Garcia graduated in 1982 from Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, where he participated in the Close Up Washington civic education program.

Garcia attended Miami-Dade Community College before earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and public affairs from the University of Miami in 1987.

[3] In 2009, Garcia joined the Obama administration in a Senate-confirmed position as director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact in the United States Department of Energy.

During his tenure at the energy department, Garcia was appointed by President Obama to the Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status.

In his campaign announcement, Garcia stated he would focus on job creation, funding education and health care as his top priorities.

In addition to several state probes, Rivera was the target of a federal investigation into allegations he tried to sabotage the Democratic primary in the 26th by secretly funding an unknown candidate, Justin Lamar Sternad, in hopes of avoiding a rematch against García.

In May 2013, Garcia's chief-of-staff and top political strategist went to jail after being implicated in a sophisticated scheme to manipulate the previous year’s primary elections by submitting hundreds of fraudulent absentee-ballot requests.

[15][better source needed] Garcia joined other Cuban lawmakers in submitting a letter to the State Department calling for Cuba to remain a designated state-sponsor of terrorism.

[17] Garcia supported the application of a Havana-based research institute to get a license from the U.S. Treasury Department to test and market a diabetes treatment in the United States.

Critics claim the license could weaken the embargo and could eventually lead to giving Cuba access to American markets without political reform.

Garcia is the chief sponsor in the House of Representatives of a comprehensive immigration reform plan[25] which is similar to legislation that has passed the United States Senate.

If enacted, the plan would create a pathway to legalized permanent residency for millions of undocumented aliens living and working in the United States.

[citation needed] In January 2014, Garcia proposed legislation that would halt flood insurance rate hikes for five years.

[26] The Miami Herald reported that the bill would apply to all "property owners covered by the National Florida Insurance Program, and provides the greatest relief to those hardest hit—including an estimated 47,000 in Miami-Dade County.

[27] Arrojo had spent thousands of dollars on mailers and a $10,440 qualifying fee without having ever filed the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission.

[27][30][31] In February 2013, the Miami Herald began reporting about "high-tech" hackers who had managed to make fraudulent ballot requests for the August 2012 primary election.

[37] In 2021, Garcia became a lobbyist on behalf of the government of Ethiopia as part of Mercury Public Affairs, a lobbying firm owned by Omnicom Group.