The U.S. House of Representatives has a new supporter of a public option for health insurance in the recently-elected John Garamendi.

John Garamendi

Garamendi, California’s lieutenant governor and the state’s former insurance commissioner, won Northern California’s 10th Congressional District special election Nov. 3, with 53% of the vote. He was sworn in as a member of Congress Nov. 5.

From 1991 to 1995, Garamendi served as California’s first elected insurance commissioner, before being named U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Interior. In 2002, he returned to the insurance department, where he served until 2007.

During his latter term, Garamendi reduced homeowner, auto and workers’ compensation rates and strengthened the department’s fraud efforts, according to his campaign.

Following his victory, Garamendi said he plans to “hit the ground running” in Congress and looks “forward to casting a vote for comprehensive health care reform that includes the public option, helping to enact President Obama’s vision for America.”