Josh Harder
{{Short description|American politician (born 1986)}}
{{for multi|the American politician in South Dakota|Josh Haeder|the American baseball player|Josh Hader}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Josh Harder
|image = Josh Harder, official portrait, 116th Congress (3x4 cropped).jpg
|caption = Official portrait
|state = California
|district =
|term_start = January 3, 2019
|term_end =
|predecessor = Jeff Denham
|successor =
| constituency = {{ushr|CA|10|10th district}} (2019–2023)
{{ushr|CA|9|9th district}} (2023–present)
|birth_name = Joshua Keck Harder
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|8|1}}
|birth_place = Turlock, California, U.S.
|residence = Tracy, California, U.S.
|party = Democratic
|spouse = {{marriage|Pamela Sud|2018}}
|children = 2
|education = Stanford University (BA)
Harvard University (MBA, MPP)
|website = {{url|harder.house.gov|House website}}
| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Josh Harder speaks in support of the recognition of the Assyrian Genocide.ogg|title=Josh Harder's voice|type=speech|description=Josh Harder speaks in support of the recognition of the Assyrian Genocide
Recorded July 29, 2021}}
}}
Joshua Keck Harder (born August 1, 1986) is an American politician and venture capital investor who has served as the U.S. representative for California's 9th congressional district since 2023, after serving the 10th district from 2019 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he first gained office in 2018 by defeating Republican incumbent Jeff Denham by five points.{{Cite news |last=Michael R. Blood |date=November 13, 2018 |title=Democrat Harder ousts California GOP US Rep. Denham |url=https://apnews.com/3443766d610046a2bd57b70d2c03c7ee |access-date=November 13, 2018 |publisher=Associated Press}} After the 2020 redistricting, he won reelection in the newly drawn 9th district, which covers the majority of San Joaquin County and includes Stockton, Tracy, and Manteca.{{Cite web |date=January 18, 2022 |title=Josh Harder announces reelection campaign for Jerry McNerney's seat in 9th District seat |url=https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/stockton/harder-reelection-for-ninth-district/103-711f1b0b-86a4-43e1-bddf-2790441efcca}}
Early life and education
Harder was born on August 1, 1986, in Turlock, California, in the Central Valley.{{Cite web |title=Harder, Josh |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/H001090 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress}} His great-great-grandfather settled nearby in Manteca, where he started a peach farm.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-21 |title=California's fall election could sway power in Congress. Here are House races to watch |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-09-21/2022-california-election-congressional-races-to-watch |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Harder attended Modesto High School,{{Cite news |title=Josh Harder — Tracy Press-Patterson Irrigator candidate questionnaire |url=http://www.goldenstatenewspapers.com/tracy_press/josh-harder-tracy-press-patterson-irrigator-candidate-questionnaire/article_56ab57c0-4f34-11e8-80a0-1f3c0a2e2d83.html |access-date=November 11, 2018 |work=Golden State Newspapers |language=en}} and during that time, he interned for then state senator Jeff Denham. He went on to attend Stanford University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2008. He later obtained a joint Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Policy from Harvard Business School and the Kennedy School of Government.
Private career
In 2014, Bessemer Venture Partners hired Harder in its New York office. He moved to San Francisco two years later and became a vice president of the company.{{Cite news |date=May 5, 2017 |title=Internal Affairs: Central Valley Rep. Jeff Denham gets a new challenger |language=en-US |work=The Mercury News |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/05/05/josh-harder-congress-jeff-denham-health-care/ |access-date=November 18, 2018}} In 2017, Harder left Bessemer to campaign full-time. He moved back to Turlock{{Cite news |title=Denham calls opponent 'Bay Area Harder' — but he spends time and money at the coast, too |language=en |work=Modesto Bee |url=https://www.modbee.com/news/politics-government/election/article219075830.html |access-date=November 18, 2018}}{{Cite web |last=Merica |first=Dan |date=May 30, 2018 |title=A beekeeper and a venture capitalist are among candidates facing off to turn this California district blue |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/30/politics/california-10-race-beekeeper-venture-capitalist/index.html |access-date=October 25, 2018 |publisher=CNN}}{{Cite web |last=Palmeri |first=Christopher |date=October 9, 2018 |title=Can a Rural California Republican Survive the Midterms? |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-09/california-farm-country-to-test-gop-appeal-amid-anti-trump-mood |access-date=November 18, 2018 |website=Bloomberg News}} and taught business at Modesto Junior College.{{Cite web |last=Stapley |first=Garth |date=November 6, 2018 |title=CA election results: Denham winning against Harder |url=https://www.modbee.com/news/politics-government/election/article221049015.html |access-date=November 10, 2018 |publisher=The Modesto Bee}}
