Elected as a Democrat in 2000, Garcia was re-elected three times to represent House District 42, which includes central Aurora, Colorado.

After graduation, Garcia received a fellowship from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to serve as a legislative assistant to Texas U.S. Representative Solomon P. Ortiz;[3] he worked in Washington, DC until 1999 before returning to Colorado.

[2] In 2004, after Democrats gained control of the state house, Garcia was elected Assistant Majority Leader, a post he held through 2008.

[11] Garcia also sponsored contentious legislation during the 2007 session to amend Colorado's labor laws to ease restrictions on the formation of closed shop unions.

[15] Garcia introduced legislation which revised rules surrounding real estate foreclosures, including forbidding consensual liens on foreclosed properties.

[17] Between the 2007 and 2008 legislative sessions, Garcia chaired the Interim Committee on Long-term Care Services and Supports for Persons with Developmental Disabilities.

More recently, Garcia was recognized by the Aurora Civitan as their "Man of the Year" and earned the Joe Schippicasse "Do the Right Thing" Award from the ARC of Pikes Peak for his work on behalf of the developmentally disabled community.

Garcia resigned from office on February 1, 2008 amid a scandal in which he was accused of sexual misconduct at a bar with a female lobbyist.