Josh Harder Bio
Joshua Keck Harder (born August 1, 1986) is an American politician and venture capitalist who has served as the U.S. representative for California’s 9th congressional district since 2023. He previously represented the 10th district from 2019 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Harder is a moderate Democrat who focuses on agricultural, infrastructure, and public-safety issues affecting the San Joaquin Valley.
Before entering Congress, Harder worked as a vice president at Bessemer Venture Partners and taught business at Modesto Junior College. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and a joint Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Policy from Harvard Business School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Early Life and Background
Joshua Keck Harder was born on August 1, 1986, in Turlock, California. His great-great-grandfather settled nearby in Manteca, where he started a peach farm, giving the Harder family deep roots in the Central Valley’s agricultural economy. Growing up in this region shaped his early understanding of farming, water, and rural community issues that later became central to his policy work in Congress.
Harder attended Modesto High School, where he first engaged with state government by interning for then state senator Jeff Denham, the same Republican he would later defeat in his first congressional race. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University in 2008, where he met his future wife, Pamela Sud.
Harder later obtained a joint Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Policy from Harvard Business School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. This combination of business and public-policy training prepared him for a career that bridged venture capital and government service.
Path to U.S. Politics
After graduate school, Harder entered the private sector in 2014 when Bessemer Venture Partners hired him for its New York office. Two years later, he transferred to the firm’s San Francisco office and was promoted to vice president, gaining experience in technology investing and startup growth.
In 2017, Harder left Bessemer to campaign full-time and moved back to his hometown of Turlock. That same year he also taught business at Modesto Junior College, staying connected to the local community while preparing for a congressional bid. His pivot from venture capital to public service reflected a desire to address the economic and agricultural challenges facing the Central Valley.
Harder officially announced his candidacy in May 2017, joining three other Democrats to challenge Republican incumbent Jeff Denham in California’s 10th congressional district. The race quickly drew national attention as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee targeted the seat.
Josh Harder Career
Early Career (2018 Election)
Under California’s top-two primary system, Denham and Harder advanced to the general election in 2018, with Denham taking 37.5 percent of the primary vote and Harder 16.7 percent. On election night and for days afterward, Denham led in the reported results.
On November 9, Harder pulled ahead as absentee ballots were counted, and news outlets later projected his victory. On November 14, Denham conceded, and Harder was elected to his first term in Congress.
116th Congress Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Harder took office on January 3, 2019, as the U.S. representative for California’s 10th congressional district. During the 116th Congress, he served on the Agriculture Committee and the Education and Labor Committee, focusing on rural and workforce issues.
In November 2019, he co-introduced the Ban Corporate PACs Act with Representative Max Rose, which aimed to prohibit for-profit corporations from sponsoring, operating, or funding political action committees. After supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, Harder received hate mail intended for Senator Josh Hawley because of their similar names.
Harder ran for reelection in 2020 and finished first in the top-two open primary with 44 percent of the vote, advancing alongside Republican Ted Howze. He won the general election with 55.2 percent of the vote, and former president Barack Obama endorsed his campaign.
9th District and Appropriations Era (2023–Present)
Following the 2020 redistricting, Harder won the newly drawn 9th congressional district in 2022 by defeating San Joaquin County Supervisor Tom Patti, a Republican, with 56 percent of the vote. The 9th district covers most of San Joaquin County and includes Stockton, Tracy, Lodi, and Manteca.
In the 117th Congress, Harder was appointed to the Appropriations Committee while continuing to serve on the Agriculture Committee. In November 2021, he attended the signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021. He also introduced the Stop the Delta Tunnels Act in February 2023 to block federal permits for the Delta Conveyance Project, citing risks to the Delta ecosystem, fisheries, and agriculture.
In the 2024 general election, Harder defeated Republican Kevin Lincoln with 51.8 percent of the vote, a margin of roughly 9,000 votes. In 2025, he was one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act. He has also introduced legislation to help smaller police departments recruit and retain officers.
Notable Events and Milestones
Harder’s signature legislative efforts include the Ban Corporate PACs Act, the Stop the Delta Tunnels Act, and a 2023 bill to create a grant program for smaller police departments. He has attended the signing of major bipartisan legislation such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021.
Josh Harder Career Wins
Since first winning his congressional seat in 2018, Joshua Keck Harder has secured four consecutive general-election victories in California’s Central Valley, building a durable coalition across the 10th and 9th congressional districts.
Congressional Election Highlights
Harder’s first congressional win came in 2018 when he defeated Republican incumbent Jeff Denham after absentee ballots pushed him ahead in the days following Election Day. He followed that victory with a 2020 win over Republican Ted Howze, capturing 55.2 percent of the vote.
After redistricting, Harder won the newly drawn 9th district in 2022 by defeating Republican Tom Patti with 56 percent of the vote. His most recent win came in 2024, when he defeated Republican Kevin Lincoln with 51.8 percent of the vote, a margin of approximately 9,000 votes.
Josh Harder Family
Family Background and Political Lineage
The Harder family has deep roots in California’s Central Valley, with Harder’s great-great-grandfather settling in Manteca and starting a peach farm. This agricultural heritage has shaped Harder’s policy focus on farming, water infrastructure, and rural economic development in the San Joaquin Valley.
Personal Life
Harder and his wife, Pamela Sud, met as undergraduate students at Stanford University. The couple was married at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Virginia in 2018, the same year Harder launched his first congressional campaign. Harder and his wife have two daughters, and the family resides in Turlock, California.