A Santa Clarita resident and U.S. Navy veteran has chosen to run as a Democratic candidate to represent California’s 25th Congressional District against incumbent Congressman Mike Garcia.
In broad strokes, John Quaye Quartey, II shares a remarkably similar background to Garcia. Both are first-generation Americans, both served as active-duty members of the United States Navy (Garcia as a fighter pilot and Quartey as an intelligence officer) and both returned home to work in business.
In contrast to established Republican Garcia, Quartey is running as a Democrat. His campaign is inspired by the United States Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, according to Quartey.
“In the twenty years I spent serving my country as a Naval intelligence officer, I never thought I would have to confront the same anti-democratic forces I faced overseas, right here at home,” Quartey said in his campaign announcement. “Mike Garcia voted to overturn the results of a democratic election, betraying the oath he and I both took to protect and defend our country and constitution. We simply can’t afford to let him serve another term in Congress.”
Quartey’s father immigrated from Ghana and became a chemist, raising Quartey and his four siblings “to have a strong work ethic, value teamwork, and give back to their community.”
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While attending U.S. Naval Academy, he played varsity football and ran track until graduation, when Quartey was commissioned as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy.
Quartey served in combat in Kosovo and Iraq while also supporting counterterrorism and cyberwarfare operations around the globe, according to his campaign website.
During his active service, Quartey spearheaded intelligence operations on five continents before serving as a military diplomat in France, and then Central Africa, where he commanded special forces to combat ISIS-inspired terrorists and protect American interests abroad, officials said.
After 20 years of active-duty military service, Quartey honorably retired at the rank of Commander. Upon returning home to California he earned a Master’s degree in Business Management at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
“Combining his military experience with his passion for giving back, Quartey started and runs a small business whose mission is to grow other small businesses that serve working families in their communities,” reads the campaign website.
Quartey lives in Santa Clarita with his wife, Nancy, and their two children, ages 9 and 11.
To learn more about Quartey, visit his website and follow his campaign on Twitter and Facebook.
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