraction was so strong that they eventually began dating. Robert and Matthew then got engaged 9 years after they first met.
The couple dined in a private room on the Queen Mary where Robert got down on one knee and proposed to his longtime partner.
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Robert and Matthew got married on December 22, 2018, at the historic First Congregation Church at Cedar Avenue and Third Street in the presence of around 700 guests.
The couple doesn’t have any children, as of writing, but they have plans to have a family of their own.
Robert has revealed that they want to adopt at some point. They now have an orange tabby cat, Tommy, who is named after Robert’s high school best friend.
Robert doesn’t talk much about his married life but he is very vocal about his relationship with his husband. He even posts pictures with his partner on social media.
On Valentine’s Day in 2020, Robert marked their 10 years of togetherness and wished Valentine’s Day to his husband and partner, M