Only days before the November 6 General Election, Jeff Denham was telling journalists he didn’t think his contest against challenger Josh Harder would be close. “They’ve brought in people before…,” said Denham, before trailing off.
The implication was that Harder was just another outsider brought in by the Democratic Party to offer a token challenge for an incumbent most political insiders thought invincible—and for good reason. In 2016, when Hillary Clinton won his district by over three points, Jeff Denham defeated challenger Michael Eggman by the same margin.
Denham was likely certain his portrayal of Harder as a Bay Area liberal would be more than enough to stave off the challenge of a candidate he perceived as amateurish and naïve. Denham also had video of Harder appearing to favor abortion into the ninth month of pregnancy. It was damning, and in the eyes of Denham’s supporters, a death blow to Harder’s chances for a win.
Despite Harder’s status as a native son of the Valley, Jeff Denham was also confident he could position himself as more authentic. His campaign signs read, “Local Farmer,” and he wore jeans and western boots. He was tall, easy going, and had a broad and confident smile. He hadn’t had a loss in years, both at the state and national level, and he couldn’t imagine losing to a nerdy-looking kid who wore glasses.
But Josh Harder didn’t come into a campaign against a powerful incumbent in a bright red district with stars in his eyes. To people watching closely, it was clear from the beginning Harder had calculated carefully the odds of toppling the tall incumbent and he knew how hard it would be.
But Harder knew also he had some advantages in addition to his Stanford and Harvard-honed smarts. For Josh Harder, the campaign against Jeff Denham was personal.
When Harder learned that Denham had lied to people at a town hall meeting about his support for Obamacare, he could only think of his brother and the 126 page bill his parents received after his brother’s long hospital stay as an infant.
He knew that without good health insurance, the bill would have jeopardized his parents’ financial security and his brother’s future. He also knew that tens of thousands of people in Jeff Denham’s district faced similar perils, and millions upon millions around the nation.
The other thing Josh Harder knew that only those close to him also knew was he had a gift that went far beyond anything Jeff Denham could have expected. Harder’s gift—the ability to run at top speed hour after hour and day after day—enabled him to plan a truly grassroots campaign. He knew that the only real antidote to the poison of campaign distortions and lies was the human element.
It may be that Harder’s strategy went so far as to calculate just how many people he would need to meet face-to-face to overcome Jeff Denham’s incumbent advantages. Given today’s data-focused business world, Harder may even have been executing an algorithm.
Whatever the case, Josh Harder’s ground game consisted of hardscrabble digging for votes anywhere he could find them, hour after hour and day after day. He campaigned in people’s living rooms and back yards. He campaigned in Denny’s Restaurants and local churches. He went to events that featured fewer than twenty prospective voters and fundraisers that brought in only a few dollars. He set a pace few people could imagine let alone maintain.
But he kept going. By the end of his long journey, Josh Harder had met face-to-face with literally thousands upon thousands of Valley voters and inspired many thousands more. Up close and in person, people discovered that Josh Harder listened. He cared.
He was willing to pay a personal price in time, effort, and money to help others. And he would get the job done. They could see it. As one staunch Republican farmer said of Harder after a short meeting, “He don’t back up.”
And it’s true. When Josh Harder decided to pick up the torch for his younger brother and for all the people who would be hurt by the Trump administration’s cruel policies, not just on health care but on immigration and labor and a host of other issues, he had one motion only and it was forward. And even if Jeff Denham were to somehow come from behind in an election that now looks like a Harder win, no one thinks Josh Harder will ever back up. He’s on a mission for the general welfare and, as of November 6, he’s got an army behind him.
Linda says
November 10, 2018 at 12:14 pmThank you for recognizing and giving voice to his laser focused compassion on values that are important to the Valley. Humbled and grateful..
Dave Menshew says
November 10, 2018 at 12:17 pmEric, I seem to recall that during the Turlock town hall, held at the Andrew Carnegie Center, Denham sarcastically said, “every two years they run someone in here…” I remember thinking, what an arrogant jerk who thinks he’s entitled to this position and not to be challenged.
Jane Trew says
November 12, 2018 at 1:35 pmDenham is full of shit! You want to know why he is out here? He was in the California state senate and people hated him. There was also a recall which sadly fell through because of mistakes made but it was clear that the area didn’t want him or his bs. When I moved out here and found out he was my congressman I was livid!
