Josh Harder

Overview

Josh Harder is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California with 495 recorded votes. His voting record reflects broadly progressive positions on healthcare, labor, and foreign policy, while showing more moderate tendencies on defense, agriculture, and criminal justice compared to many in his party. On healthcare, Harder has been a consistent supporter of legislation aimed at expanding coverage and lowering costs, voting in favor of healthcare bills nearly 80% of the time. He has voted unanimously in support of foreign policy measures and labor-related legislation that came to the floor. In the area of defense, his record is more mixed, supporting military and veterans legislation about 63% of the time, including voting for veterans' care bills while opposing certain defense authorization measures. On fiscal matters, Harder has opposed most budget resolutions and continuing appropriations bills that came to a vote, voting against them roughly 76% of the time. In the environment and energy space, he voted against the majority of bills in this category, which — based on the sample votes — often involved opposing efforts to roll back environmental protections, such as voting against disapproval of California's stricter harbor craft emission standards. Harder's record on technology, education, and taxation shows general support for legislation in these areas, while his votes on housing and banking were more frequently in opposition. His overall profile is that of a Democrat who generally aligns with his party but demonstrates an independent streak on select issues, particularly those relevant to California's Central Valley district.

Key Positions

• •Consistently supported healthcare legislation, voting in favor of bills like the Do No Harm in Medicaid Act motion to recommit and the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act motion to recommit (79.3% support rate across 29 healthcare votes).
• •Voted unanimously in favor of all 11 foreign policy measures that came to the floor, and supported all 5 labor-related bills.
• •Opposed most budget resolutions and appropriations bills, including voting against the fiscal year 2027 congressional budget and a continuing appropriations measure in July 2026.
• •Defended California's environmental authority by voting against a resolution that would have disapproved the EPA's recognition of California's stricter harbor craft emission standards (September 2026).
• •Supported veterans' legislation, including the Take Care of America's Veterans Act (July 2026), while opposing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027.
• •Voted in favor of a War Powers Resolution directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in Lebanon (June 2026), reflecting support for congressional oversight of military engagements.
• •Showed a split record on criminal justice legislation, supporting measures 54% of the time across 13 votes, suggesting case-by-case evaluation rather than a consistent ideological approach.
• •Supported technology-related legislation 70% of the time across 10 votes, and backed the Ratepayer Protection Act and Water Resources Development Act in the energy space.