Candidate · November 3, 2026

Josh Harder

On the ballot for U.S. House · California's 9th District

DemocraticIncumbent
raised through Oct 14, 2026
$4.5M
cash on hand
$4.8M
issues with public statements
6

§1On the ballot

Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.

OfficeU.S. House · California's 9th District1
Party on the ballotDemocratic1,2
StatusIncumbent — Currently represents California's 9th District in the U.S. House.3
How it's decidedUnder California's top-two system, only the two candidates who received the most votes in the June 2, 2026, primary, regardless of party preference, appear on this general-election ballot.1,4
Also on the ballot

§2Who they are

Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Josh Harder grew up in the Central Valley, where he started working as a paperboy, and lives in Tracy.5,6 He graduated from Stanford and Harvard with help from Rotary Club and American Legion scholarships, worked in business, and taught business at a local junior college before entering public service.5,7 In Congress he serves on the House Appropriations Committee.7

Why they say they're running

His campaign website says he is running because politicians have left the Valley behind, and to protect its water, bring down costs and keep its communities safe.6 It says he first ran for Congress to protect health coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, like his adopted brother.5

Service in Congress since 2023

  • 2025–nowU.S. Representative, CA-93
  • 2023–2025U.S. Representative, CA-93

Websites and accounts

§3What they've said on the issues

Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.

Infrastructure and Transportation

Gas tax and road funding

His campaign website says he is working to repeal the gas taxes in both Washington and Sacramento.9

  1. Raise the federal gas tax
  2. Add new fees, such as a yearly fee on electric vehicles or a charge for each mile driven
  3. Keep the gas tax as is and cover the gap with other federal money
  4. Cut or suspend the federal gas tax
Marked: the option their statement matches.

Economy, Jobs and Trade

Trade agreements

His campaign website says he is fighting for trade deals that put the Valley's products and workers first so they are not taken advantage of by foreign competitors.9

Housing

Homelessness

His campaign website says homelessness is an emergency, and that his plan would move people off the streets into support services, invest in mental health and substance abuse treatment, and provide job training.9

Crime, Policing and Prisons

Police funding

His campaign website says he brought home millions of federal dollars for a task force against methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking and to hire new police officers and buy police cars and public safety equipment.9

  1. Increase police funding, for example to hire more officers
  2. Keep funding near current levels
  3. Shift some police funding to mental health, housing or other services
Marked: the option their statement matches.

Elections and Government Reform

Campaign finance rules

His campaign website says he wrote the Ban Corporate PACs Act and is a leader on changing campaign finance rules so elected officials put families ahead of corporations.9

Immigration

Legal status for immigrants here without permission, including Dreamers

His campaign website says he cosponsors the DREAM Act, that Dreamers must have a path to citizenship, and that he also supports comprehensive immigration reform along with strong border security.9

§4Popular bills that never got a vote

Why this matters: Many bills with wide support from both parties never reach a vote, so no member of Congress is ever on record for or against them. Signing on as a sponsor or cosponsor is the only public record of support.

While Josh Harder served, these bills had broad support from both parties but never reached a floor vote. No officeholder ever had to vote on them. Josh Harder sponsored or cosponsored 39 of the 52. How bills die without a vote.

See all 52

§5Money

Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left. Outside groups that spend on their own, without coordinating with the campaign, report that too.

Reported to the Federal Election Commission for the 2025–2026 election cycle, through October 14, 2026.62

Raised$4,490,401
Spent$1,396,541
Cash on hand$4,782,692

Where the money came from

Individual donors$3.2M · 72%
PACs and other political committees$575K · 13%
Political party committees$2,193 · 0%
Transfers from the candidate's other committees$146K · 3%
Other receipts (other loans, refunds, interest)$524K · 12%

§6Financial disclosures

Why this matters: Federal candidates and members of Congress must report their assets, income, debts and outside jobs, and members must report stock trades. These filings show possible conflicts of interest.