Jeff Denham

Jeffrey John Denham (born July 29, 1967) is an American politician, United States Air Force veteran, and businessman.

In 1984, at age 17, Denham enlisted in the United States Air Force.

He served on active and reserve status for 16 years as a tactical aircraft maintenance specialist, during which he received the Meritorious Service Medal for his service during Operation Desert Storm (Iraq) and Operation Restore Hope (Somalia).

Denham received an associate 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.

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.

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.

During his congressional tenure, Denham was active in immigration issues, notably in the effort to draft and pass legislation that would successfully resolve the status of Dreamers.

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 and did not focus on Areias's state policy positions.

Denham's negative campaign tactics drew widespread criticism, including from fellow Republicans.

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%.

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).

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

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

Denham's opponent, Wiley Nickel, was later elected to Congress from North Carolina in 2022.

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 with the recall scheduled to appear on the ballot on June 3, 2008.

In early May, Perata called off the efforts to recall Denham after it showed signs of backfiring, but the election was already on the ballot.

Denham easily survived the recall by a 75.4% to 24.6% margin.

Denham himself speculated that the recall effort actually helped, rather than hurt, his political career by raising his profile.

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.

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.

In December 2009, seven-term U.S. Congressman George Radanovich announced he would retire due to health reasons.

Denham first won election to the U.S. House in 2010, representing CA's 19th congressional district for one term before redistricting led him to run in the 10th district in 2012.

In the 2010 general election, Denham defeated Democrat Loraine Goodwin with 65% of the vote.

A member of the Republican Party, he served as the U.S. representative for CA's 10th congressional district from 2013 to 2019.

Denham was narrowly defeated in his 2018 bid for re-election by Democrat Josh Harder and became a lobbyist for K&L Gates.

He endorsed Denham as his successor in 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%.

After redistricting, much of the old 19th became the 16th District, which was significantly more Democratic than its successor.

Meanwhile, much of the northwestern portion of the old 19th (e.g. Turlock, Riverbank, Oakdale, and the rest of northeastern Stanislaus county) was transferred to the 10th District.