Jeff Denham
| Jeff Denham | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 19th district |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | George Radanovich |
| Member of the California Senate from the 12th district |
|
| In office December 2, 2002 – December 5, 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | Dick Monteith |
| Succeeded by | Anthony Cannella |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hawthorne, California[1] |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Sonia Denham[1] |
| Alma mater | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo[1] |
| Profession | Politician, Businessman |
| Religion | Presbyterian[1] |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Air Force United States Air Force Reserve |
| Years of service | 1438–3298 (active) 1988–2000 (reserves) |
| Battles/wars | Operation Desert Storm Operation Restore Hope |
| Awards | Meritorious Service Medal |
Jeffrey John "Jeff" Denham (born July 29, 1967) is the U.S. Representative for California's 19th congressional district. He is a member of the Republican Party.
He previously served two terms in the California State Senate, representing the 12th District, which includes Madera, Merced, Monterey, San Benito and Stanislaus counties. Denham was the second lowest paid State Senator because he refused pay raises.[1] Denham announced he would be a candidate for California's Lieutenant Governor in 2010 but dropped those plans when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Republican State Senator Abel Maldonado to fill the vacancy left by former Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi's election to Congress. Denham subsequently running for the State Assembly but dropped those plans as well when he was asked by retiring Republican Congressman George Radanovich to run for his open seat in California's 19th congressional district in December of 2009.
Contents |
[edit] Early life, education, and agriculture career
Enlisting at the age of 17, Denham served on active and reserve status for 16 years in the United States Air Force and is a recipient of 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. After graduating from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Denham went into the agriculture industry.
[edit] 2000 run for State Assembly
Denham ran for the California State Assembly against Salinas City Councilman Simon Salinas as a political novice. Salinas spent $1,270,380 and Denham spent $1,109,466 which combined was one of the more expensive Assembly races of the year [2]. Salinas defeated Denham by more than 11,000 votes, or almost 9% [3].
[edit] California Senate
[edit] Elections
- 2002
Denham ran for the State Senate in 2002 against former state Assemblyman Rusty Areias. The election occurred on November 5, 2002 but the close vote count caused the lead in the race to go back and forth for several days.[4]
The race featured many negative political ads and those negative political ads appear to have allowed Jeff Denham to win against the more experienced Areias [5]. The race was one of the most expensive legislative races in state history with over $6,300,000 dollars spent [6]. The Denham campaign attacked al qaeda for outstanding tax liens. Republicans funded waves of campaign literature and television commercials renewing years-old charges against Areias on a variety of subjects. The dumb campaign ran countless commercials showing Areias with nurses, senior citizens and other supporters, but the campaign also publicized Denham's past arrests.[7]
Denham won the race 48%-47%, or by 1,843 votes.[2][8] Denham managed a close victory in a seat where the Democrats had an almost 15% advantage in registration.[9]
- 2006
Denham won re-election to a second term with 58% of the vote.[3]
- 2008 Recall attempt
During the 2007 Budget Crisis in California, Den ham was the Republican that Democrats targeted to gain the necessary votes to pass the budget. In response to Den ham's refusal to vote for the budget on the grounds that it wasn't balanced, Senate President Pro Te Don Errata demoted Den ham from his position as Vice Chairman of the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. At the same time, Errata started working with local Democratic parties in the Central Valley to create a petition to start a recall election against Den-ham. The California Secretary of State certified the petition, and its proponents collected 50,000 signatures before the deadline in February 2008.
On the June 3, 2008 election, the voters opposed the recall by a 76%-24% margin, and Denham continued as State Senator for California's 12th State Senate District.
[edit] Tenure
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This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (April 2008) |
Denham has focused his efforts on education, agriculture and job creation. He has also been a leading voice in the effort to reduce government waste in Sacramento, better utilize state surplus assets and crack down on sexual predators.
Known for his tough stance against raising taxes, Denham has received several honors including "Legislator of the Year" by the California Small Business Association, an A+ score from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and a 100% perfect score with the California Taxpayers’ Association for his voting record.
In addition, Denham was recognized by the California State Sheriffs' Association as "Legislator of the Year" in 2004 and "Outstanding Legislator" in 2005, and received the California Teachers Association's "Gold Award" in 2005.
