About Josh
Josh Williams understands the American Dream because Josh Williams has lived the American Dream. Born and raised in inner-city Toledo, Ohio, Josh experienced hardship from an early age. He lost his father to cancer at just five years old and was raised by a single mother in a household where daily survival was the main focus.
Despite being an honor roll student, Josh was forced to drop out of high school at 18 after becoming homeless. He spent nights on park benches and friends' couches, unsure where his next meal would come from.
While struggling to put a roof over his head, Josh met the mother of his son. In that small two bedroom house, Josh lived with 6 other adults and 7 children, sleeping on a moldy, worn out mattress in the basement.
Josh was committed to getting his family out of that situation. So he found work as a railroad subcontractor. Life was looking up until one day, he was climbing down a rail car and fell thirty feet. At just 21 years old, Josh’s life was changed forever.
After a year of trying to overcome that injury, Josh woke up one day and could no longer feel his legs. He was rushed to the emergency room and told if he didn’t have emergency back surgery he may never walk again.
At 23 years old, Josh became disabled. He spent several years lying in bed and his weight ballooned up to 450 pounds resulting in him nearly giving up on life. Through the grace of God, Josh overcame.
In 2010 and 2012 Josh had several major back surgeries, including having steel placed in his spine to stabilize it. In 2013 he had weight loss surgery and lost 200 lbs. By 29 years old he finally felt healthy enough to re-enter the workforce.
But when Josh tried to improve his life, the government tried to stop him. Josh had to fight the government for his right to go to college. He did, and he won.
At the age of 30, Josh was finally allowed to enroll in the University of Toledo. By the age of 35 Josh had graduated from University of Toledo Law School. Josh then became a practicing attorney and a college professor at Adrian College where he taught Constitutional Law.
Then in 2021, Josh decided that he wanted to give others the opportunities to overcome whatever obstacles they were facing. He realized that the only way to fix a government that has failed so many was to run for office and change the face of government. He ran for State Representative and won, becoming the first black Republican elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 50 years. He currently serves in House leadership as the first black Majority Whip in Ohio House history.
Today, Josh is running for Congress in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District because as Ohio has continued to improve life for its citizens, DC has continued to fail. He believes everyone deserves the opportunity to rise up like he has, but career politicians are not the solution and it’s time for a new generation of leadership.
Josh currently resides in Sylvania Township, with his wife Neaira.
“But by the grace of God, I went from a homeless high school dropout to the Ohio House of Representatives and now I’m asking you to send me to the halls of Congress.”