Sharifah Hardie

Sharifah Hardie was born in Washington, D.C.. She earned a high school diploma from Downtown Business Magnet School.

Her career experience includes working as a politician. She has been affiliated with Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, Black Business Co-Op, and 1 Me Foundation.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Sharifah Hardie is a business consultant, talk show host and serial entrepreneur. She is Editor-In-Chief at Long Beach Black News and Co-Founder of the Black Business CoOp.

Hardie was a candidate for Long Beach City Council in the March 2020 Primary Election and ran for CA State Senate District 33 in the 2024 general election. She intends to run for California Governor in the 2026 election.

Hardie is Host of Ask Sharifah Videocast & Podcast, and The Round Table Talk Show. She is the author of Signs You Might Be An Entrepreneur, Path to Politics; How to Run for Political Office and Make a Difference, How to Obtain Investors; Strategies the Rich Don’t Want You to Know About Raising Money for Your Business, the ebook, Everything You Need to Know About Social Media Marketing.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Sharifah Hardie believes every American should be able to earn a living wage and support their families.Sharifah Hardie believes every American should be able to afford housing.Sharifah Hardie believes that love is the answer.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Sharifah Hardie believes California should change its policies in regards to employment, housing, mental health and drug abuse. The high cost of living, taxes and inflation are the main reason California businesses and individuals are leaving in a mass exodus.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Malia M. Cohen, California State Controller. I have never fangirled in my life until I met Mrs. Cohen. When I met her it was like meeting the Queen. She is amazing, incredible, brilliant and just knowing she exists has given me the motivation to keep fighting for the American people.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

A film that would allow people to understand my thought process is the piercing, Oscar-nominated film from Ava DuVernay, 13th. It is an excellent representation of where America is today. Another incredible movie is Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore. People often are unaware of America's true history and tend to just vote based on emotions.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The characteristics most important for an elected offical are honesty, compassion and love for the American people.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities for an elected official is concern for the people. Politicians must always put the best interest of the people at the forefront of every decision.

What legacy would you like to leave?

The legacy I would love to leave is to turn California Red.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event that I remember happening in my life was Trans World Airline's Boeing 747-100 that exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, on July 17, 1996, at approximately 8:31 p.m. EDT, 12 minutes after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport, on a scheduled international passenger flight to Rome with a stopover in Paris. I was a Customer Service Supervisor in the TWA Los Angeles Reservations Center at the time. At a young age I understood loss. I understood pain. I spoke with parents who had lost their children on that flight. It's bad enough when you lose someone's luggage, but when you blow up someone's child and then call them and ask them to trust you and get back on another TWA airplane and fly to New York City. Toughest experience I have ever had in my life. Now, I always make sure to allow love to lead me. To always tell everyone how much I love them and that tomorrow is not promised.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job was working as a Customer Service representative for our family business Jordan's Rooter and Plumbing at 11 years old. I have worked with my father and my family off and on over the last 40 years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible, The Quran, The Torah. Equally.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Kygo & Whitney Houston - Higher Love

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

The biggest struggle in my life is getting people to understand that no matter the question, love is the answer. Whatever you do. Do it with love!

What do you love most about your state?

What I love the most about California is... IT'S CALIFORNIA!! People travel from around the world to visit our great state. Depending on where you are in California you might live by the beach. In other parts you may live by the mountains or snow. California is a melting pot of foods, languages, cultures, individuals, races, temperatures, weathers, religions and there is no place like it on Earth and I was born in Washington D.C. I choose to live in California. After I moved back to Washington D.C. in 1995, and the blizzard of 1996 hit, I came right back to California and promised never to leave it again. There's just something about waste high snow on my commute that had me running for the next airport out of the nation's capital for sunnier pastures.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

The greatest challenge California faces is not prioritizing its citizens. By allowing more and more private prisons to be built, our current focus is on punitive action instead of just simply loving our neighbor.

Tell us your favorite joke.

How do you make God laugh?

Tell him your plans.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

The government is made up of individuals and people. Everyone needs to be transparent and have accountability for our actions. Just because we are the government, we can't then just operate with impunity.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a lover of the Lord and of my fellow Man. I was raised Muslim, but currently consider myself Spiritual. Sharifah in Arabic means "honest" or "of honor" and I try my best to always speak the truth. I am a Mother of two, with the hopes of having grandchildren. I want to create the best possible world for them. I am a .com baby. I built my first website in 1994 and have helped build companies ever since. I have been laid off over eight times, yet I didn't quit. I used those experience and knowledge I gained to benefit the businesses I now consult.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Stop California's Mass Exodus - Bring People, Corporations & Companies Back to California!Reduce Crime & Lawlessness in California Caused by High Inflation & Lack of Jobs!Create Opportunities with a Living Wage to Reduce Homelessness & the Threat of Being Unhoused!

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Sharifah Hardie is passionate about criminal justic reform, housing reform and the government's healthcare policy.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to Malia Cohen, California State Controller. Meeting her was a life altering experience. I was impressed by how casual, laid back and open she was. When I asked her how she became the State Controller her response was, "Hard Work." I love it and I seek to follow her example.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I have been working since I was 11 years old. I began my work career as a Customer Service Representative for my Father's business. Jordan's Rooter & Plumbing.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

My biggest struggle is what motivated me to run for political office; gainful emplyment. I learned that many people today suffer with maintaining employment. I have been laid off 8 times. I've never been fired. I worked for companies that relocated, companies that downsized, companies that went on hiring freezes forcing me to either take a new position or leave and I've worked for companies that simply ran out of funding. Many Americans are dealing with the same issues. I know what it's like to be homeless. I know what it's like not to have enough to eat. I know what it's like to not have enough money in the bank. I know what it's like to be a teenage mom struggling to take care of your children. All of these problems are avoidable. We just have to focus on what's in the best interest of the people and not just focus on the bottomline.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

California's greatest challenge is rebranding our image. Our current image is of a place that only the rich can afford to live in. We have to bring back the middle class, and make California a more inclusive place for everyone.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I do not believe that's necessarily beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics. I believe the most important experience is life experience. We need state legislators who have lived. Who have experienced life. Who have seen some things and been through some things, so that they are able to empathize and make decisions in the best interest of their constituents.

Sharifah Hardie did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.