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Jerry McNerney
Member of the California Senate from the 5th district
Incumbent
Assumed office December 2, 2024
Preceded by	Susan Eggman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Richard Pombo
Succeeded by	Josh Harder
Constituency	11th district (2007–2013) 9th district (2013–2023)
Personal details
Born	(1951-06-18) June 18, 1951 (age 73) Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mary Martine ​(m. 1977)​
Children	3
Education	United States Military Academy University of New Mexico (BS, MS, PhD)
Scientific career
Fields	Mathematics
Thesis	A (1,1) Tensor Generalization of the Laplace-Beltrami Operator (1981)
Doctoral advisor	Alexander Stone
Jerry McNerney's voice McNerney speaks on how the 2013 government shutdown will impact California's National Energy Laboratories Recorded October 11, 2013

Gerald Mark McNerney (/məkˈnɜːrni/ mək-NUR-nee; born June 18, 1951) is an American businessman and politician who has served a member of the California State Senate since 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, he represents the 5th district, taking in most of San Joaquin County and northern parts of Alameda County county. He previously served as the U.S. representative for California's 9th congressional district 2007 until 2023. His district, numbered as the 11th district until 2013, was based in Stockton and included most of San Joaquin County, East Contra Costa County, and southern Sacramento County. McNerney holds a Ph.D in mathematics. McNerney did not run for reelection in 2022.

On December 8, 2023, McNerney filed for an open seat in District 5 of the California State Senate, upending a move into the race by Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua. McNerney defeated Republican Jim Shoemaker in the general election.

Early life, education, and business career

McNerney was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the son of Rosemary (née Tischhauser) and John E. McNerney. He is of Swiss and Irish descent. He attended St. Joseph's Military Academy in Hays, Kansas, and, for two years, the United States Military Academy at West Point. After leaving West Point in 1971 in protest of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, he enrolled at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he received bachelor's and master's degrees and, in 1981, a Ph.D. in mathematics, with a doctoral dissertation in differential geometry focusing on a generalization of the Laplace–Beltrami operator.

McNerney served several years as a contractor to Sandia National Laboratories at Kirtland Air Force Base on national security programs. In 1985, he accepted a senior engineering position with U.S. Windpower (Kenetech). In 1994, he began working as an energy consultant for PG&E, FloWind, The Electric Power Research Institute, and other utility companies. Before being elected to Congress, McNerney served as the CEO of a start-up company manufacturing wind turbines, HAWT Power (Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Power).

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2004

McNerney first ran for Congress against Richard Pombo in California's 11th congressional district in the 2004 House elections. He entered the race two weeks before the primary election as a write-in candidate, encouraged by his son. He qualified as a write-in candidate for the March primary by a small margin. With no opponent, he won the primary and qualified for the November general election ballot as the Democratic nominee. He lost the general election, 61%-39%.

2006

McNerney launched his 2006 campaign early in the fall of 2005. In June 2006 he won the Democratic primary with 52.8% of the vote, defeating Steve Filson, who had been endorsed by the DCCC, and Stevan Thomas.

In late July, Republicans Pete McCloskey and Tom Benigno, both of whom ran in the Republican primary against Pombo, endorsed McNerney. In September, analysis of the campaign was changed from "Republican safe" to "Republican favored" due to the emergence of McNerney's campaign. The report noted "a party spokesman says it's because they want to win decisively but others speculate that internal polling has delivered bad news for the incumbent." On October 3, a poll commissioned by Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund was released with McNerney leading Pombo, 48% to 46%. Based on these events, in early October, CQPolitics.com changed their rating of this race from Republican Favored to Leans Republican

On November 7, 2006, McNerney defeated Pombo, 53–47%.

2008

McNerney was reelected, 55% to 45%, over Republican nominee Dean Andal.

2010

McNerney was reelected, 48%–47%, defeating Republican nominee David Harmer.

2012

For his first three terms, McNerney represented a district that encompassed eastern Contra Costa County, most of San Joaquin County outside of Stockton, parts of Alameda County, and a small portion of Santa Clara County. After redistricting, his district was renumbered as the 9th district. It lost its portion of Contra Costa County, including McNerney's home in Pleasanton, while picking up all of Stockton along with part of Sacramento County. After the new map was announced, McNerney announced he would move to Stockton in the new 9th. While the old 11th was a hybrid Bay Area/Central Valley district, the new 9th was more of a Central Valley district, slightly more Democratic than its predecessor. McNerney eventually bought a home in Stockton. He was reelected, 56%–44%, defeating Republican nominee Ricky Gill.

