Brad Sherman

Brad Sherman
Born	Bradley James Sherman 24 10, 1954
Birthplace	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, accountant, attorney
Known for	U.S. Representative for California's 32nd congressional district
Education	University of California, Los Angeles (BA) Harvard University (JD)
Children	3
Website	[Official congressional website Official site]

Bradley James Sherman (born October 24, 1954) is an American accountant, attorney, and politician who has served as a member of the United States House of Representatives since 1997, representing various congressional districts in California. A member of the Democratic Party, Sherman currently represents California's 32nd congressional district, which encompasses portions of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County and the eastern part of the Simi Hills in Ventura County. Before entering Congress, he served on the California State Board of Equalization from 1991 to 1996. Over the course of his lengthy congressional career, Sherman has been a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on Financial Services, engaging in legislative work on issues including international relations, financial regulation, and policy matters affecting his constituents in the greater Los Angeles area. He succeeded Anthony Beilenson in California's 24th congressional district and has since been redistricted multiple times, representing the 24th, 27th, 30th, and 32nd districts across successive reapportionments.

Early Life

Bradley James Sherman was born on October 24, 1954, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in the Los Angeles area, where he would spend most of his personal and professional life. Sherman's early years were rooted in the San Fernando Valley, a region he would later represent in Congress for decades.

Sherman demonstrated academic aptitude from a young age, which led him to pursue higher education at two of the most distinguished institutions in the United States. His upbringing in Los Angeles shaped his later political focus on issues affecting the San Fernando Valley and the broader Southern California region.

Education

Sherman attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently enrolled at Harvard Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor (JD) degree. His dual background in law and accounting — Sherman is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) — provided him with a professional foundation that would inform his later work on financial policy in Congress, particularly on the House Committee on Financial Services.

Career

Early Professional Career

Before entering politics, Sherman worked as a Certified Public Accountant and tax law attorney. His expertise in accounting and taxation distinguished him among his congressional peers and later influenced his committee assignments and legislative priorities. Sherman's professional background in tax law gave him a detailed understanding of fiscal policy that he would carry into his political career.

California Board of Equalization (1991–1996)

Sherman's political career began with his election to the California State Board of Equalization, where he represented the 4th district beginning in January 1991. He succeeded Conway Collis in the position. The Board of Equalization is responsible for tax administration and fee collection in California, and Sherman's tenure there allowed him to apply his accounting and tax expertise to state governance. He served on the board until January 3, 1997, when he transitioned to Congress. Sherman was succeeded on the Board of Equalization by John Chiang, who would later serve as California State Controller and California State Treasurer.

U.S. House of Representatives

Election and Early Terms (1997–2003)

Sherman was first elected to Congress in 1996, succeeding Anthony Beilenson as the representative for California's 24th congressional district. He took office on January 3, 1997, and represented the 24th district for three terms, from 1997 to 2003. The district at that time encompassed portions of the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas in Los Angeles County.

Redistricting and Continued Service (2003–2023)

Following the redistricting that accompanied the 2000 Census, Sherman transitioned to representing California's 27th congressional district, which he held for five terms from 2003 to 2013. After the 2010 Census redistricting cycle, he moved to represent California's 30th congressional district for another five terms, from 2013 to 2023.

The 2012 redistricting cycle, which took effect for the 2012 elections, created a notable intra-party contest. Under California's new nonpartisan blanket primary system, Sherman faced a competitive race in the redrawn district. Despite the challenges presented by redistricting, Sherman prevailed and continued his service in Congress.

Following the redistricting based on the 2020 Census, Sherman began representing California's 32nd congressional district starting in 2023. The district continues to include portions of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County and the eastern part of the Simi Hills in Ventura County.

Committee Assignments

Throughout his congressional tenure, Sherman has served on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on Financial Services. His work on the Financial Services Committee has drawn on his professional background as a CPA and tax attorney, while his position on the Foreign Affairs Committee has allowed him to engage with international policy issues.

Legislative Priorities and Policy Positions

Sherman has been active on a range of legislative issues throughout his career. His work in Congress has spanned financial regulation, foreign affairs, environmental concerns, and constituent services for the San Fernando Valley region.

Financial Policy: Sherman's background as a CPA has informed his work on financial regulation and housing policy. He has been involved in bipartisan congressional efforts related to FHA loan limits, working to address housing affordability concerns in high-cost areas such as Southern California.

Armenian Issues: Sherman has been a consistent advocate for issues related to the Armenian American community, which has a significant population in his district and the broader Los Angeles area. He has been involved in efforts to press for pro-Armenia aid provisions in foreign assistance legislation and has worked with the Armenian National Committee of America.

Civil Rights and Marriage Equality: Sherman has supported same-sex marriage rights. In 2012, he was among those backing marriage equality, aligning with efforts in Congress and in California to advance civil rights for LGBTQ individuals.

Intellectual Property: Sherman was involved in legislative efforts related to intellectual property and internet policy, including engagement with SOPA (H.R. 3261), a controversial bill introduced during the 112th Congress that sought to combat online piracy but faced significant opposition from technology companies and internet freedom advocates.

Immigration Reform: Sherman has been involved in immigration legislation, including the STRIVE Act (H.R. 2015), a comprehensive immigration reform bill introduced in the 110th Congress that addressed border security, employer verification, and pathways for undocumented immigrants.

Recent Congressional Activity

Sherman has remained active in the 119th Congress, continuing to address a wide range of policy issues and constituent concerns.

Tariff Policy and India Relations: In February 2026, Sherman publicly criticized the Trump administration's tariff policies directed at India, arguing that India was being unfairly singled out regarding tariffs related to Russian oil imports. Sherman called the policy inconsistent, questioning why India was being targeted while other countries engaged in similar trade practices were not subjected to the same treatment.

Impeachment Effort Against Kristi Noem: In January 2026, Sherman joined Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) in formally introducing articles of impeachment against Secretary Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security. The effort reflected congressional concerns about the conduct of immigration enforcement operations under the department's leadership.

ICE Accountability and Town Halls: In February 2026, Sherman held a telephone town hall that drew over 5,000 participants, focused on issues of Trump administration policies and ICE accountability. The large attendance reflected constituent engagement on immigration enforcement issues.

Gaza Humanitarian Crisis: In August 2025, Sherman issued a statement on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling for action to address the food crisis in the territory. He stated that "the ongoing hunger crisis in Gaza is tragic, and all must come together to reverse it immediately."

Federal Funding for Local Projects: Sherman announced the securing of over $12 million in federal funds for projects in the San Fernando Valley and parts of the Westside of Los Angeles, including funding for nine additional community projects. This reflects his continued focus on bringing federal resources to his district.

Aliso Canyon Gas Leak: Sherman issued a statement in response to another gas leak at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility, the site of the largest natural gas leak in United States history, which occurred in 2015–2016. Sherman has been a vocal critic of the facility's continued operation and has called for increased oversight and safety measures.

Electoral Challenges

As of late 2025 and early 2026, Sherman has faced emerging challenges from younger Democratic candidates seeking to contest his seat. A November 2025 report noted that young California Democrats were challenging veteran House members in safe Democratic seats, with Sherman among the incumbents facing such challengers. The challenges have sparked debate within the Democratic Party about generational change and the party's future direction. In February 2026, the California Democratic Party endorsed establishment candidates including incumbent members of Congress despite pushback from progressive elements within the party, with Sherman among those receiving endorsements.

Personal Life

Sherman has three children. He has maintained his residence in the San Fernando Valley throughout his political career, maintaining a connection to the community he represents in Congress.

Sherman's name has occasionally been the subject of light commentary due to his representation of areas including Sherman Oaks, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley — though the neighborhood's name derives from Moses Hazeltine Sherman, a 19th-century developer, and not from the congressman.

Legacy

Brad Sherman's congressional career, which began in 1997, places him among the longer-serving members of the California congressional delegation. Having served through multiple redistricting cycles and under six different presidential administrations, Sherman has maintained continuous representation of San Fernando Valley communities for nearly three decades. His tenure on the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Financial Services has allowed him to engage with major policy debates ranging from financial regulation to international relations to environmental safety.

His professional background as a CPA and tax attorney has distinguished him among members of Congress, providing him with technical expertise in financial and fiscal matters. His advocacy on Armenian-American issues, support for marriage equality, constituent service in the San Fernando Valley, and engagement with local environmental concerns such as the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility have defined significant aspects of his legislative identity.

As an incumbent in a safe Democratic seat facing generational challenges from younger party members, Sherman's political future reflects broader tensions within the Democratic Party regarding the balance between experienced leadership and calls for new representation.