U.S. House of Representatives
= Elections =
== 2018 ==
{{See also|2018 United States House of Representatives elections in California#District 10|label 1=2018 California's 10th congressional district election}}
File:California_US_Congressional_District_10_(since_2013).tif (2013–2023), including Modesto and Tracy in the Central Valley]]
In May 2017, Harder announced his candidacy, joining three other Democrats to challenge Republican Jeff Denham, who had represented California's 10th congressional district since 2013 and represented the 19th district from 2011 to 2013.{{Cite web |last=Sarah D. Wire |date=May 3, 2017 |title=Central Valley's Jeff Denham gets new 2018 challenger |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-central-valley-s-jeff-denham-draws-1493844264-htmlstory.html |access-date=November 18, 2018 |archive-date=June 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623064423/https://www.baltimoresun.com/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-central-valley-s-jeff-denham-draws-1493844264-htmlstory.html |url-status=dead }} As a result of California's top-two primary system, Denham and Harder advanced to the general election, with Denham taking 37.5% of the primary vote and Harder 16.7%.{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2018 |title=Harder readies to face Denham |url=https://www.turlockjournal.com/news/government/harder-readies-face-denham/ |access-date=October 25, 2018 |publisher=Turlock Journal}}{{Cite news |date=June 11, 2018 |title=California Election Results: 10th House District |work=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/california-house-district-10-primary-election |access-date=August 10, 2018}}
California's 10th district was included on the list of Republican-held seats being targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.{{Cite letter|last=Kelly|first=Meredith|date=May 22, 2017|title=Charging Forward, DCCC Announces Battlefield Expansion|url=https://dccc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/MEMO-Charging-Forward-DCCC-Announces-Battlefield-Expansion-18.pdf|department=DCCC Communications Director|journal=|volume=|pages=|via=|recipient=Interested Parties}} On election night and for days after the election, Denham led in the reported results.{{Cite news |title=Josh Harder is in a dead heat in his congressional race to become the only venture capitalist in the House of Representatives |work=Recode |url=https://www.recode.net/2018/11/7/18066354/josh-harder-congressman-election-results-jeff-denham |access-date=November 13, 2018}} On November 9, Harder pulled ahead as absentee ballots were counted.{{Cite news |last=Blood |first=Michael R. |title=Democrats gain ground in California US House battles |language=en-US |work=www.wmbfnews.com |publisher=AP via WMBF-TV in Myrtle Beach, SC |url=https://www.wmbfnews.com/2018/11/10/latest-democrat-katie-hill-defeats-rep-steve-knight/ |access-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113125330/https://www.wmbfnews.com/2018/11/10/latest-democrat-katie-hill-defeats-rep-steve-knight/ |url-status=dead }} Days later, news outlets projected Harder's victory,{{Cite news |date=November 14, 2018 |title=Democrat Harder ousts California GOP US Rep. Denham |work=AP NEWS |url=https://apnews.com/3443766d610046a2bd57b70d2c03c7ee |access-date=November 14, 2018}} and on November 14, Denham conceded.{{Cite news |last=Eric Bradner |title=Democrats pick up two more House seats as Denham, MacArthur concede |work=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/14/politics/jeff-denham-concedes-josh-harder-california-10th-house-race/index.html |access-date=November 15, 2018}}
== 2020 ==
{{See also|2020 United States House of Representatives elections in California#District 10|label 1=2020 California's 10th congressional district election}}
Harder ran for reelection in 2020, finishing first in the top-two open primary with 44% of the vote. He bested Republican opponents Ted Howze and Bob Elliott. Harder and Howze advanced to the general election on November 3, which Harder won with 55.2% of the vote to Howze's 44.8%.{{Cite web|title=California Results - US Election 2020|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/us2020/states/ca|access-date=February 7, 2021|website=BBC News|language=en-GB}} In 2020, former president Barack Obama endorsed Harder.{{Cite news |last=Garofoli |first=Joe |date=August 3, 2020 |title=Barack Obama endorses eight California House candidates, state Senate hopeful |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Barack-Obama-endorses-eight-California-House-15455672.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}
== 2022 ==
{{See also|2022 United States House of Representatives elections in California#District 9|label 1=2022 California's 9th congressional district election}}
File:California's_9th_congressional_district_(since_2023)_(new_version).svg since 2023, centered on Stockton in the Central Valley]]
Following redistricting, Harder defeated San Joaquin County Supervisor Tom Patti, a Republican, with 56% of the vote in California's 9th congressional district.{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Seema |date=November 15, 2022 |title=Democratic Rep. Josh Harder defeats GOP challenger in Central Valley district |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-11-15/2022-california-midterm-election-josh-harder-tom-patti-results |access-date=November 16, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}
