Garcia was elected to the Chicago City Council in 1986, and in 1992 became the first Mexican-American member of the Illinois State Senate. In 2010, Garcia won election to the 7th district Cook County Board of Commissioners, and after his election was appointed floor leader by Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle. A progressive and a reformer, García is a Preckwinkle ally and was a supporter of former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington.