Josh Gottheimer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Josh Gottheimer
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 5th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2017
Preceded by	Scott Garrett
Personal details
Born	(1975-03-08) March 8, 1975 (age 50) Livingston, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Marla Tusk ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	2
Residences	Tenafly, New Jersey, U.S.
Education	University of Pennsylvania (BA) Pembroke College, Oxford Harvard University (JD)

Joshua S. Gottheimer (born March 8, 1975) is an American politician, lawyer, and writer. He has been a U.S. representative for New Jersey's 5th district since 2017. This district covers areas from busy suburbs near New York City in Bergen County to more rural parts of northern Passaic and Sussex Counties.

As a member of the Democratic Party, Gottheimer worked as a speechwriter for former President Bill Clinton. He also advised the presidential campaigns of Wesley Clark, John Kerry, and Hillary Clinton. Before becoming a representative, he worked for different companies and organizations like the Federal Communications Commission and Microsoft.

Early Life and Education

Gottheimer in 2012

Josh Gottheimer was born in Livingston, New Jersey, on March 8, 1975. His mother was a preschool teacher, and his father owned a small business. When he was young, Josh helped his father by stocking shelves in the store.

At 16, Gottheimer worked as a U.S. Senate page for Frank Lautenberg, a senator from New Jersey. During high school and college, he also had internships with C-SPAN and the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Tom Foley.

Gottheimer finished high school at West Essex High School. He then went to the University of Pennsylvania and later Harvard Law School. While at the University of Pennsylvania, he helped with Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign. After that, he studied modern history at Pembroke College, Oxford.

Early Career

Gottheimer started working for President Bill Clinton's team as a speechwriter in 1998 when he was 23 years old. He stayed until Clinton's presidency ended in 2001.

While studying law, he advised the presidential campaigns of Wesley Clark, John Kerry, and Hillary Clinton. After the 2004 election, he worked for the Ford Motor Company. He then became an executive at a company called Burson Cohn & Wolfe. From 2010 to 2012, he worked for the Federal Communications Commission, where he helped with projects related to broadband internet. Later, he became a strategist at Microsoft.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2016 Election

In 2016, Gottheimer ran for the House of Representatives in New Jersey's 5th district. The seat was held by Republican Scott Garrett. Gottheimer gained a lot of attention because he was good at raising money and had strong connections to the Clinton family. Many people called him the "Human Fundraising Machine."

The election was very competitive and involved a lot of negative advertisements. Gottheimer won the election, mainly because he received many votes in Bergen County, which has most of the district's voters. He became the first Democrat to represent the district since 1981. This was the most expensive House race in New Jersey's history.

2018 Election

For his first re-election in 2018, Gottheimer ran against John McCann. Gottheimer raised a lot of money, setting a new record for a first-term congressman in New Jersey.

In this election, McCann tried to show Gottheimer as a typical Democrat connected to Nancy Pelosi. However, Gottheimer presented himself as someone who could work with both parties. He often talked about his work with local officials and his "common ground" approach to solving problems. Gottheimer won his re-election in 2018 with 56% of the votes.

2020 Election

In 2020, Gottheimer first faced a challenge from a more progressive Democrat, Arati Kreibich. She challenged him partly because of his vote on a border funding bill. Kreibich also supported environmental policies and Medicare For All. Gottheimer, on the other hand, emphasized his bipartisan record, saying his district was moderate. He won the primary election with 70.1% of the votes.

In the general election, Gottheimer won his third term, defeating Republican Frank Pallotta with 53% of the votes. He continued to present himself as a moderate politician.

2022 Election

The district boundaries were changed in 2022, making it a bit easier for Gottheimer to win. The new district included more Democratic-leaning areas.

Gottheimer had a lot of money for his campaign, raising millions of dollars. He was elected to his fourth term in November 2022, defeating Frank Pallotta again with 54.7% of the votes. Like in previous elections, he won strongly in Bergen County.

2024 Election

Gottheimer announced in February 2024 that he would run for his fifth term. His campaign had a large amount of money available. His Republican opponent was Mary Jo Guinchard.

The Record newspaper supported Gottheimer, highlighting his efforts against certain New York City traffic fees and his work to help New Jersey taxpayers. They also mentioned his support for democracy and women's rights. Gottheimer also received support from law enforcement groups.