== 2024 ==
{{See also|2024 United States House of Representatives elections in California#District 9|label 1=2024 California's 9th congressional district election}}
In the 2024 general election, Harder defeated Republican Kevin Lincoln with 51.8% of the vote, or approximately 9,000 votes.{{cite web |title=California Ninth Congressional District Election Results |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/05/us/elections/results-california-us-house-9.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=17 February 2025 |date=5 November 2024}}
= Tenure =
Harder took office on January 3, 2019, as the U.S. representative for California’s 10th congressional district.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-26 |title=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |url=https://clerk.house.gov/members/H001090 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726213214/https://clerk.house.gov/members/H001090 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-07-26 |access-date=2025-03-15 }} During the 116th Congress, he served on the Agriculture Committee and the Education and Labor Committee. In November 2019, he co-introduced the Ban Corporate PACs Act with Representative Max Rose, which aimed to prohibit corporate-funded political action committees as part of a broader anti-corruption effort. The bill was designed as a complement to the For the People Act, which faced opposition from Republicans.{{Cite web |last=Nilsen |first=Ella |date=2019-11-15 |title=Exclusive: 2 Democrats are introducing a bill to ban corporate PACs |url=https://www.vox.com/2019/11/15/20965310/house-democrats-bill-to-ban-corporate-pacs |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Vox |language=en-US}}
After Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, Harder received hate mail intended for Josh Hawley, a United States senator with a similar name who objected to certifying Joe Biden's electoral college victory.{{Cite web |date=February 6, 2021 |title=California Rep. Josh Harder faces anger intended for Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley |url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-02-06/california-rep-josh-harder-faces-anger-intended-for-sen-josh-hawley |website=Los Angeles Times}} In the 117th Congress, he was appointed to the Appropriations Committee while continuing to serve on the Agriculture Committee.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-22 |title=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |url=https://clerk.house.gov/members/H001090 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522064313/https://clerk.house.gov/members/H001090 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2022-05-22 |access-date=2025-03-15 }} In November, Harder attended the signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021, which he helped shape by securing funding for Central Valley priorities such as water storage, wildfire prevention, and highway improvements.{{Cite news |last=Boak |first=Josh |last2=Holland |first2=John |date=November 15, 2021 |title=Biden signs $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. What it means to the Modesto area |url=https://www.modbee.com/news/local/article255834156.html |work=The Modesto Bee}}
In 2025, Harder was one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act.{{cite news |last=Rashid |first=Hafiz |date=January 22, 2025 |title=The 46 Democrats Who Voted for Republicans' Racist Immigration Bill |url=https://newrepublic.com/post/190569/list-house-democrats-vote-pass-laken-riley-act-immigration-bill |accessdate=January 31, 2025 |publisher=The New Republic}}
=Committee assignments=
= Caucus memberships =
- New Democrat Coalition{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://newdemocratcoalition-himes.house.gov/members|publisher=New Democrat Coalition|access-date=February 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208100356/https://newdemocratcoalition-himes.house.gov/members|archive-date=February 8, 2018|url-status=dead}}
- Problem Solvers Caucus{{Cite web|title=Featured Members|url=https://problemsolverscaucus-gottheimer.house.gov/members|access-date=March 28, 2021|website=Problem Solvers Caucus|language=en|archive-date=March 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318093950/https://problemsolverscaucus-gottheimer.house.gov/members|url-status=dead}}
Political positions
Harder has been described as a moderate Democrat.{{Cite news |last=Brassil |first=Gillian |date=November 15, 2022 |title=Congressman Josh Harder wins California midterm in key clinch for House Democrats |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/election/california-elections/article268684447.html |work=The Sacramento Bee}} He supports legal abortion rights.{{cite news |last1=Castleman |first1=Terry |title=On the issues: Josh Harder and Tom Patti on abortion, the economy, homelessness |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-11-01/2022-california-midterm-election-harder-patti-abortion-economy-homelessness |access-date=17 February 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=1 November 2022}}
=Delta Tunnels=
File:Josh Harder Stop the Delta Tunnel.jpg, 2024]]
