CA-10: Josh Harder (D)
About Josh:
More than a century ago, my great-great grandfather joined a wagon train to Manteca, started a farm, and laid the foundations of a better life for the future generations of his family. I grew up in Turlock, went to public school, and worked my way through college and business school. I’ve spent my career helping entrepreneurs and new companies grow their businesses and turn their ideas into engines of economic growth.
I want the Central Valley to share in that economic growth. For too long, the Central Valley has been left behind. In fact, if the Central Valley were a state, we would be the poorest in the nation. That’s unacceptable, and I’m running for Congress because we can and must do better.
In Congress, my mission will be to bring more good-paying jobs and more investment to the Valley – so a child growing up today can have the same opportunities I had as a kid. I will work with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to help our local farms and businesses prosper by investing in education and infrastructure and helping to create more good paying jobs. I will also stand up to President Trump when he is wrong, and fight his agenda when it threatens our values and our families.
Together, we can defend our values and strengthen our economy.
Josh grew up in Turlock, where he was a proud member of MoBand and the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra and Turlock Crossroads Church.
Josh’s interest in public service stems from the deep-rooted values of community service and economic justice instilled in him by the daily example of his parents. His mother, Linda, serves as a volunteer grief counselor for Jessica’s House in Turlock and has held a variety of leadership positions within the Turlock Crossroads Church community. Josh’s father, Mark, is a local eye doctor and small business owner who practices in Turlock, Modesto, and Manteca. His younger brother, David, is a senior at Stanislaus State University.
Josh’s parents met more than three decades ago while serving as volunteers in a poverty health eye clinic in Latin America. To this day, Linda and Mark continue to devote four weeks of every year to service in Latin America by establishing and operating eye clinics for those in need.
After graduating from Modesto Public High School, Josh earned a scholarship from the local Rotary Club and American Legion to attend Stanford University. He majored in Political Science and Economics, deepening his passion for public service. After several years at Boston Consulting Group, he voluntarily took a leave of absence to organize small farmers in Kenya and Uganda while working with the Gates Foundation and other nonprofits.
After working in Africa, Josh studied in the MBA / MPP Joint Degree program at the Harvard Business and Kennedy Schools. Then, he worked at Bessemer Venture Partners, where he worked with small businesses to help them grow and create jobs.
Now, Josh teaches business at Modesto Junior College where he is passing on the lessons he’s learned to the next generation.
The biographical information above was sourced from the campaign website; see link above for more information.
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