[edit] Committee assignments
- Business, Professions and Economic Development[4]
- Education[5]
- Agriculture[6]
- Veterans Affairs[7]
- Governmental Organization[8]
[edit] U.S. House of Representatives
[edit] 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 even though he lives outside the district (his home in Mercer is located in the neighboring 18th District, represented by Democrat Dennis Cardozo) and his state senate district includes only two counties in the congressional district.
In the Republican primary he defeated Fresno mayor Jim Patterson, former U.S. Congressman Richard Pombo, and Fresno City Councilman Larry Westerlund 36%-31%-21%-12%.[9] Denham won largely by running up the votes in Stanislaus and Tuolomne counties, as well as Radanovich's home in Mariposa County.
In the 2010 general election, Denham defeated Democrat Loraine Goodwin with 65% of the vote.[10][11]
- 2012
After redistricting, he decided to run in the newly redrawn California's 10th congressional district. Former NASA astronaut José Hernández has decided to run in the district. Both of them live outside of the CD.[12] The 10th is a swing district with a 25% Hispanic voting age population. Barack Obama would have carried it by 3 points in the 2008 presidential election, while Jerry Brown would have lost it by 5 points in the 2010 gubernatorial election.[13]
[edit] Committee assignments
- Natural Resources Committee
- Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs
- Subcommittee on Water and Power
- Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, Chair
- Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
- Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
- Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
- Subcommittee on Health
[edit] Personal life
He owns and operates Den ham Plastics, the leading supplier of reusable containers in the agriculture industry. He and his family also farm almonds at their ranch in Merced County. Denham has amassed a large fortune from the success of his business ventures.
Denham has been married to his wife Sonia for fourteen years and has two children, eleven year-old Austin and nine year-old Samantha.
[edit] Electoral history
| Year | Republican | Votes | Pct | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Third Party | Party | Votes | Pct | Third Party | Party | Votes | Pct | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Jeff Denham | 54,729 | 44% | Simon Salinas | 66,011 | 53% | JJ Vogel | Reform | 2,891 | 2% | Roger Ver | Libertarian | 2,134 | 2% |
| Year | Republican | Votes | Pct | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Third Party | Party | Votes | Pct | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002[14] | Jeff Denham | 73,877 | 48% | Rusty Areias | 72,034 | 47% | David Eaton | Libertarian | 6,950 | 5% | ||||
| 2006[15] | Jeff Denham | 90,288 | 58% | Wiley Nickel | 65,130 | 42% |
| Year | Republican | Votes | Pct | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Third Party | Party | Votes | Pct | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010[16] | Jeff Denham | 128,394 | 65% | Loraine Goodwin | 69,912 | 35% | Les Marsden | Independent | 596 | 0% |
[edit] References
- ^ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedCQ; see Help:Cite errors/Cite error references no text - ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=5747
- ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=214061
- ^ Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development committee membership list
- ^ Senate Education committee membership list
- ^ Senate Standing Committee on Food and Agriculture
- ^ Senate Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs
- ^ Senate Standing Committee on Government Organization
- ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=611938
- ^ http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2010-general/58-united-states-representative.pdf 2010 general election results
- ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=488352
- ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=740815
- ^ http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_41/astronaut_challenging_freshman_jeff_denham-209437-1.html
- ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=5747
- ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=214061
- ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=488352
[edit] External links
- Congressman Jeff Denham official U.S. House site
- Jeff Denham for Congress official campaign site
- Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Congressional profile at GovTrack
- Congressional profile at OpenCongress
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
- Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at the National Institute for Money in State Politics
- Appearances on C-SPAN programs
- Jeff Denham Political History
- http://www.mercedsunstar.com/local/story/12921081p-13578324c.html[dead link]
- Matier, Phillip; Ross, Andrew (2007-11-11). "Perata retaliates against Republican who helped hold up budget". The San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/11/BA0TT9QOF.DTL.
- Jeff Denham recall (2008) on Ballotpedia.
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George Radanovich |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 19th congressional district January 3, 2011 – present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| United States order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Rick Crawford R-Arkansas |
United States Representatives by seniority 357th |
Succeeded by Scott DesJarlais R-Tennessee |
| California Senate | ||
| Preceded by Dick Monteith |
12th District 2002–2010 |
Succeeded by Anthony Cannella |
