[5] Gorell, a Navy Reserve officer, is notable for being the first California legislator called to active duty since World War II.

Gorell is the grandson of a Seabee who served in Guam during World War II and the son of a career naval officer and Vietnam veteran.

[11] Before his election to the California State Assembly, Gorell was a regional public affairs firm co-owner, Paladin Principle LLC, based in Ventura County.

He was also a member of the California Lutheran University faculty, teaching undergraduate and graduate-level politics and public policy as an adjunct professor.

[10] From 1993 to 1996, Gorell served as an advisor, writer, and deputy press secretary to former California Governor Pete Wilson, working to develop the administration's message on such state policy changes as "Three Strikes," state welfare reform, manufacturers' investment tax credits, "Megan's Law," and class size reduction.

He advocated before the legislature and Capitol press corps for pro-business legislation in the areas of taxes, regulations, workers compensation, tort reform, and trade law.

[17] Just before the November 2 general election, Gorell announced that he was being mobilized for duty by the United States Navy Reserve and deployed to Afghanistan on March 18, 2011.

[20][21] In early 2014, he introduced paperwork to begin a ballot measure that would end the high-speed rail development in California, arguing that "California cannot afford to pay for a high-speed train system that will cost more than $100 billion at a time when prisoners are being released from prisons and taxpayers are being asked to dig deeper into their own pockets to pay for basic service.

[23] In November 2013, Gorell announced he would challenge Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Julia Brownley for California's 26th congressional district, based in Ventura County.

"[27] According to Stuart Rothenberg of Roll Call, Gorell is a "self-described moderate Republican": pro-choice, believes the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional, and supports immigration reform, including paths to citizenship for those already here.