Turlock Democrat Josh Harder seeks to represent Stockton in Congress

U.S. Rep. Josh Harder announced Tuesday that he plans to run this year to represent Stockton in Congress in the new District 9.

Since 2019 has represented District 10, which includes Stanislaus County and part of south San Joaquin County. The Democrat is aiming to represent a newly-formed district that includes Stockton, Lodi, Manteca and part of Tracy.

"I am running for this district because it's an area that I love a lot. My family first settled in Manteca ...170 years ago," Harder said.

"We have done a lot of work in South San Joaquin over the past few years."

Harder announced his run shortly after U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney, who has represented Stockton since 2007, said on Tuesday that he will not seek reelection. Harder won his seat in 2018 in a narrow victory over Republican incumbent Jeff Denham. In 2020, he defeated challenger Ted Howze by a significant margin.

Harder has successfully pushed Congress to appropriate $14 million to fund Central Valley and Northern California water projects. Congress also passed an amendment Harder introduced requiring the Government Accountability Office to analyze junk health care plans.

Harder is entering a field of competitors that includes Tom Patti, a Republican who represents Lathrop, Manteca and Stockton on the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors.

Also running is Democrat Harpreet Chima, a clinical lab researcher at University of California, Davis.

"We're certainly going to fight just as hard as we've done in the past," Harder said.

Harder said one of his priorities is attracting more high-paying jobs to the Central Valley.

This would help alleviate the San Joaquin County-Bay Area commute, in which thousands of people traverse the Altamont Pass each day for work, he said.

"The best fix for the long commute is bringing more high-paying jobs directly into the valley."

One approach Harder supports is improving career education for local students in order to attract high-quality jobs. Attracting employers who offer pathways for career advancement is also key, he said.

Homelessness is another of Harder's priorities. Not enough has been done to address the mental health and substance abuse issues that often contribute to the loss of housing, he said.

Harder pointed to the Youth Navigation Center of Stanislaus County as a potential model for homelessness measures he would pursue in District 9.

"If you can help somebody get back on their feet, back into transitional housing within hours or days after they first become homeless, you can help make sure that that person addresses the challenges that led them to be in that situation in the first place."

Harder, 35, who was born and resides in Turlock, said he plans to move to District 9.

He acknowledged that the shifting boundaries that accompany redistricting — a process California completed in December — can seem confusing for voters.

"Change is tough, especially when you've been represented effectively for a long period of time by somebody who has done a good job."

The Modesto-centric District 10 Harder represents has been split down the middle, with the two new districts extending south roughly to Coalinga and Shaver Lake.

But the makeup of the new District 9 makes sense, Harder said.

"I think it is a community that shares a lot of values, (and) that shares a lot of challenges."

Record reporter Aaron Leathley covers business, housing, and land use. She can be reached at aleathley@recordnet.com or on Twitter @LeathleyAaron. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Josh Harder seeks to be Stockton's new congressman