Jared Huffman

Biography

Jared William Huffman was born on February 18, 1964, in Independence, Missouri. He is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for California's 2nd congressional district since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Huffman represents a district spanning from the Golden Gate Bridge north to the Oregon border, encompassing Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, and Del Norte counties.

Huffman is widely recognized as one of the foremost leaders on climate action and environmental protection. In 2025, his colleagues elected him to serve as the Ranking Member on the House Natural Resources Committee. He is also a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Education and Early Career

Before his election to Congress, Huffman built an extensive legal background in environmental and civil rights law. He served as a Senior Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council , where he helped restore 153 miles of the San Joaquin River. Earlier in his career, he worked as a successful public interest attorney, winning several major jury verdicts in gender discrimination and race discrimination trials.

Huffman also served 12 years in local government as a Director of the Marin Municipal Water District.

Political Experience

Huffman served six years in the California State Assembly from 2006 to 2012, representing the 6th district. During his tenure in the state legislature, he chaired the Assembly Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee and the Assembly Environmental Caucus. He was instrumental in passing landmark water reforms, clean energy policies, and environmental protection laws that became national models.

He was elected to Congress in 2012 with more than 70% of the vote. In Congress, Huffman has championed numerous initiatives including securing funding for clean energy and broadband service in tribal communities, winning permanent protection for the Stornetta Public Lands National Monument, restoring salmon habitat, and spearheading passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with key provisions on fire resilience, water infrastructure, and climate action.