Tenure

In 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law a bill McNerney wrote that establishes an evaluation panel to assess the Veteran's Administration treatments for traumatic brain injury. McNerney wrote a bill in 2013 that allowed veterans to keep receiving their benefits during the government shutdown.

McNerney was one of the first lawmakers to call for the resignation of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki after revelations about delays in care at VA health care facilities.

McNerney is a proponent of renewable energy and supports cap and trade.

McNerney co-sponsored the bill To require the Secretary of Energy to prepare a report on the impact of thermal insulation on both energy and water use for potable hot water (H.R. 4801; 113th Congress), which would require the United States Secretary of Energy to prepare a report on the effects of thermal insulation on both energy consumption and systems for providing potable water in federal buildings.

In 2007, McNerney voted against legislation that would have prevented the DEA from enforcing prohibition in the 12 states (including California) that allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

In 2013, McNerney introduced the Methamphetamine Education, Treatment and Hope (METH) Act to expand programs that combat methamphetamine abuse.

In April 2018, McNerney, Jared Huffman, Jamie Raskin, and Dan Kildee launched the Congressional Freethought Caucus. Its stated goals include "pushing public policy formed on the basis of reason, science, and moral values", promoting the "separation of church and state", and opposing discrimination against "atheists, agnostics, humanists, seekers, religious and nonreligious persons", among others. Huffman and Raskin act as co-chairs.

McNerney voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Power
  • Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade
  • Subcommittee on Environment and Economy
• Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Energy

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Arthritis Caucus
• United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus
• Grid Innovation Caucus
• Congressional Freethought Caucus
• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
• Climate Solutions Caucus
• Medicare for All Caucus

Political positions

United States Supreme Court

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, McNerney called it "a partisan body that is no longer a legitimate arbiter of our Constitution." He said it had a "far-right minority agenda" that is a "threat not only to our country, but to the world."

Electoral history

Personal life

McNerney resides in Stockton, California. He and his wife, Mary, have three children. McNerney is Roman Catholic.

References

1. Jerry McNerney (September 2, 2006). "Biographical detail in op-ed: "Three-ring Pombo Cash Circus Comes to Stockton"". YubaNet.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
2. Sonmez, Felicia (January 18, 2022). "Two more Democrats, Reps. Langevin and McNerney, announce their retirements". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
3. White, Jeremy B. (December 8, 2023). "Former Rep. Jerry McNerney jumps into fast-shifting California state Senate race". POLITICO. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
4. "Early results show Republican Shoemaker leading in expensive East Bay state Senate race". The Mercury News. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
5. Profile, freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com; accessed November 20, 2014.
6. Profile Archived 2011-09-17 at the Wayback Machine, opencongress.org; accessed November 20, 2014.
7. "Mathematics Genealogy Project". Retrieved November 20, 2014.
8. G. McNerney and R. Richardson, "The Statistical Smoothing of Power Delivered to Utilities by Multiple Wind Turbines", IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion 7:4 (Dec. 1992), pp. 644–47.
9. Upton, John (November 4, 2006). "Being Jerry McNerney". Tracy Press. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
10. Brand, Madeleine; Chadwick, Alex (October 30, 2006). "A Tightly Contested Rematch in California". NPR. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
11. missingauthor (July 24, 2006). "missingtitle". The Washington Post.
12. Lisa Vorderbrueggen (September 23, 2006). "News and observations, some serious, some not, on the East Bay political scene". Contra Costa Times Politics Weblog. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
13. Hank Shaw (October 3, 2006). "Poll shows Pombo, McNerney just 2 points apart". The Record. Retrieved August 18, 2006.
14. Ryan Kelly (October 3, 2006). "Competitive Race Lies Beneath Flurry of GOP Activity in Calif. 11". CQPolitics.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2006.
15. Gordon, Rachel (November 8, 2006). "Challenger defeats Pombo in a stunner". San Francisco Chronicle.
16. Profile, smartvoter.org, November 2, 2010; accessed November 20, 2014.
17. Garofoli, Joe (July 28, 2011). "Jerry McNerney looks at new political map, moves to San Joaquin County". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 25, 2011.
18. Office of the California Secretary of State Archived 2013-10-19 at the Wayback Machine "United States Representative in Congress"; retrieved January 21, 2014.
19. "McNerney Sponsors Bill to Help Process Veterans' Claims". Central Valley Business Journal.
20. McNerney calls for resignation of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, eastcountytoday.tumblr.com; accessed November 20, 2014.
21. Lockhead, Carolyn (July 27, 2009). "Pelosi gets landmark bill through". The San Francisco Chronicle.
22. "House committee approves Rep. Jerry McNerney energy bill". Lodi News-Sentinel. June 12, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
23. "Energy and Commerce Committee Approves Bill with Mechanical Insulation Language". Central States Insulation Association. June 11, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
24. Epstein, Edward (July 27, 2007). "McNerney draws fire from backers of medicinal pot". The San Francisco Chronicle.
25. "McNerney Bill Targets Meth". The Stockton Record. February 16, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
26. Manchester, Julia. "Dem lawmakers launch 'Freethought' congressional caucus". The Hill. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
27. Bycoffe, Aaron; Wiederkehr, Anna (April 22, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
28. "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
29. "Members". Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
30. "90 Current Climate Solutions Caucus Members". Citizen´s Climate Lobby. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
31. McNerney, Jerry (June 24, 2022). "This Court is a partisan body that is no longer a legitimate arbiter of our Constitution". Twitter. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
32. Office of the California Secretary of State Archived 2012-11-15 at the Wayback Machine "United States Representative in Congress" (retrieved on July 29, 2009)
33. Office of the California Secretary of State Archived 2008-12-21 at the Wayback Machine "United States Representative in Congress," (retrieved on July 29, 2009)
34. Office of the California Secretary of State Archived 2010-11-17 at the Wayback Machine "United States Representative in Congress" (retrieved on November 24, 2010).
35. Sacramento Bee Archived 2013-08-01 at the Wayback Machine "Election Results," (retrieved on June 14, 2013)
36. 2014 general election results
37. Office of the California Secretary of State Archived 2020-10-18 at the Wayback Machine "United States Representative by District" (retrieved on October 26, 2020)
38. Office of the California Secretary of State Archived 2018-12-21 at the Wayback Machine "United States Representative by District" (retrieved on October 26, 2020)
39. "November 3, 2020, General Election – United States Representative" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
40. Vorderbrueggen, Lisa (January 9, 2007). "Mr. McNerney goes to Washington". East Bay Times. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
41. "Rep.-Elect Jerry McNerney (D—Calif.)". The New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2020.