Gottheimer was elected to his fifth term on November 5, 2024, winning with 54.5% of the votes. After this win, many people in New Jersey politics thought he might run for governor in 2025.

Committee Assignments

For the 118th Congress, Josh Gottheimer is part of these important committees:

• Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Capital Markets
  • Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion
  • Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance and International Financial Institutions
• Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
  • United States House Permanent Select Subcommittee on Intelligence on National Security Agency and Cyber, Ranking Member
  • United States House Permanent Select Subcommittee on Intelligence on National Intelligence Enterprise

Caucus Memberships

Gottheimer is also a member of several groups in Congress that focus on specific issues:

• New Democrat Coalition
• Climate Solutions Caucus
• Problem Solvers Caucus
• Congressional Coalition on Adoption
• Congressional Blockchain Caucus
• Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment
• Rare Disease Caucus

2025 Gubernatorial Campaign

On November 15, 2024, Gottheimer announced that he plans to run for governor of New Jersey in 2025. He hopes to take over from the current Democratic Governor, Phil Murphy.

Political Positions

Some people see Gottheimer as a moderate Democrat. He has often voted in ways that show he supports working with both political parties. For example, he was ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of the House.

Domestic Policy

Food

In May 2023, Gottheimer suggested that the Department of Agriculture should change rules about food expiration dates. His goal was to reduce food waste and help people save money. He also supported a law that would create a simple, clear system for food labels. This would allow food to be sold or donated even after a "best if used by" date, which could help food pantries.

Health Care

In 2017, Gottheimer said that the Affordable Care Act needed to be improved. He was concerned that some proposals could make healthcare more expensive for older people. As of 2019, he did not support a single-payer healthcare system, often called "Medicare For All."

Immigration

In March 2019, Gottheimer supported a bill called the Dream and Promise Act. This bill aimed to give permanent legal protection to over 2 million undocumented immigrants, including "Dreamers" (young people brought to the U.S. as children). He believed this bill was important for bipartisan progress.

In June 2019, he supported a $4.6 billion emergency aid package for the border. He argued that it was important to get humanitarian aid to children at the border right away. In October 2023, he supported a bill that would combine funds for border security with military help for Ukraine.

Infrastructure

Gottheimer speaks at a Maryland infrastructure press conference, April 2021

Gottheimer supports important infrastructure projects in New Jersey, like the Lackawanna Cut-Off railway and the Gateway Tunnel.

In August 2021, he helped lead a group of Democrats who wanted to make sure money was invested in physical infrastructure. He also campaigned against electric car manufacturers removing AM radio from new cars. He argued that AM radio is important for emergencies and is still widely used.

Congestion Pricing

Gottheimer strongly opposes a plan to charge drivers a fee to enter certain busy parts of Manhattan, New York City. This is called congestion pricing.

He has introduced laws that would stop the Department of Transportation from giving grants to New York's MTA unless New Jersey drivers are not charged this fee. He believes that the money from this fee should not only go to New York's transit system but also help New Jersey's transit systems like PATH and New Jersey Transit. He has also said that this plan could increase traffic around the George Washington Bridge in his district.

Labor

In 2022, during a railroad labor dispute, Gottheimer voted for a measure that helped prevent a strike. This measure ensured a wage increase and more flexibility for railroad workers.

In December 2023, Gottheimer pushed for a law to fund the FAA so they could hire more air traffic controllers. He pointed out a shortage of controllers and argued that investing in them is crucial for air travel safety.

Policing

Gottheimer has consistently supported law enforcement. He has worked to pass laws that help first responders, like those affected by COVID-19, and provide support for 9/11 survivors and first responders.

In January 2022, Gottheimer introduced the Invest to Protect Act. This bill aims to provide $200 million to smaller police departments over five years. The money would be used for things like officer safety training, body cameras, and mental health resources. He believes in "funding – not defunding – the training, tools, and support our officers need."

Fiscal Issues

Congressional Stock Trading

Gottheimer has faced some criticism regarding his stock trades while in Congress. His team has stated that he handed over the management of his investments to a third party before he took office. He has also pledged to set up a blind trust to manage his assets. In February 2022, he supported a bill called the Transparent Representation Upholding Service and Trust (TRUST) in Congress Act, which aims to make stock trading by members of Congress more transparent.

Government Shutdowns

Gottheimer has often worked to prevent federal government shutdowns. He has voted for short-term spending bills to keep the government running. He believes that these shutdowns harm the military and make it harder for states to plan important projects. In September 2023, he supported a plan to fund the government until January 2024, which included aid for Ukraine and disaster relief.

Taxes

In 2017, Gottheimer proposed the "Anti-Moocher Bill." This bill would make states that receive more federal money than they contribute pay their "fair share." He also suggested a plan in August 2023 to give families tax credits for youth sports costs.

SALT Deduction

Gottheimer strongly supports bringing back the full State And Local Tax (SALT) deduction. This deduction was limited to $10,000 by a 2017 tax law. He argues that restoring this deduction would be the best way to lower taxes for families in New Jersey.

He has made many attempts to remove the limit on the SALT deduction. He even suggested a way for towns to set up charitable funds that residents could donate to, allowing them to deduct their property taxes as charitable contributions. However, this idea was blocked by the IRS. He continues to lead a bipartisan group in Congress focused on this issue.

Foreign Affairs

Israel

Gottheimer believes that the relationship between the United States and Israel is very important. He calls Israel "our most vital ally in the Middle East."

In March 2023, he promised to support Israel's security and help grow peace agreements like the Abraham Accords. He also urged other members of Congress not to criticize Israel's proposed judicial reforms. In April 2023, he visited Israel twice and supported legislation that confirmed the House's support for military aid to Israel. He also introduced a bill to expand anti-boycott laws to stop the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement in the U.S.

Israel-Hamas War (2023–present)

After the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023, Gottheimer strongly condemned language that he felt blamed Israel. He voted to officially criticize another congressperson for promoting what he called "false narratives" about the attack.

He also helped introduce a bill called the "Operation Swords of Iron" Iron Dome Appropriations Act. This bill is important for increasing American security assistance for Israel's missile defense system. He has consistently supported aid packages for Israel and has worked to hold groups like Iran and Hamas accountable.

In November 2023, Gottheimer praised the first Israel-Hamas hostage deal, which led to the release of some hostages. He emphasized that the war was not over and that the U.S. must continue to support Israel and provide humanitarian aid to innocent Palestinian civilians. In December 2023, he visited Israel with the House Intelligence Committee to discuss the war with Israeli officials.

Syria

Gottheimer supported President Donald Trump's decision to strike Syria in 2018 after chemical weapons were used. He believed that such terrible actions needed a strong response.

Ukraine

Gottheimer has supported efforts to help Ukraine in its defense against Russia. He introduced legislation to stop Russian oil, natural gas, and coal products from entering American ports. In October 2023, he supported a bill that would combine military aid for Ukraine with increased border security for the U.S. He believes that supporting Ukraine is important for U.S. national security and its allies.

Politics

Bipartisanship

Gottheimer is known for working with members of both political parties. He has been ranked as one of the most bipartisan Democrats in the House. He is the Democratic co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of lawmakers from both parties who work together to find solutions. He often says that members of Congress are more bipartisan than people think.

Donald Trump

In 2017, Gottheimer called for an independent group to investigate possible connections between Donald Trump and Russia. When asked about impeaching Trump in 2019, he said that any decision should be based on facts and evidence. Gottheimer voted to impeach Trump during both his first and second impeachment proceedings. He also supported the U.S.-Israel relationship, which he said was important to the United States.

Social Issues

LGBTQ Rights

Gottheimer supports same-sex marriage. He believes that people should be able to marry whomever they choose and that it is not the government's role to decide this. In 2022, he voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, which protects the right to same-sex marriage under federal law.

He has attended and spoken at pride events in his district. In June 2023, he hosted a discussion with LGBTQ+ advocates to talk about issues like hate crimes, homelessness, and mental health affecting the LGBTQ+ community. In 2017, he introduced a bill to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in credit. This legislation later became part of the Equality Act in 2021.

Electoral History

Books

Gottheimer has edited a book called Ripples of Hope (2003). It is a collection of important American civil rights speeches. One speech by Martin Luther King Jr. in the book had never been published before.

He also co-authored Power of Words (2011) with Mary Frances Berry. This book is about the speeches of former President Barack Obama.

Personal Life

Josh Gottheimer grew up in North Caldwell. He now lives in Tenafly. He is Jewish and is married to Marla Tusk, whom he married in 2006. They have two children.

Images for kids

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  Official photo of Josh Gottheimer.