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Diana Harshbarger

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Diana Harshbarger
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2021
Preceded byPhil Roe
Personal details
Born (1960-01-01) January 1, 1960 (age 64)
Kingsport, Tennessee, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseRobert Harshbarger
ChildrenBobby Harshbarger
EducationEast Tennessee State University (BS)
Mercer University (PharmD)
WebsiteHouse website
Diana Harshbarger's voice
Diana Harshbarger speaks on the importance of the Bible and prayer
Recorded December 1, 2021

Diana Lynn Harshbarger (/ˈhɑːrʃbɑːrɡər/ HARSH-bar-gər;[1] born January 1, 1960)[2][3] is an American pharmacist, businesswoman, and politician. A member of the Republican Party, she has served as the U.S. representative for Tennessee's 1st congressional district since January 3, 2021. Her district is based in the Tri-Cities area in northeastern Tennessee.

Early life and career

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Harshbarger was born in Kingsport, Tennessee, and raised in nearby Bloomingdale. She is the first person in her family to graduate from high school.[4] She earned her bachelor's degree from East Tennessee State University and her Doctor of Pharmacy from Mercer University.[5]

Harshbarger has been a licensed pharmacist since 1987.[6] She and her husband, Bob, operate Premier Pharmacy, a compounding pharmacy.[7]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Election

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2020

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Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Tennessee § District 1

After six-term incumbent and fellow Republican Phil Roe opted to retire from the United States House of Representatives, Harshbarger announced her candidacy to succeed him in the United States House of Representatives for Tennessee's 1st congressional district.[8] She won the 17-way August 5 Republican primary and defeated Democratic nominee Blair Walsingham in the November general election.[9][10][11] She had effectively clinched a seat in Congress with her victory in the primary, since the 1st is one of the few ancestrally Republican districts in the South; it has been in Republican hands for all but four years since 1861, and Democrats have garnered as much as 40% of the vote only twice since 1898. When Harshbarger took office on January 3, 2021, she became the fifth woman elected to Congress from Tennessee, but only the third who was not a stand-in for her husband, after Diane Black and Marsha Blackburn. The 1st historically gives its incumbents very long tenures in Washington; Harshbarger is only the ninth person to hold the seat in 100 years.

Harshbarger focused her campaign on fixing the opioid crisis, advocating anti-abortion legislation, and protecting religious freedom.[12] She also highlighted American dependence on Chinese pharmaceutical imports as an issue of national security.[13] During the Republican primary, her opponents criticized her over her alleged involvement with American Inhalation Medication Specialists (AIMS), a business her husband ran that sold mislabeled pharmaceuticals from China.[13] In 2013 Robert Harshbarger pleaded guilty to fraud charges related to the company and was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison, in addition to over $800,000 in restitution and over $400,000 in asset forfeiture.[13] Harshbarger's campaign said she had no involvement with AIMS, despite corporate records to the contrary.[14]

Harshbarger declined to debate her competitors during the primary and general elections.[15]

Tenure

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On January 6, 2021, supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol during debate. Lawmakers fled to an undisclosed location for safety. Later that evening, Harshbarger joined 139 other Republican House members in voting to sustain objections to the certification of the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, based on claims of voter fraud.[16]

In August 2021, Business Insider reported that Harshbarger had violated the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012, a federal transparency and conflict-of-interest law, by failing to properly disclose over 700 stock trades worth between $728,000 and $10.9 million.[17]

Harshbarger supports efforts to impeach President Joe Biden. In September 2021 Harshbarger co-sponsored a resolution by Marjorie Taylor Greene to impeach President Joe Biden over the withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan.[18] In May, 2023, she co-sponsored a resolution by Greene to impeach Biden over his handling of security at the United States–Mexico border.[19] Also in May 2023, she co-sponsored Greene's resolutions to impeach Attorney General Merrick Garland,[20] FBI director Christopher Wray,[21] Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas,[22] and U.S. attorney for D.C. Matthew M. Graves.[23]