External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Appearances on C-SPAN

v t e Members of the California State Senate
2025–26 Session President of the Senate Eleni Kounalakis (D) President pro tempore Mike McGuire (D) Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez (D) Minority Leader Brian Jones (R)
▌Megan Dahle (R) ▌Mike McGuire (D) ▌Christopher Cabaldon (D) ▌Marie Alvarado-Gil (R) ▌Jerry McNerney (D) ▌Roger Niello (R) ▌Jesse Arreguín (D) ▌Angelique Ashby (D) ▌Tim Grayson (D) ▌Aisha Wahab (D) ▌Scott Wiener (D) ▌Shannon Grove (R) ▌Josh Becker (D) ▌Anna Caballero (D) ▌Dave Cortese (D) ▌Melissa Hurtado (D) ▌John Laird (D) ▌Steve Padilla (D) ▌Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R) ▌Caroline Menjivar (D) ▌Monique Limón (D) ▌Susan Rubio (D) ▌Suzette Martinez Valladares (R) ▌Ben Allen (D) ▌Sasha Renée Pérez (D) ▌María Elena Durazo (D) ▌Henry Stern (D) ▌Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D) ▌Eloise Reyes (D) ▌Bob Archuleta (D) ▌Sabrina Cervantes (D) ▌Kelly Seyarto (R) ▌Lena Gonzalez (D) ▌Tom Umberg (D) ▌Laura Richardson (D) ▌Vacant ▌Steven Choi (R) ▌Catherine Blakespear (D) ▌Akilah Weber (D) ▌Brian Jones (R)
▌Democratic (30) ▌Republican (9) ▌Vacant (1) California State Legislature California State Assembly California State Senate List of past legislatures

• 1951 births
• Living people
• 21st-century members of the California State Legislature
• 21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives
• 21st-century Roman Catholics
• American people of Irish descent
• American people of Swiss descent
• Catholics from New Mexico
• Catholic politicians from California
• Democratic Party California state senators
• Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California
• Engineers from California
• Mathematicians from California
• Military personnel from California
• New Mexico Democrats
• People from Pleasanton, California
• Politicians from Albuquerque, New Mexico
• United States Military Academy alumni
• University of New Mexico alumni