Who Is Tyler?

Tyler Vandenberg: public servant, devoted Californian, and strident opponent of the Trump Administration. A passionate outdoorsman, Tyler is running to defend the California he loves: one of beautiful wilderness, great diversity, and care for our natural and cultural heritage — diligently maintained and kept accessible for all of us.

 

Tyler has lived many places and led many lives, providing him with a wide variety of firsthand experience which have shaped his views. As a young man, Tyler set out on his own path in life almost immediately, working two restaurant jobs at a time in the San Francisco Bay Area just to make rent. After being admitted to American University, Tyler moved across the country to Washington, DC, where he lived for a time and worked in programs to protect human rights and democracy around the world. Always sustaining himself by working throughout his studies, Tyler graduated from American and followed a lifelong ambition, seeking an officer's commission in the United States Marine Corps.

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Graduating from Officer Candidate School in 2018, Tyler served in several roles. Initially trained as one of the Marine Corps' select few Tank Officers, Tyler served aboard Camp Pendleton, just outside San Diego. As the Marine Corps divested itself of its tank units, Tyler was part of that change and was afforded the opportunity to change jobs, eventually transitioning to his new role as an Intelligence Officer. Serving as a Marine reshaped and redefined Tyler's life, instilling an ethos of servant leadership and the values of honor, courage, and commitment which he carries with him every day.

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Tyler's service in the Marine Corps changed his life and offered many incredible opportunities, including time in Virginia, Georgia, California, Hawaii, New Jersey, and eventually in Germany, where he spent nearly two years working at Headquarters, United States Africa Command in Stuttgart. In this role, Tyler was afforded the unusual chance for a junior officer to see America's relationship with its partners and allies up close. After living and working alongside the German people and many other nationalities, Tyler came home with firsthand experience of America's influence in the world, as well as a deep personal belief in the value of America's alliances and standing by our friends overseas.

 

On returning from Germany, Tyler was offered the chance to study for a Master in Public Policy degree at the Harvard Kennedy School. Using his GI Bill to pay his way through, Tyler studied hard to learn the lessons of effective policymaking and how to be a better public servant. After his time overseas in the Marine Corps and across the country for graduate school, Tyler has come home to California to apply the lessons of his life and career to what he cares about most: protecting what is best about our state and our way of life.

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Tyler's road to running for office was not linear, but after the 2024 election he became increasingly convinced of the need for action. Tyler found himself opposed to nearly every move by the GOP: partisan attacks against California, cuts to wildland firefighters and parks staff, efforts to slash Medicaid, attempts to restrict voting and privatize the U.S. Postal Service, and threats against America's closest allies, to name just a few. After months of growing outrage, upon hearing about Republican efforts to sell the National Forests as part of President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, Tyler decided he'd had enough. Recognizing that the GOP would not stop unless they were forced to, Tyler resolved to become part of the solution by stepping into the ring and running for Congress himself. Committed to representing every single resident of the California 3rd and serving as a Congressman Who Listens, Tyler aims not just to oppose the GOP's cuts and misconduct — Tyler aims to push forward legislation to make California affordable again while protecting our homes, families, and public lands.

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Tyler Vandenberg wants to be your representative for the California 3rd because he believes that a stronger America and a better California is possible. A Democrat Who Fights; A Congressman Who Listens — Tyler looks forward to working to earn your trust and support.​

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No part of this biography or any other component of Tyler Vandenberg's campaign for U.S. Congress should be construed as an endorsement by the United States Marine Corps, the Department of Defense, or any other part of the United States Government. The Department of Defense nor the United States Marine Corps or any other DOD component do not approve, endorse, or authorize this campaign.