In February 2023, Harder introduced the Stop the Delta Tunnels Act, a bill which would forbid the Secretary of Army from issuing a permit related to the project, effectively stopping all federal support for the Delta Conveyance Project.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Brittany |title=Central Valley congressman introducing legislation to prevent Delta Tunnel project from gaining ground |url=https://www.kcra.com/article/central-valley-congressman-introducing-legislation-prevent-delta-tunnel-gaining-ground/41272895 |website=KCRA.com |date=September 19, 2022 |publisher=Hearst Television Inc. |access-date=29 June 2023}} In May 2023, Harder criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom's plan to fast-track projects, including the Delta Tunnel project, which Harder had opposed for five years, saying that that project could negatively impact the ecosystem of the Delta in the San Joaquin Valley and affect fishery and agriculture industries.{{cite web |last1=Hagerty |first1=Mike |title=Delta Tunnel plan touted by Newsom gets push-back from Congress member |url=https://www.capradio.org/articles/2023/05/24/delta-tunnel-plan-touted-by-newsom-gets-push-back-from-congress-member/ |website=capradio.org |publisher=NPR |access-date=29 June 2023}}
=Policing=
Harder opposes defunding the police and has said that he wants to rebuild trust between the public and police. He voted for a police reform bill that would ban chokeholds and establish a policy for use of force that would be standard around the country.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc10.com/article/news/politics/elections/josh-harder-district-10/103-1d932dea-8bac-42e5-adc6-8a242dc8b5e8|title=Election 2020: Everything you need to know about Congressman Josh Harder|date=October 15, 2020|website=abc10.com|accessdate=November 21, 2023}} In 2023, he introduced a bill to create a grant program that would allow smaller police departments to recruit and retain more officers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.escalontimes.com/news/harder-pushes-local-law-enforcement-funding/|title=Harder Pushes For Local Law Enforcement Funding|work=Escalon Times|date=May 16, 2023|accessdate=November 21, 2023}}
Personal life
Harder and his wife, Pamela, met as undergraduate students at Stanford University. They were married at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Virginia in 2018.{{Cite news |date=August 12, 2018 |title=Pamela Sud, Joshua Harder - The New York Times |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/12/fashion/weddings/pamela-sud-joshua-harder.html |access-date=November 10, 2018}} Harder and his wife have two daughters.{{cite news |last1=Brassil |first1=Gillian |title=Josh Harder vs. Kevin Lincoln in California Congress race: Candidates answer key questions |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/election/voter-guide/article291604885.html |access-date=17 February 2025 |date=October 6, 2024}}
Electoral history
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center;"
|+ {{sronly|Electoral history of Josh Harder}} ! rowspan="2" | Year ! colspan="2" rowspan="2" | Office ! colspan="2" rowspan="2" | Party ! colspan="3" | Primary ! colspan="3" | General ! rowspan="2" | Result ! colspan="2" rowspan="2" | Swing ! rowspan="2" | {{abbr|Ref|Reference}}. |
| Total
! % ! {{abbr|P|Position}}. ! Total ! % ! {{abbr|P|Position}}. |
|---|
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | 2018
| rowspan="4" | U.S. House | rowspan="2" | 10th | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" rowspan="4" | | rowspan="4" | Democratic | 20,742 | 17.04% | 2nd | 115,945 | 52.25% | 1st | {{Yes2|Won}} | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | | Gain
General election:
|
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | 2020
| 69,668 | 44.07% | 1st | 166,865 | 55.16% | 1st | {{Yes2|Won}} | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | | Hold
General election:
|
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | 2022
| rowspan="2" | 9th | 39,026 | 36.71% | 1st | 95,598 | 54.82% | 1st | {{Yes2|Won}} | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | | Hold
General election:
|
| style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | 2024
| 60,978 | 49.75% | 1st |130,183 |51.79% |1st |{{Yes2 | Won}} | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" | |Hold
General election:
|
| colspan="15" style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | Source: Secretary of State of California {{!}} [https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/prior-elections/statewide-election-results Statewide Election Results] |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://harder.house.gov/ Congressman Josh Harder] official U.S. House website
- [https://www.harderforcongress.com/ Josh Harder for Congress] campaign website
- {{C-SPAN|115952}}
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Category:Candidates in the 2018 United States elections
Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California
Category:Harvard Business School alumni
Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni
Category:Modesto Junior College faculty
Category:People from Turlock, California
Category:Stanford University alumni
Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives