Josh Gottheimer

Josh Gottheimer
Official portrait, 2017
Josh Gottheimer
Born	Joshua S. Gottheimer 8 3, 1975
Birthplace	Livingston, New Jersey, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney, writer, public policy adviser
Known for	U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 5th congressional district
Education	University of Pennsylvania (BA) Pembroke College, Oxford (attended) Harvard University (JD)
Children	2
Website	[gottheimer.house.gov Official site]

Joshua S. Gottheimer (born March 8, 1975) is an American politician, attorney, writer, and public policy adviser who has served as the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 5th congressional district since January 3, 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Gottheimer represents a district that stretches along the northern border of New Jersey, encompassing densely populated metropolitan suburbs in Bergen County and extending northwest through exurban and rural areas in northern Passaic County and Sussex County. Before entering Congress, Gottheimer built a career that spanned the worlds of politics, law, communications, and corporate affairs. He served as a speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and as an adviser to multiple presidential campaigns, including those of Wesley Clark, John Kerry, and Hillary Clinton. He also held positions at Burson Cohn & Wolfe, the Federal Communications Commission, Ford Motor Company, and Microsoft. In Congress, Gottheimer has positioned himself as a centrist Democrat and is a member of the New Democrat Coalition.

Early Life

Joshua S. Gottheimer was born on March 8, 1975, in Livingston, New Jersey. He grew up in a Jewish family in the northern New Jersey suburbs. Gottheimer's mother, Gwenn, later became a central personal influence in his life and career. She suffered from sarcoidosis, a debilitating inflammatory disease, and her experience with the illness shaped Gottheimer's interest in health policy advocacy. Gwenn Gottheimer eventually died from complications related to sarcoidosis, an event that Gottheimer has cited publicly as a motivating factor in his congressional work on disease research and treatment.

Gottheimer's upbringing in suburban New Jersey placed him in close proximity to the New York City metropolitan area, a region that would later define his congressional constituency. His early years in Livingston, a middle-class community in Essex County, provided a foundation in the kind of suburban, commuter-oriented environment that characterizes much of the 5th congressional district he would later represent.

Education

Gottheimer attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently studied at Pembroke College at the University of Oxford, though he did not complete a degree there. Gottheimer then enrolled at Harvard Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor (JD) degree. His educational background, combining undergraduate study at an Ivy League institution with legal training at Harvard, prepared him for careers in both law and public policy. The combination of American and British academic experience also broadened his perspective on governance and international affairs.

Career

Early Career in Politics and Communications

Gottheimer's professional career began in the intersection of politics and communications. He served as a speechwriter for President Bill Clinton, a role that placed him at the center of Democratic Party messaging during the Clinton administration. This position gave Gottheimer direct experience in crafting policy communications at the highest level of American government and established relationships that would prove significant throughout his career.

Following his time in the Clinton White House, Gottheimer became involved in multiple presidential campaigns. He served as an adviser to the presidential campaign of Wesley Clark, the retired Army general who sought the Democratic nomination in 2004. He also worked on John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign and later advised Hillary Clinton's presidential efforts. These roles cemented Gottheimer's reputation within the Democratic Party establishment as a skilled communications strategist and policy adviser.

Gottheimer also held a position at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), working in the regulatory agency that oversees telecommunications and broadcasting in the United States.

Corporate Career

After his initial period in government and political campaigns, Gottheimer transitioned into the corporate sector. He worked at Burson Cohn & Wolfe, one of the world's largest public relations and communications firms, where he gained experience in corporate communications and strategic advisory work.

Gottheimer also worked at Ford Motor Company, one of the largest American automobile manufacturers, in a corporate communications or public affairs capacity.

His most prominent corporate role was at Microsoft, where he worked in the company's corporate affairs division. At Microsoft, Gottheimer was involved in the technology giant's public policy and communications operations, navigating the complex regulatory and political environment surrounding one of the world's largest technology companies. A 2012 Business Standard profile described Gottheimer as a "former Washington political brawler" who had moved into the corporate technology arena at Microsoft, highlighting the transition from political combat to corporate strategy.

2016 Congressional Campaign

Gottheimer entered electoral politics in 2016, launching a campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Jersey's 5th congressional district. The district had been represented by Republican Scott Garrett since 2003. Garrett, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, had become a polarizing figure, and donors began exploring potential Democratic challengers as early as 2015.

Gottheimer's candidacy attracted attention in part because of his connections to the Clinton political network. A December 2015 New York Times article profiled Gottheimer as a "protégé of Hillary and Bill Clintons" who was targeting the congressional seat, emphasizing his deep roots in Democratic political circles and his background as a Clinton speechwriter. His campaign benefited from his ability to raise substantial funds, drawing on networks built during his years in politics and the corporate world.

Gottheimer defeated Garrett in the November 2016 general election, flipping a seat that had been held by Republicans for over a decade. His victory was part of a broader pattern of Democratic gains in suburban districts, though it was notable given the overall Republican success at the presidential level in the same election cycle. Gottheimer succeeded Garrett as the representative for the 5th district when he took office on January 3, 2017.

Congressional Tenure

Since taking office, Gottheimer has served continuously as the representative for New Jersey's 5th congressional district. He has positioned himself as a centrist within the Democratic caucus and is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, a caucus of moderate and pro-business Democrats in the House of Representatives.

Gottheimer has been noted for his willingness to work across party lines. He has frequently collaborated with Republican colleagues on legislation and public statements. In February 2026, Gottheimer and Representative Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) issued a joint bipartisan statement opposing an Iran war powers resolution, arguing that such a measure "risks signaling weakness" in the context of ongoing threats to the United States. This bipartisan approach on national security matters reflects Gottheimer's broader political strategy of occupying centrist ground on issues of defense and foreign policy.

On matters related to Israel and the Middle East, Gottheimer has taken firm positions. In September 2025, he released a statement criticizing Western leaders for formally recognizing a Palestinian state, signaling his alignment with a more traditional pro-Israel stance within the Democratic Party.

In February 2026, Gottheimer appeared on ABC7 New York's Up Close with Bill Ritter alongside Representative Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) to discuss a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down President Donald Trump's tariffs, indicating his continued engagement with economic policy and trade issues.

Gottheimer has also emerged as a figure of interest in debates over artificial intelligence regulation. In February 2026, Punchbowl News reported that an Anthropic-backed group promoting artificial intelligence safety had launched advertising targeting moderate Democrats, with Gottheimer identified as one of the focus lawmakers. The New York Times also reported on the broader campaign by Public First Action, a super PAC group backed by Anthropic, which began an advertising effort in support of A.I. regulation.

Health Policy Advocacy

A notable aspect of Gottheimer's congressional work has been his advocacy for health policy, particularly regarding sarcoidosis research and treatment. On February 23, 2026, Gottheimer announced the launch of a bipartisan Congressional Sarcoidosis Caucus, dedicated to advancing research, awareness, and treatment for the disease. The caucus was established in memory of his mother Gwenn, who died from sarcoidosis. The New Jersey Globe reported on the launch, noting that Gottheimer's personal connection to the disease through his mother's illness and death motivated the initiative. Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that can affect multiple organs, most commonly the lungs and lymph glands, and the creation of a dedicated congressional caucus represents an effort to elevate its profile as a public health priority.

Personal Life

Gottheimer resides in the 5th congressional district in northern New Jersey. He is married; a 2006 New York Times wedding announcement documented his marriage. Gottheimer has two children.

Gottheimer is Jewish, and his Jewish heritage has been noted in coverage of his political career and community engagement in northern New Jersey.

The death of his mother Gwenn from sarcoidosis has been a defining personal event that Gottheimer has discussed publicly, particularly in connection with his legislative efforts on disease research.

Political Positions

Gottheimer is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, the caucus of centrist House Democrats. His voting record and public statements have generally reflected a moderate Democratic orientation, with particular emphasis on bipartisan cooperation, fiscal policy, national security, and support for Israel.

On national security and foreign policy, Gottheimer has demonstrated a willingness to break from progressive elements of the Democratic Party. His joint opposition with Republican Mike Lawler to an Iran war powers resolution in February 2026 exemplified this approach, with both lawmakers arguing that restrictions on presidential authority regarding Iran could undermine American credibility.

On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Gottheimer has maintained a consistently pro-Israel stance. His September 2025 statement criticizing Western nations for recognizing a Palestinian state placed him in opposition to a growing international consensus and aligned him with more hawkish elements on Middle East policy within the Democratic Party.

On technology policy, Gottheimer's role as a target of A.I. regulation advocacy advertising suggests he occupies a pivotal position in debates over the governance of artificial intelligence, where moderate Democrats hold significant influence over the direction of legislation.

On trade and economic policy, Gottheimer's commentary on the Supreme Court's decision regarding Trump administration tariffs indicated his engagement with issues of trade policy and their impact on his constituents in the New York metropolitan area.

Electoral History

Gottheimer first won election to Congress in 2016, defeating incumbent Republican Scott Garrett. His initial campaign drew attention for its financial backing and Gottheimer's connections to the Clinton political network. He has been reelected in subsequent election cycles, maintaining his hold on a district that was historically competitive between the two major parties. Federal Election Commission records document his campaign finance activity across multiple election cycles.