 Garcia first entered politics in 2004, when she was elected as governor by 7,000 votes to succeed her father.Three years later, in 2007, she was reelected overwhelmingly, obtaining a lead of 500,000 votes.In 2010, she defeated Hilario Davide III, son of former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., for a third and final term by almost 100,000 votes.