Josh Harder | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, c. 2019-2021 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Jeff Denham |
| Constituency | 10th district (2019–2023) 9th district (2023–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joshua Keck Harder (1986-08-01)August 1, 1986 (age 39) Turlock, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Stanford University (BA) Harvard University (MBA,MPP) |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Joshua Keck Harder (born August 1, 1986) is an American politician who has served as theU.S. representative forCalifornia's 9th congressional district since 2023, after representing the10th district from 2019 to 2023. A member of theDemocratic Party, he was first elected in2018 by defeatingRepublican incumbentJeff Denham.[1] After the2020 redistricting, he won reelection in the newly drawn 9th district, which covers the majority ofSan Joaquin County and includesStockton,Tracy, andManteca.[2]
Harder was born on August 1, 1986, inTurlock, California.[3] His great-great-grandfather settled nearby inManteca, where he started a peach farm.[4] Harder attendedModesto High School,[5] and during that time, he interned for then state senatorJeff Denham.[6] He went on to attendStanford University, earning aBachelor of Arts degree in 2008. He later obtained a jointMaster of Business Administration andMaster of Public Policy from theHarvard Business School and theJohn F. Kennedy School of Government.[3]
In 2014,Bessemer Venture Partners hired Harder in itsNew York office. He moved toSan Francisco two years later and became a vice president of the company.[6][7] In 2017, Harder left Bessemer to campaign full-time. He moved back to Turlock[7][8][9] and also taught business atModesto Junior College.[10]
In May 2017, Harder announced his candidacy, joining three other Democrats to challenge RepublicanJeff Denham, who had representedCalifornia's 10th congressional district since 2013 and represented the 19th district from 2011 to 2013.[11] As a result of California'stop-two primary system, Denham and Harder advanced to the general election, with Denham taking 37.5% of the primary vote and Harder 16.7%.[12][13]
California's 10th district was included on the list of Republican-held seats being targeted by theDemocratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.[14] On election night and for days after the election, Denham led in the reported results.[15] On November 9, Harder pulled ahead as absentee ballots were counted.[16] Days later, news outlets projected Harder's victory,[17] and on November 14, Denham conceded.[18]
Harder ran for reelection in 2020, finishing first in the top-two open primary with 44% of the vote. He bestedRepublican 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%.[19] In 2020, former presidentBarack Obama endorsed Harder.[20]
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Following redistricting, Harder defeated San Joaquin County SupervisorTom Patti, a Republican, with 56% of the vote inCalifornia's 9th congressional district.[21]
In the 2024 general election, Harder defeated RepublicanKevin Lincoln with 51.8% of the vote, or approximately 9,000 votes.[22]
Harder took office on January 3, 2019, as theU.S. representative forCalifornia's 10th congressional district.[23] During the116th Congress, he served on theAgriculture Committee and theEducation and Labor Committee.[23] In November 2019, he co-introduced the Ban Corporate PACs Act with RepresentativeMax Rose, which aimed to prohibit for-profit corporations from sponsoring, operating, or fundingpolitical action committees.[24]
After Trump supportersstormed the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, Harder received hate mail intended forJosh Hawley, a United States senator with a similar name who objected to certifyingJoe Biden'selectoral college victory.[25]
In the117th Congress, he was appointed to theAppropriations Committee while continuing to serve on theAgriculture Committee.[26] In November, Harder attended the signing of theBipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021.[27]
In 2025, Harder was one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for theLaken Riley Act.[28]
For the119th Congress:[29]
Harder has been described as a moderate Democrat.[33] He supports legal abortion rights.[34]
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 theDelta Conveyance Project.[35] In May 2023, Harder criticized California GovernorGavin 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 theecosystem of theDelta in theSan Joaquin Valley and affectfishery and agriculture industries.[36]
Harder opposesdefunding 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.[37] In 2023, he introduced a bill to create a grant program that would allow smaller police departments to recruit and retain more officers.[38]
Harder and his wife, Pamela, met as undergraduate students atStanford University. They were married at theMeadowlark Botanical Gardens in Virginia in 2018.[39] Harder and his wife have two daughters.[40]
| Year | Office | Party | Primary | General | Result | Swing | Ref. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | % | P. | Total | % | P. | |||||||||
| 2018 | U.S. House | 10th | Democratic | 20,742 | 17.04% | 2nd | 115,945 | 52.25% | 1st | Won | Gain | [41] | ||
| 2020 | 69,668 | 44.07% | 1st | 166,865 | 55.16% | 1st | Won | Hold | [42] | |||||
| 2022 | 9th | 39,026 | 36.71% | 1st | 95,598 | 54.82% | 1st | Won | Hold | [43] | ||||
| 2024 | 60,978 | 49.75% | 1st | 130,183 | 51.79% | 1st | Won | Hold | [44] | |||||
| Source:Secretary of State of California |Statewide Election Results | ||||||||||||||
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia's 10th congressional district 2019–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia's 9th congressional district 2023–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 209th | Succeeded by |
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