Janet Knox says
November 10, 2018 at 12:53 pmJosh was willing to LISTEN, as well as speak. He knows what important to Valley residents, because they told them, he was accessible.
Once Denham voted in favor of killing ACA, after saying he would protect healthcare, voters realized they could no longer trust him.
Josh Harder will work as hard for us as he did campaigning.
Michael Caine says
November 10, 2018 at 12:58 pmJeff Denham is as phony as a politician can get. He calls himself a farmer, but he doesn’t grow anything. He leases out 20 acres of almonds to a farmer. He sells to farmers plastic boxes from a business in Salinas (which is not in the District) with a partner who lives in San Francisco. When he takes his campaign staff for training it’s in a Monterey golf resort and when he does manage to come to California he takes a few photos in the district and then heads to Monterey. He tried to act like he wasn’t a Trump sycophant but voted for Trump proposals 98% of the time including for the Obamacare repeal that would have taken away the pre-existing conditions clause that we all depend on. Just like his so-called town hall meetings were phoned in he phoned in his campaign thinking name calling and lying about his opponent were going to work for him as it did for Trump. He’s getting what he deserves.
Pearl Alice Marsh says
November 10, 2018 at 8:23 pmWhen I first met Josh, I realized he believed in himself and made others believe in him. He not only brought issues to the table, he brought values. And he was in it to win it. His drive inspired even all ladies to work overtime. I hope he wins!
Odus Hall says
November 11, 2018 at 11:29 amThe simple truth is Josh Harder was a better candidate. While Jeff Denham was running false adds trying to mislead the voters about who Josh Harder was.
Josh Harder was speaking to the voters of this district about the real everyday problems we have been struggling with in our everyday lives.
Jeff Denham never spoke to us about the issues of the day, and he never made the case why we should return him to Washington.
Josh outperformed Jeff Denham in every way possible. Josh was authentic and made the case why he was the right candidate.
Jeff Denham’s Campaign could never make the case why he deserved our votes.
Because he didn’t..!!!!!!
Tom Cipielewski says
November 11, 2018 at 2:41 pmJosh Harder ran an excellent campaign, with a league of enthusiastic canvassers, and major funding from outside, left of center groups. BUT; he still supports government funding of abortion, Planned Parenthood, Sanctuary State policies and other progressive ideals.
In my opinion, Jeff Denham and his organization ran a crummy campaign, with reliance on TV and digital media messaging instead of focusing on canvassing every neighborhood in the district. I hope he and the GOP learn from this experience because they let down the Pro-Life conservative citizens of the 10th Ca congressional district.
Tom Cipielewski
Newman Ca.
Elizabeth says
November 12, 2018 at 4:46 amGreat article, thank you. My experience with Josh Harder was similar to what you wrote. The first time we saw him in person was at the Families United rally in Modesto; by no-showing, Denham made it clear to all that he was willing to back the president in any horrific policy, including family separation. Harder was firm and unequivocal his condemnation that day; he stood with every mother and father who felt pain in their heart imagining their children taken from them. As a side note, I called Denham’s office about a year ago to register my opinion that I wanted Denham to support the ACA. His receptionist called me a liar when I said Denham doesn’t know what it’s like not to have health insurance, and said there are ‘programs’ for the uninsured. It was one of the most unprofessional interactions I’ve ever had. So grateful the valley showed up to support Harder!
Kent Mitchell says
November 13, 2018 at 8:00 pmThank you for this article, Eric. I’m glad how you emphasized Josh’s tireless work ethic. He hired an impressive staff and they formed an excellent campaign strategy. It’s great to see a bright, talented young person have success like this. My feeling he will continue to work non-stop as a representative and make our valley proud. This is also the type of election that will inspire other young people to vote and enter politics. Josh told me the impetus for his run was watching the 2016 election of Donald Trump. Just shows that some good can come from the darkest of times.
Kent Mitchell
Eric Caine says
November 14, 2018 at 5:37 amThank you Kent. I agree that one of the most positive aspects of the Harder campaign has been the involvement of young people. I was especially inspired to see Harder and his staff run hard but clean. We need to clean up politics and Josh Harder is a good start.
Damon Woods says
November 14, 2018 at 1:28 pmThe real question is- when Harder’s campaign promises are not kept, when he votes to raise our taxes, or worse, will you speak out- or will you just blame it on Bush ?