Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti could be next US envoy to India

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who was once tipped to be in President Joe Biden’s cabinet, could be the next US ambassador to India, ET has learnt.

A member of the Democratic Party, Garcetti was first elected in the 2013 election, and re-elected in 2017. He was elected as the youngest mayor in over 100 years, having been 42 at the time of his inauguration.

Garcetti, who served as the co-chair of Biden's presidential campaign, was initially considered for the Cabinet. However, his chances diminished after a sexual harassment lawsuit against one of his former aides, Rick Jacobs, according to a report in US news portal Axios.


The White House is still finishing the vetting process for potential ambassadors, including Garcetti. The Los Angeles Mayor is favourably disposed towards India and is ‘very positive’ on India, highly placed sources told ET. Garcetti has worked closely with Indian diplomatic missions in the USA to promote ties.

A former member of the Los Angeles City Council, Garcetti served as City Council President from 2006 to 2012. He is the city's first elected Jewish mayor, and its second consecutive Mexican- American mayor. Prior to his election to the Los Angeles City Council, Garcetti was a visiting instructor of international affairs at the University of Southern California, and an assistant professor of diplomacy and world affairs at Occidental College.