Daniel Morales
From Usgovsimulation
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| Congressman, CA-53 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In Office: 2020 - Present | ||||
| Preceded by | Susan Davis (D) | |||
| Succeeded by | Incumbent | |||
| County of San Diego Supervisor | ||||
| In Office: 2016 - 2020 | ||||
| Preceded by | Jerry Sanders | |||
| Succeeded by | George Stevens | |||
| Member of the City Council of San Diego | ||||
| In Office: 2014 - 2016 | ||||
| Preceded by | David Brown | |||
| Succeeded by | Antonio Santos | |||
| United States Marine Corps (Major, ret.) | ||||
| In Office: 1996 - 2013 | ||||
| Preceded by | n/a | |||
| Succeeded by | n/a | |||
| Born | 28 September 1978 San Antonio, Texas | |||
| Political Party | Democrat | |||
| Spouse | Keri Morales (neé Jackson) 1998 - 2013 (deceased) | |||
| Children | Matthew Enrique Morales (born 2006), Isabel Maria Morales (born 2009) | |||
| Profession | U.S. Marine | |||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | |||
Daniel Jose Morales (born 28 September 1978) is a United States politician currently serving as Congressman for California's 53rd congressional district and Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and Armed Services. He previously served as San Diego County Supervisor and member of the San Diego City Council after having served seventeen years in the United States Marine Corps.
Contents |
Career Overview
Political
- 2021 - Present Congressman for California's 53rd Congressional District
- 2021 - Present Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and Armed Services
- 2021 - Present Member of the House Standing Committee on Health and Education
- 2017 - 2020 Chairman of the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors
- 2016 - 2020 County of San Diego Supervisor
- 2014 - 2016 Member of the City Council of San Diego
Military Ranks (United States Marine Corps)
- Major - July 1, 2012
- Capt. - August 1, 2006
- 1st Lt. - June 2, 2002
- 2nd Lt. - June 2, 2000
Battles/Wars
- Operation Enduring Freedom
- Operation Iraqi Freedom
Education
- Bachelor of Science, Political Science - United States Naval Academy
- Master of Arts, National Security and Decision Making - United States Naval War College
Biography
Daniel Jose Morales, a Roman-Catholic, was born in San Antonio, Texas on September 28, 1978. One of seven children born to Luis and Maria Morales - both second generation immigrants from Mexico and Cuba respectively. Luis Morales was a barber, while Maria Morales was a domestic servant. The family moved to San Diego, California in 1984.
Morales was married to Keri Morales (neé Jackson) for fifteen years (1998 - 2013) until Keri lost her fight with cancer. They have two children, Matthew Enrique Morales (born 2006) and Isabela Maria Morales (born 2009).
Morales attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, graduating at the top of his class. At Annapolis, he played football until he injured his knee. He was the first member of his family to attend and graduate from college. He was commissioned as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, ultimately achieving the rank of Major. Morales qualified as a combat pilot, and saw action during the Second Gulf War. Upon retiring from active duty in 2013 he served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves.
Morales was elected to the San Diego City Council in 2014, where he served for two years until his election to the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors in 2016. He served for four years on the Board and served as Chairman of the Board for three years. Throughout his career in San Diego politics Morales showed a special interest in improving education and health care. As Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Morales played an integral part in the creation of a new housing assistance program to make rent more affordable for San Diego residents. Morales was then elected to the United States House of Representatives during the 2020 general elections representing California's 53rd congressional district. Upon his election he was chosen to chair the House Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and Armed Services of the 117th Congress.
Family
Daniel Jose Morales was married to Keri Morales (neé Jackson) for fifteen years. The couple had met in Annapolis when Morales attended the Naval Academy and married in 1998 and moved to San Diego after Morales graduated from the Academy. Their first child Matthew Enrique Morales was born March 4, 2006 at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego. Isabela Maria Morales, the couple's second child was born August 19, 2009 also at Alvarado Hospital. Keri Morales was born in Michigan but grew up in Annapolis, her father serving in the United States Navy. She attended college in Annapolis and San Diego. In early 2013 Keri Morales suddenly was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died three months later.
The Morales family has its roots in Cuba and Mexico. Luis Morales was born in San Antonio, son of Mexican immigrants in 1951. His father owned a small barbershop while his mother worked as domestic servant in a local hotel. It was at his father's barbershop that Luis learned his future profession. Luis Morales has three brothers and two sisters. In 1970 he met Maria Perez, daughter of Cuban immigrants. The couple married in 1971. Maria was born in 1953 in Miami and moved to San Antonio with her family in 1961. Her father was a factory worker struggling to feed six children. The Perez family had left Cuba prior to the beginning of the Cuban revolution. Arturo Perez, Maria's father, had been persecuted by the Batista regime. Eventually after the Revolution three of Maria's siblings, as well as her parent's returned to Cuba. Not a year later, however, Arturo Perez was arrested and executed in Havana, having been accused of having conspired with the very Batista regime which had once persecuted him. While his widow remained in Havana afterwards, two of the three Perez children which had left America a year later made an escape back to the United States.
Daniel Morales grew up with six siblings, two brothers and four sisters. Juan-Carlos (born 1971) and Esteban (born 1980) still live in San Diego. Juan Carlos Morales works as a mechanic, owning three garages. Esteban joined the U.S. Air-force after high school. Maria Loreana (born 1974) and her twin Natali (born 1974) also remained in San Diego. Maria Loreana works at a day care facility while Natali works as a sales manager for a department store. Sophia (born 1979) left San Diego after high school and followed in her brother's footsteps to attend university. She attended the University of San Diego and later the University of Miami School of Law. She remained in Miami after graduation working as an immigration lawyer dealing mainly with Cuban refugees. The youngest of the seven Morales children, Lauren (born 1982), works as legal assistant for Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in New York.
Personal Life
Morales is a vivid football (soccer) fan and a supporter of the Mexican and U.S. national teams. He is also a vivid basketball fan and supporter of the Los Angeles Lakers. He enjoys literature, particularly Hemingway, cigars and whiskey. His daughter Isabela enjoys horseback riding while Matthew shares his father's passion for football (soccer) and basketball.
One of Morales' closest friends is Isabel McCree, daughter of former New York Congressman Daniel McCree, who also worked as his communications director during his campaign and serves as Chief of Staff to Congressman Morales his election to Congress. There have been repeated rumors about the two being more than just friends, particularly in regard to Isabel's close relationship to the Congressman's children. Both have repeatedly refused to comment on the matter.
Election Results
| Election Result for California Congressional Election, 2020 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Status | % | |||
| Republican | Jodi Stallworth | Challenger | 41.43% | |||
| Democratic | Daniel Jose Morales | Challenger | 58.04% | |||
| Election Result for County of San Diego Supervisor, 2016 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Status | % | |||
| Republican | Donald Huntley | Challenger | 42.43% | |||
| Democratic | Daniel Jose Morales | Challenger | 57.04% | |||
| Election Result for San Diego City Council, 2014 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Status | % | |||
| Republican | David Brown | Incumbent | 46.43% | |||
| Democratic | Daniel Jose Morales | Challenger | 52.92% | |||
