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Jeff Denham
California politician

Jeff Denham

The basics

Quick Facts

Intro
California politician
A.K.A.
Jeffrey John Denham
Work field
Gender
Male
Place of birth
Hawthorne
Age
57 years
The details (from wikipedia)

Biography

Jeffrey John "Jeff" Denham /ˈdɛnəm/ (born July 29, 1967) is an American politician, United States Air Force veteran, and businessman. A member of the Republican Party, he is the U.S. Representative for California's 10th congressional district. Denham first won election to the U.S. House in 2010, representing California's 19th congressional district for one term before redistricting led him to run in the 10th district in 2012.
From 2002 to 2010, Denham served in the California State Senate, representing the 12th District, which includes Madera, Merced, Monterey, San Benito, and Stanislaus counties.
Prior to seeking political office, Denham served on active and reserve status in the United States Air Force for 16 years, and served in both Operation Desert Storm in Iraq and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. He has worked as a farmer and started a plastics container company to ship produce.

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. After graduating, Denham began working in the agriculture industry.

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.

California State Senate

Elections

2002

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%.

2006

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

2008 recall attempt

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.

2009 Lieutenant Governor and State Assembly campaigns

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:

  • Business, Professions and Economic Development
  • Education
  • Agriculture
  • Veterans Affairs
  • Governmental Organization

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

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. 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.

Tenure

In the 114th Congress, Denham voted with his party 92.6% of the time.

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.

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."

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 2012 he stressed his desire to use the economic downturn to reassess and find different ways to drive the United States forward.

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.

Committee assignments

  • Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
    • Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management
    • Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, Chairman
    • Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
  • Veterans' Affairs Committee
    • Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
    • Subcommittee on Health
  • Agriculture Committee
    • Subcommittee on Horticulture, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture
    • Subcommittee on Livestock, Rural Development, and Credit

Personal life

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.

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.

Electoral history

California Assembly District 28
YearRepublicanVotesPctDemocratVotesPctThird PartyPartyVotesPctThird PartyPartyVotesPct
2000Jeff Denham54,72944%Simon Salinas66,01153%JJ VogelReform2,8912%Roger VerLibertarian2,1342%
California Senate District 12
YearRepublicanVotesPctDemocratVotesPctThird PartyPartyVotesPct
2002Jeff Denham73,87748%Rusty Areias72,03447%David EatonLibertarian6,9505%
2006Jeff Denham90,28858%Wiley Nickel65,13042%
California Congressional District 19 (2010) and 10 (2012-)
YearRepublicanVotesPctDemocratVotesPctThird PartyPartyVotesPct
2010Jeff Denham128,39465%Loraine Goodwin69,91235%Les MarsdenIndependent5960%
2012Jeff Denham110,26553%José Hernández98,93447%
2014Jeff Denham70,58256%Michael Eggman55,12344%

The contents of this page are sourced from Wikipedia article. The contents are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
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