Harshbarger was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[24]

In 2024, Harshbarger voted against the $60 billion military aid package for Ukraine, although much of the money would go to her constituency.[25]

In 2024, Harshbarger spoke against expanded coverage of anti-obesity drugs for Medicaid and Medicare recipients. She said, "Obesity is not a disease. It’s a side effect of different things, like unhealthy eating or whatever. So no, I’m not in favor of that, because it’s going to put us in dire straits and run us out of money."[26]

Committee assignments

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[27]

Caucus memberships

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Electoral history

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2020

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United States House of Representatives, Tennessee's 1st District Republican Primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Diana Harshbarger 18,074 19.2
Republican Timothy Hill 15,731 16.7
Republican Rusty Crowe 15,179 16.1
Republican Josh Gapp 13,379 14.2
Republican Steve Darden 11,647 12.4
Republican John Clark 8,826 9.4
Republican David Hawk 4,717 5.0
Republican Nichole Williams 2,803 3.0
Republican Jay Adkins 1,635 1.7
Republican Carter Quillen 853 0.9
Republican Richard Baker 298 0.3
Republican Chad Fleenor 282 0.3
Republican Phil Arlinghaus 274 0.3
Republican Robert Franklin 229 0.2
Republican Chuck Miller 189 0.2
Republican Chance Cansler 147 0.2
United States House of Representatives, Tennessee's 1st District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Diana Harshbarger 228,181 74.7
Democratic Blair Walsingham 68,617 22.5
Independent Steve Holder 8,261 2.8
Independent Josh Berger (write-in) 4 0.0
Independent David Adams (write-in) 2 0.0

2022

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Republican primary results[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Diana Harshbarger (incumbent) 43,761 100.0
Total votes 43,761 100.0
2022 Tennessee's 1st Congressional District General Election[32]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Diana Harshbarger (incumbent) 147,241 78.32%
Democratic Cameron Parsons 37,049 19.71%
Independent Richard Baker 2,466 1.31%
Independent Ahmed Makrom 1,247 0.66%
Total votes 188,003 100.0%
Republican hold

Personal life

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Harshbarger is a Baptist.[33] Her husband pleaded guilty to federal charges of distributing misbranded drugs from China to kidney-dialysis patients; he was sentenced to 4 years in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $848,504 and a $25,000 criminal fine, in addition to forfeiting $425,000 in cash.[34] Her only son, Bobby Harshbarger, is currently the Republican state Senator-elect for Tennessee's 4th Senate district.

