Brian P. Bilbray (R-Calif.)

Bilbray's family returned to southern California and he graduated from high school in Imperial Beach. He spent some time at community college, but left to travel the country on a motorcycle for a year-and-a-half.

Returning to Imperial Beach and becoming a lifeguard, Bilbray began his political career at age 24, joining the Imperial Beach City Council in 1974. He hoped he could do more to combat the drug-dealing problem on the pier.

Two years later, he became the city's mayor. Though he comes from a family of Democrats, he remained independent until 1980, joining the GOP after being frustrated with sewage issues from the Tijuana River. From 1984 to 1994, he sat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

First Congressional Stint (1995-2001)

In 1994, Bilbray challenged first-term Rep. Lynn Schenk (D-Calif.). Bilbray ran against "Liberal Lynn," attacking her on crime and taxes and positioning himself as a Washington outsider. He won the seat 49 to 46 percent.

Though the district tilts Republican, Bilbray's next two elections remained close; he won in 1996 and 1998 with 53 and 49 percent of the vote, respectively.

Following the 1998 election, Bilbray blamed the Republican march to impeach President Bill Clinton for their "right-wing jargon" that turned off mainstream Americans. In December 1998, Bilbray voted in favor of impeachment acknowledging he was taking "a huge political risk" because Clinton was popular in his district. "The day is coming-either by my own will or the force of the voters-that I'm going to be leaving office," he said.

In 2000, Bilbray was defeated by four percentage points Democrat Susan Davis, a state assemblywoman, in a race marked by record fundraising up until that point and high-profile campaigning by President Clinton on behalf of Davis and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for Bilbray.

Before becoming a lobbyist, Bilbray worked one year in the Bush administration focusing on immigration issues. He was the co-chairman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, pushing for immigration limits and tougher border controls.

Return to Congress (2006-Present)

After then-Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.) resigned in December 2005 following his conviction on conspiracy and tax-evasion charges, an April 2006 special election was called for California's 50th Congressional District. Bilbray announced he would run for the seat before Cunningham resigned.

Democrat Francine Busby came in first with 44 percent of the vote, short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff. Sixteen Republicans split the rest of the vote, with Bilbray leading with 15 percent of ballots cast, giving him the GOP nomination for the runoff.

The National Republican Congressional Committee spent $5 million Bilbray's behalf. Bilbray ran on an anti-immigration platform and won the seat with slightly less than 50 percent of the vote.

Bilbray's subsequent elections were also close. He defeated Busby, 53 to 44 percent, in November 2006. He held off political newcomer Nick Leibham (D) 50 to 45 percent in 2008, despite the Democrat's criticism of Bilbray's support for the $700-billion financial bailout that fall.

Bilbray sits on three House committees: Oversight and Government Reform, Veteran's Affairs, and Science and Technology.

Show less