Jeff Denham

Early life, education, and military service

In 1984, at age 17, Denham enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served on active and reserve status for 16 years, during which he received the Meritorious Service Medal for his service during Operation Desert Storm (Iraq) and Operation Restore Hope (Somalia). In 2006 he was honored by the California National Guard with its highest military award, the "Order of California" service award, for distinguished service.

Denham received an associate's degree from Victor Valley College in 1989 and a B.A. in political science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in 1992. He has worked as a farmer and started a plastics container company to ship produce.

2000 State Assembly campaign

In 2000, Denham ran for the California State Assembly against City Councilman Simon Salinas, a Democrat. A total of $2.5 million was spent in the race. Salinas defeated Denham with 52% of the vote.

Elections

Denham ran for the State Senate in 2002 against former Democratic State Assemblyman Rusty Areias. The race featured a number of negative political advertisements and was one of the most expensive legislative races in state history, with over $6.3 million spent. Denham's campaign highlighted Areias's financial difficulties, including unpaid taxes.

The election was on November 5, 2002, but the vote count was close; the lead in the race went back and forth for several days. Denham won by 1,843 votes, 48% to 47%.

In November 2006, Denham won re-election to a second term with 58% of the vote.

In 2008, a recall effort was instigated against Denham by Democrat Don Perata after Denham declined to cast a deadlock-breaking vote on the state budget. Supporters of the recall turned in more than 60,000 signatures. In the recall election on June 3, 2008, Denham easily survived the recall, with 77% of voters casting ballots to retain him.

Denham announced in December 2008 that he would be a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of California in the 2010 election. He ended his campaign soon after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, in November 2009, appointed Republican State Senator Abel Maldonado to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, a Democrat, who was elected to Congress.

Denham then campaigned briefly for the State Assembly seat being vacated by Tom Berryhill of Modesto, but in late December 2009 he dropped out of that race to run for Congress.

Tenure

During his time in the state legislature, Denham focused his efforts on education, agriculture and job creation. He called for a reduction in government waste in Sacramento, better use of state surplus assets, and a crackdown on sexual predators.

Denham's awards include Legislator of the Year by the California State Sheriffs' Association (2004), Outstanding Legislator by the California State Sheriff's Association (2005), Legislator of the Year by the California Small Business Association (2005), Most Progressive Law Enforcement Leader of the Year by A Woman's Place of Merced (2005), and California Teachers Association Gold Award (2005).

Committee assignments

Denham's committee assignments in the California State Senate included:

2010

In December 2009, seven-term U.S. Congressman George Radanovich announced he would retire due to health reasons. He endorsed Denham as his successor for the California's 19th congressional district. In the Republican primary, Denham defeated Fresno mayor Jim Patterson, former U.S. Congressman Richard Pombo, and Fresno City Councilman Larry Westerlund 36%–31%–21%–12%. In the 2010 general election, Denham defeated Democrat Loraine Goodwin with 65% of the vote.

2012

After redistricting, Denham decided to run in the newly redrawn California's 10th congressional district. That district had previously been the 18th District, represented by five-term Democrat Dennis Cardoza.

Former NASA astronaut José Hernández ran against him as the Democratic candidate. The 10th is a swing district with a 25% Hispanic voting age population. Denham won with 53% of the vote to Hernández's 47%.

2014

In 2014, Denham ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Denham was expected to receive media endorsements over his Democratic opponent, Michael Eggman, a commercial beekeeper and almond grower, although the seat was regarded by some as "vulnerable" earlier in the year.

The Rothenberg Political Report ultimately listed the race as "Republican Favored". Denham defeated Eggman with 56% of the vote.

2016

Denham ran for re-election in 2016. He finished first in the top-two primary on June 7, 2016, and again faced Eggman, who placed second, in the general election on November 8, 2016. Denham won re-election with 51.7% of the vote. More than $11 million was spent on the race, mostly from outside groups.

Committee assignments

Political positions

He has voted with his party in 95.9% of votes so far in the current session of Congress and voted in line with President Trump's position in 100% of the votes. Despite this, for the 114th United States Congress, Denham was ranked as the 41st most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives (and the second most bipartisan member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California) in the Bipartisan Index created by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy that ranks members of the United States Congress by their degree of bipartisanship (by measuring the frequency each member's bills attract co-sponsors from the opposite party and each member's co-sponsorship of bills by members of the opposite party).

Abortion

Denham opposes abortion.

Crime

He supports mandatory minimum sentences.

Energy and environment

He opposes federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.

He has a 7% score by the League of Conservation Voters.

Government shutdown

Denham voted against raising the debt ceiling in 2013, which led to a 16-day Government Shutdown. He also voted against the bill that reopened the government and avoided a default.

Healthcare

On April 26, 2017, Rep. Denham told The Hill he was not in favor of the American Health Care Act (AHCA). Denham stated that he could only support a repeal-bill that kept significant parts of Obamacare intact, such coverage for pre-existing conditions and expanded Medicaid coverage. However, on May 4, 2017, Denham voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and pass AHCA. Denham said that he voted for the revised version of AHCA, which allows states to seek a waiver to allow insurers to charge individuals with preexisting conditions higher premiums, because the bill would provide $8 billion over five years to help those with pre-existing conditions. He voted for this version of the bill before the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office had estimated its impact; the CBO had estimated that 24 million Americans would lose insurance under the previous version of the bill. Denham has said that the process of writing the bill was “bipartisan,” but Mercury News noted that "no Democrat in the House voted for it or was involved in its drafting".

Immigration

In October 2013, Denham co-sponsored the comprehensive immigration reform bill introduced by House Democrats. In announcing his support for the bill, he said: "We can't afford any more delays. I support an earned path to citizenship to allow those who want to become citizens to demonstrate a commitment to our country, learn English, pay fines and back taxes and pass background checks."

In August 2014, Denham broke ranks with the Republican Party and voted against a bill that would have dismantled the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

LGBT rights

He opposes same-sex marriage. He has voted in favor of provisions which would allow federal contractors to discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation.

National deficit and government spending

Denham has argued that the national deficit is the biggest issue for the United States, and called it a threat to the nation's freedom.

In July 2012, he criticized an event put on by the General Services Administration, which cost $268,732. He said that he believed that the controversy went even further than the GSA.

President Trump

During the 2016 presidential race, Denham stayed silent as to whether he supported Trump or not. The Modesto Bee refused to endorse Denham in the 2016 House race, after having endorsed on three prior occasions, over his inability to reject Trump.

As of May 2017, Denham has voted in line with President Trump's positions 100% of the time.

Personal life

Denham and his wife Sonia have two children. She is Hispanic, and Denham has said that he learned Spanish to communicate with her family, including to help his Mexican father-in-law through the process of gaining U.S. citizenship. Denham owns and operates Denham Plastics, a supplier of reusable containers in the agriculture industry. He and his family also farm almonds at their ranch in Merced County.