Josh Harder

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 9th congressional district since 2019 (known as the 10th congressional district until 2023). A member of the Democratic Party, he defeated Republican incumbent Jeff Denham in the 2018 election by five points. In 2020, he was reelected by a significantly larger margin than in 2018. He won reelection to California's new 9th congressional district, created through the 2020 redistricting process, which includes the majority of San Joaquin County.

Early life and education
Harder was born in Turlock, California, and graduated from Modesto High School. 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.

Private career
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. In 2017, Harder left Bessemer to campaign full-time. He moved back to Turlock  and taught business at Modesto Junior College.

2018
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. 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%.

California's 10th district was included on the list of Republican-held seats being targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018. On election night and for days after the election, Denham led in the reported results. On November 9, Harder pulled ahead as absentee ballots were counted. Days later, news outlets projected Harder's victory, and on November 14, Denham conceded.

2020
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%. In 2020, former president Barack Obama endorsed Harder.

2022
Following redistricting, Harder defeated San Joaquin County Supervisor Tom Patti, a Republican, with 56% of the vote in California's 9th Congressional district.

Tenure
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 name who objected to certifying Joe Biden's electoral college victory.

Harder voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis. This results in a Biden Plus/Minus score of +32.2 indicating significantly more support for Biden's priorities than would be expected given the makeup of his district.

Committee assignments
For the 118th Congress:
 * Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
 * Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

Caucus memberships

 * New Democrat Coalition
 * Problem Solvers Caucus

Abortion
As of 2019, Harder had a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America for his abortion-related voting record. He opposed the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Delta Tunnels
In February 2023, Harder introduced a new bill called the Stop the Delta Tunnels Act, that would forbid the Secretary of Army from issuing a permit related to the project, effectively stopping all federal support for the Delta Conveyance Project. In May 2023, Harder criticized California Governor Newsom's plan to fast-track projects, including the Delta Tunnel project, which Harder had opposed for five years, citing that that project could negatively impact the ecosystem of the Delta in the San Joaquin Valley and affect fishery and agriculture industries.

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. In 2023, he introduced a bill to create a grant program that would allow smaller police departments to recruit and retain more officers.

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.

Harder and his wife announced they had a baby girl on March 9, 2022.