On July 30, 2024, her husband was issued a summons by the Sullivan County judicial commissioner after he was found trying to remove campaign signs from state Senator Jon Lundberg, their son's primary opponent.[35] On August 29, all charges against him were dismissed.[36][37]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Interview with WJHL 5/5/23. Rep. Diana Harshbarger. May 22, 2023. Event occurs at 00:35. Retrieved August 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ Bowden, John (November 30, 2020). "Rep.-elect Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.-01)". The Hill. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  3. ^ "Diana Harshbarger". Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Schultz, Marisa (November 24, 2020). "Rep.-elect Diana Harshbarger says Congress is no match 'for a woman who can multitask'". Foxnews. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  5. ^ Staff reports (March 12, 2020). "Harshbarger announces Congressional bid". Kingsport Times-News. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  6. ^ Houk, Robert (July 11, 2020). "Harshbarger pledges to 'put America first' in Congress". Johnson City Press. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  7. ^ Carter, Joe (July 13, 2015). "Premier Pharmacy goes To Washington!". Kingsport Times-News. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  8. ^ "'Trump conservative': Kingsport pharmacist announces Congressional run". March 12, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  9. ^ Whetstone, Tyler. "Diana Harshbarger wins GOP nomination in race to replace Rep. Phil Roe". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  10. ^ "Harshbarger wins GOP primary in open Tennessee US House race". AP NEWS. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  11. ^ Teague, Slater (November 3, 2020). "Harshbarger wins race for Rep. Phil Roe's seat". WJHL-TV. WJHL-TV. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  12. ^ Stabile, Angelica (November 9, 2020). "13 GOP women join the House, dominating congressional elections, making history". FOX News. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c Keeling, Jeff (May 13, 2020). "Candidate with ad criticizing Chinese drug manufacturing says she had no role in husband's business that misbranded Chinese drugs". WJHL. Kingsport, Tenn. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  14. ^ Keeling, Jeff (July 21, 2020). "Records show Diana Harshbarger was officer, shareholder for company she claimed to have 'no role or involvement in'". WJHL. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  15. ^ Perhne, Caleb (September 11, 2020). "Congressional candidate Diana Harshbarger refuses to debate opponents". WCYB. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  16. ^ Yourish, Karen; Buchanan, Larry; Lu, Denise (January 7, 2021). "The 147 Republicans Who Voted to Overturn Election Results". The New York Times. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  17. ^ Levinthal, Dave (August 19, 2021). "Republican Rep. Diana Harshbarger failed to properly disclose more than 700 stock trades worth as much as $10.9 million in violation of federal transparency law". Business Insider. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  18. ^ "H.Res.598 - Impeaching Joseph R. Biden, President of the United States, for dereliction of duty by leaving behind thousands of American civilians and Afghan allies, along with numerous taxpayer-financed weapons and military equipment, endangering the lives of the American people and the security of the United States". Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  19. ^ "H.Res.420 - Impeaching Joseph Robinette Biden, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors". May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  20. ^ "H.Res.410 - Impeaching Merrick Brian Garland, Attorney General of the United States, for facilitating the weaponization and politicization of the United States justice system against the American people". Congress.gov. United States Congress. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  21. ^ "H.Res.406 - Impeaching Christopher Asher Wray, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, for facilitating the development of a Federal police force to intimidate, harass, and entrap American citizens that are deemed enemies of the Biden regime". Congress.gov. United States Congress. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  22. ^ "H.Res.411 - Impeaching Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, for high crimes and misdemeanors". Congress.gov. United States Congress. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  23. ^ "H.Res.405 - Impeaching Matthew M. Graves, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, for endangering, compromising, and undermining the justice system of the United States by facilitating the explosion of violent crime in the Nation's capital". Congress.gov. United States Congress.
  24. ^ Gans, Jared (May 31, 2023). "Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no". The Hill. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  25. ^ Thiessen, Marc (April 25, 2024). "These politicians voted against their states' best interests on Ukraine aid". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  26. ^ "Government coverage of Ozempic splits Republicans". Semafor. 2024.
  27. ^ "Committees and Caucuses". Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. U.S. House Of Representatives. January 3, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  28. ^ "Committees and Caucuses | Representative Diana Harshbarger". harshbarger.house.gov. January 3, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  29. ^ "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Archived from the original on January 1, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  30. ^ "Full list of Freedom Caucus Members after 2022 midterms results". Newsweek. November 10, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  31. ^ "State of Tennessee Republican Primary" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  32. ^ State of Tennessee General Election Results, November 8, 2022, Results By Office (PDF) (Report). Secretary of State of Tennessee. December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  33. ^ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). PEW Research Center. December 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  34. ^ "Pharmacist Sentenced For DistributingMisbranded Drug For Kidney Dialysis Patients". www.justice.gov. United States Department of Justice. November 4, 2013. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  35. ^ "Lundberg: Bobby Harshbarger's father stole, vandalized campaign signs". WJHL-TV. July 31, 2024.
  36. ^ "Campaign sign case against Bob Harshbarger dismissed". WJHL-TV. August 29, 2024.
  37. ^ "Judge dismisses campaign sign case against Bob Harshbarger Sr". Kingsport Times-News. August 29, 2024.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Tennessee's 1st congressional district
2021–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
307th 		Succeeded by
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