Josh Harder | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 10th district | |
Assumed office January 3, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Jeff Denham |
Personal details | |
Born | Joshua Keck Harder August 1, 1986 Turlock, California, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Pamela Sud (m. 2018) |
Children | 1 |
Residence(s) | Turlock, California, U.S. |
Education | Stanford University (BA) Harvard University (MBA, MPP) |
Website | House website |
Joshua Keck Harder (born August 1, 1986) is an American politician and venture capital investor who has served as the U.S. representative from California's 10th congressional district since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he defeated Republican incumbent Jeff Denham in the 2018 election by five points.[1] In 2020, he was reelected by a significantly larger margin than in 2018.[2] He is running for reelection in California's new 9th congressional district, created through the 2020 redistricting process, which includes the majority of San Joaquin County.[3]
Harder was born in Turlock, California,[4][5] and graduated from Modesto High School.[6] He earned political science and economics undergraduate degrees from Stanford University and a joint MBA/MPP from Harvard Business School and Kennedy School of Government.[7][8]
In 2014, Bessemer Venture Partners hired Harder in its New York office. He moved back to San Francisco and became a vice president of the company.[9] In 2017, Harder left Bessemer to campaign full-time. He moved back to Turlock[10][11][12] and taught business at Modesto Junior College.[13]
Main article: 2018 California's 10th congressional district election |
In May 2017, Harder announced his candidacy, joining three other Democrats to challenge Republican Jeff Denham, who had represented the 10th district since 2013 and represented the 19th district from 2011 to 2013.[14] 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%.[15][16]
California's 10th district was included on the list of Republican-held seats being targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.[17] On election night and for days after the election, Denham led in the reported results.[18] On November 9, Harder pulled ahead as absentee ballots were counted.[19] Days later, news outlets projected Harder's victory,[20] and on November 14, Denham conceded.[21]
See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in California § District 10 |
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%.[22] In 2020, former President Barack Obama endorsed Harder.[23]
Harder has represented California's 10th congressional district since 2019.
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 last name who objected to certifying Joe Biden's electoral college victory.[24]
As of October 2021, Harder had voted in line with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time.[25]
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Republican | Jeff Denham (incumbent) | 45,719 | 37.5 | |
Democratic | Josh Harder | 20,742 | 17.0 | |
Republican | Ted D. Howze | 17,723 | 14.6 | |
Democratic | Michael Eggman | 12,446 | 10.2 | |
Democratic | Virginia Madueño | 11,178 | 9.2 | |
Democratic | Sue Zwahlen | 9,945 | 8.2 | |
Democratic | Michael J. "Mike" Barkley | 2,904 | 2.4 | |
Democratic | Dotty Nygard (withdrawn) | 1,100 | 0.9 | |
Total votes | 121,757 | 100.0 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Josh Harder | 115,945 | 52.3 | |
Republican | Jeff Denham (incumbent) | 105,955 | 47.7 | |
Total votes | 221,900 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic gain from Republican |
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Josh Harder (incumbent) | 69,668 | 44.1 | |
Republican | Ted Howze | 53,574 | 33.9 | |
Republican | Bob Elliott | 20,481 | 13.0 | |
Democratic | Michael J. "Mike" Barkley | 5,561 | 3.5 | |
Republican | Marla Sousa Livengood | 5,270 | 3.3 | |
Democratic | Ryan Blevins | 3,536 | 2.2 | |
Total votes | 158,090 | 100.0 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Josh Harder (incumbent) | 166,865 | 55.2 | |
Republican | Ted Howze | 135,629 | 44.8 | |
Total votes | 302,494 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold |
Harder and his wife Pamela met as undergraduate students at Stanford University. They were married at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Virginia in 2018.[31]
Harder and his wife announced they had their first baby on March 9, 2022.[32]