Josh Becker (politician)
{{short description|California politician}}
{{BLP primary sources|date=September 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Josh Becker
|image = Josh Becker.jpg
|state_senate = California State
|district = 13th
|predecessor = Jerry Hill
|successor =
|term_start = December 7, 2020
|term_end =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|4|13}}
|birth_place = Villanova, Pennsylvania, U.S.
|death_place =
|death_date =
|party = Democratic
|spouse = Jonna
|children = 2
|education = Williams College (BA)
Stanford University (JD, MBA)
}}
Josh Becker (April 13, 1969) is an American politician currently in the California State Senate. He is a Democrat representing the 13th Senate District, which encompasses most of San Mateo County and part of Santa Clara County. Prior to being elected to the State Senate in November 2020, he was initiator of the Full Circle community organization and the CEO of Lex Machina.{{Cite web|title=Biography|url=https://sd13.senate.ca.gov/biography|access-date=December 20, 2020|website=Senator Josh Becker|language=en}}
Early life and education
Becker attended Williams College and Stanford University. During his time as a Stanford student, he cofounded a program called the Stanford Board Fellows, which trained students to serve in local nonprofit organizations and in social progress. He graduated from the university with a JD–MBA degree in 1999.
Career
A year after he graduated from the university, Becker established the Full Circle community organization. The organization funds nonprofit and supported policy innovations and community organizations in economic opportunity, education, environmental sustainability and health.
Becker was appointed as part of the California State Workforce Development Board and Child Care Partnership Council in San Mateo County by California Governor Jerry Brown. He served seven years on the board and council.
After his father's death from brain cancer, Becker founded a biotech company for cancer cure research. Becker also founded New Cycle Capital. He joined Lex Machina in 2011 and as its CEO, he made the company into a nationally recognized platform. In 2020, he found a legal tech accelerator that supported legal and public policy system innovators.
= California State Senate =
Becker was elected to the California State Senate in the 2020 California State Senate election. He was sworn into office on December 7, 2020, replacing Jerry Hill, who was termed out.{{Cite web|last=Shelley|first=Senate Photographer Lorie|title=Josh Becker takes the Oath of Office|url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/josh-becker-takes-the-oath-of-office/image_f6d600ae-3908-11eb-b03d-db1591b3ec5d.html|access-date=December 20, 2020|website=San Mateo Daily Journal|date=December 8, 2020 |language=en}}
Becker appointed Bryan King as his chief of staff and Nicole Fernandez as his district director.{{Cite web|date=November 23, 2020|title=State Sen.-elect Becker names two top staffers|url=https://padailypost.com/2020/11/23/state-sen-elect-becker-names-two-top-staffers/|access-date=December 20, 2020|website=Palo Alto Daily Post|language=en-US}}
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Becker supported prioritizing teachers, early childhood educators and child care providers for early access to COVID-19 vaccinations, immediately after health care workers and vulnerable seniors.{{Cite web|last=staff|first=Austin Walsh Daily Journal|title=Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo: Teachers should be vaccinated|url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/sen-josh-becker-d-san-mateo-teachers-should-be-vaccinated/article_c6cccb58-3c2e-11eb-a7d5-27e4adcf3e6d.html|access-date=December 20, 2020|website=San Mateo Daily Journal|date=December 12, 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Sheeler|first=Andrew|title=Child care workers should be prioritized for COVID vaccines, lawmakers tell Gavin Newsom|url= https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article248019180.html|access-date=December 22, 2020|website=Sacramento Bee|language=en}}
Becker is a member of the Senate Climate Workgroup and has authored multiple climate action bills, including one that would require more frequent reporting by electricity providers on energy sources, another that would establish an earlier net zero goal for state agencies, and a few bills aimed at facilitating electrification.{{Cite web |last=staff |first=Corey Browning Daily Journal |title=Josh Becker climate bills clear Senate |url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/josh-becker-climate-bills-clear-senate/article_07633510-de38-11ec-b557-d7a9c6a8058b.html |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=San Mateo Daily Journal |date=May 28, 2022 |language=en}}
= Possible Congressional candidacy =
After the retirement of Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Becker has stated that he may be a candidate to succeed her in the United States House of Representatives.{{Cite news |title=Former SJ mayor becomes 2nd person to file papers for 16th Dist. congressional seat |url=https://news.yahoo.com/former-sj-mayor-becomes-2nd-014736281.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231205032621/https://news.yahoo.com/former-sj-mayor-becomes-2nd-014736281.html |archive-date=2023-12-05 |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=Yahoo News |language=en-US}} On December 6, 2023, Becker stated that he would seek reelection to the state Senate.{{Cite web |title=MSN |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/state-sen-josh-becker-not-running-for-eshoo-s-seat/ar-AA1l77S5 |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=www.msn.com}}
Elections
= 2020 State Senate Election =
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title=2020 California State Senate election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=California Democratic Party|candidate=Josh Becker|votes=66,428|percentage=23.8}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=California Republican Party|candidate=Alex Glew|votes=48,378|percentage=17.3}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=California Democratic Party|candidate=Sally Lieber|votes=47,773|percentage=16.9}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=California Democratic Party|candidate=Shelly Masur|votes=45,211|percentage=16.2}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=California Democratic Party|candidate=Annie Oliva|votes=33,311|percentage=11.9}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=California Democratic Party|candidate=Mike Brownrigg|votes=32,481|percentage=11.6}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=John Webster|votes=5,910|percentage=2.1}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=279,492|percentage=100.0}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=California Democratic Party|candidate=Josh Becker|votes=348,005|percentage=75.4}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=California Republican Party|candidate=Alex Glew|votes=113,315|percentage=24.6}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=461,320|percentage=100.0}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=California Democratic Party}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Official website|https://sd13.senate.ca.gov/}}
- {{Ballotpedia}}
- [http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/14714 Join California Josh Becker]
{{California State Senate}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Becker, Josh}}
Category:Democratic Party California state senators
Category:Stanford University alumni
Category:Williams College alumni
Category:People from Menlo Park, California
Category:Jewish American state legislators in California
Category:21st-century members of the California State Legislature