Peter Rey Aguilar is an American politician who has served as chair of the House Democratic Caucus since 2023 and has represented a California Inland Empire district in the U.S. House since 2015. After the 2020 redistricting cycle, his seat was renumbered to California's 33rd Congressional District.
Aguilar was born June 19, 1979, in Fontana and grew up in San Bernardino. He attended the University of Redlands, studying government and business administration, before beginning his career in public service inside California state government and local politics.
He entered local office in Redlands, first on the city council and later serving as mayor from 2010 to 2014. In Congress, Aguilar has focused on district-relevant infrastructure, immigration, veterans issues, and public safety, while building a leadership profile that emphasizes caucus cohesion and pragmatic governance.
Moderate Democrat
Committee Assignments
Caucus Memberships
Achievements
- Elevated into the top tier of House Democratic leadership as chair of the House Democratic Caucus, becoming one of the party's most visible messengers in the chamber.
- Built a profile on district-level infrastructure, transportation, and disaster-recovery funding for Inland Empire communities.
- Participated in high-salience institutional work after January 6, including public-facing messaging on democratic stability and the peaceful transfer of power.
- Focused legislative lanes on veterans services, small-business support, and pragmatic immigration reforms.
- Recognized as the highest-ranking Latino in Congress, expanding representation in leadership and internal caucus decision-making.
Controversies
- Criticized from the left for a comparatively cautious posture on certain antitrust and corporate-regulation fights relative to progressive colleagues.
- Targeted by Republicans as part of House Democratic leadership they frame as out of touch with swing-district priorities.
- Scrutinized by activists for fundraising connections to finance, defense, and health-care interests that intersect with committee jurisdiction.
- Navigates periodic intra-caucus tension between leadership strategy and progressive demands in must-pass votes.
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Israel Public Affairs Cmte | $620,903 | $610,903 | $10,000 |
| Wells Fargo | $51,300 | $41,300 | $10,000 |
| General Atomics | $44,600 | $34,600 | $10,000 |
| JStreetPAC | $39,350 | $35,850 | $3,500 |
| DaVita Inc | $36,800 | $26,800 | $10,000 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.