Jared Huffman

Jared Huffman Bio

Jared William Huffman (born February 18, 1964) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for California’s 2nd congressional district since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously represented the 6th district in the California State Assembly from 2006 to 2012. His congressional district covers the North Coast from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, spanning Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Trinity, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties.

Before elective office, Huffman worked as a consumer attorney and as a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. He is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara and Boston College Law School, and he lives in San Rafael with his wife, Susan Huffman, and their two children.

Early Life and Background

Jared William Huffman was born on February 18, 1964, in Independence, Missouri. He graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1982 and went on to attend the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science magna cum laude in 1986. While at UCSB, he became a three-time All-American volleyball player and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

After completing his undergraduate studies, Huffman joined the USA Volleyball Team in 1987, when the team was top-ranked worldwide and had recently won the World Championship. He then attended Boston College Law School, graduating cum laude in 1990, before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area to begin his legal career.

Path to US Politics

Huffman began his professional career as a consumer attorney specializing in public interest cases. Among his courtroom victories, he represented the National Organization for Women in a case that required all California State University campuses to comply with Title IX. He later joined the Natural Resources Defense Council as a senior attorney, working on environmental and natural resource issues.

In 1994, Huffman was elected to the Marin Municipal Water District board, where he served for 12 years, including three terms as its president. His work on water policy and environmental protection at the local level helped build the foundation for his later career in the California State Assembly. These experiences in public-interest law and local water governance shaped his focus on conservation and environmental issues throughout his political career.

Jared Huffman Career

Early Career (2006-2012)

Huffman entered the California State Assembly in 2006 after winning the Democratic nomination for the 6th district, an open seat vacated by incumbent Joe Nation. In a hotly contested June 2006 primary, he surprised the political establishment by defeating Pamela Torliatt, a Petaluma city councilwoman, and Marin County Supervisor Cynthia Murray, who had been considered the front-runner. He went on to defeat Republican nominee Michael Hartnett by a more than 2:1 margin in the general election.

During his six years in the State Assembly, Huffman built a reputation as a prolific legislator. In his first four years, he authored and passed more than 40 pieces of legislation. He chaired the Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials under Speaker Fabian Núñez, and in August 2008, Speaker Karen Bass named him chair of the Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee. He also led the Assembly Environmental Caucus, reinforcing his standing as a leading voice on conservation issues in Sacramento.

California State Assembly Breakthrough (2006-2012)

Huffman won three consecutive terms in the Assembly, consistently earning strong support from his district. In 2008, he faced Republican Paul Lavery and Libertarian Timothy Hannan, winning 70% of the vote with 137,873 ballots, among the highest totals for any California Assembly candidate that year. He was unopposed in the Democratic primary, receiving 57,213 votes, the most of any Assemblymember in that primary election.

In his 2010 primary, Huffman defeated Patrick Connally before going on to defeat Republican Robert Stephens with more than 70% of the vote, the highest winning margin of any candidate on the ballot in the North Bay that year. Among his signature legislative achievements was a 2009 bill (AB 1437) requiring all shelled eggs sold in California to comply with Proposition 2’s animal welfare standards, which was signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010 and took effect on January 1, 2015. He was later term-limited out of the Assembly in 2012.

U.S. House of Representatives Era (2013-Present)

After 20-year incumbent Lynn Woolsey announced her retirement, Huffman entered the race for California’s 2nd congressional district. He finished first in the top-two primary with 37% of the vote and went on to defeat Republican candidate Dan Roberts 71% to 29% in November 2012. He was sworn into office in January 2013 and has since been reelected multiple times, building a strong record of constituent service and policy work.

Throughout his tenure in Congress, Huffman has continued his focus on environmental and natural resource policy. In April 2018, he joined Representatives Jerry McNerney, Jamie Raskin, and Dan Kildee in launching the Congressional Freethought Caucus, which he co-chairs. In June 2024, he unveiled The Stop Project 2025 Task Force, a group of House Democrats aimed at combating the Heritage Foundation’s policy proposals for reshaping the federal government. He has also been a vocal advocate for water rights, public lands, and climate-related legislation, frequently drawing on his earlier work at the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Marin Municipal Water District.

Notable Events and Milestones

One of Huffman’s most notable early congressional moments was his 2012 victory in California’s 2nd district, where he won with more than 70% of the vote against Dan Roberts. His signature legislative achievement in the State Assembly was AB 1437, the California egg-laying hen welfare law that later formed the basis of Proposition 12 in 2018. In 2018, he co-founded the Congressional Freethought Caucus, and in 2024, he led the launch of The Stop Project 2025 Task Force, two initiatives that reflect his long-standing commitment to environmental and secular governance issues.

Jared Huffman Career Wins

Jared Huffman has compiled an extensive record of electoral victories across more than two decades in public office, including three terms in the California State Assembly and multiple reelections to the U.S. House of Representatives. His wins have consistently been decided by wide margins, reflecting strong support from his North Coast constituents.

California State Assembly Highlights

Huffman won three consecutive terms in the California State Assembly representing the 6th district from 2006 to 2012. His first victory came in 2006 against Republican Michael Hartnett by a more than 2:1 margin. He then won 70% of the vote in 2008 and more than 70% in 2010 against Republican Robert Stephens, posting the highest winning margin of any North Bay candidate that year. He was term-limited out of the Assembly in 2012.

U.S. House of Representatives Highlights

Since entering Congress in 2013, Huffman has won reelection multiple times by decisive margins. His first victory came against Republican Dan Roberts in 2012, with 71% of the vote. He has since defeated Republican challengers including Dale Mensing (four times), Douglas Brower, and Chris Coulombe, regularly winning more than 70% of the general election vote. According to a FiveThirtyEight analysis, Huffman voted with President Joe Biden’s stated position 100% of the time during the 117th Congress.

Other Wins & Achievements

Before his legislative career, Huffman served on the Marin Municipal Water District board for 12 years beginning in 1994, including three terms as board president. He has also been recognized for his legislative productivity, having authored and passed more than 40 bills in his first four years in the California State Assembly.

Jared Huffman Family

Family Background and Public Service

Jared William Huffman was born in Independence, Missouri, and raised in a family environment that supported his pursuit of public service. He attended William Chrisman High School, graduating in 1982, before continuing his education at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His early exposure to civic engagement and legal work shaped his later path into environmental advocacy and elected office.

Personal Life

Huffman lives in San Rafael, California, with his wife, Susan Huffman, and their two children. Outside of his political career, his hobby is winemaking. In a 2017 interview, he identified as a humanist and described himself as religiously unaffiliated, making him the only elected member of the U.S. House to openly identify as a secular humanist.