Harold Ford Jr. is an American financier, political analyst, author, and former U.S. Congressman. Born on May 11, 1970, in Memphis, Tennessee, he hails from the influential Ford political family. His father, Harold Ford Sr., served as a U.S. Representative from 1975 to 1997, representing Tennessee’s 9th congressional district. Harold Jr. succeeded his father in this seat, serving from 1997 to 2007. In 2006, he ran for the U.S. Senate but was narrowly defeated by Republican Bob Corker.
After his congressional tenure, Ford worked as a managing director at Morgan Stanley from 2011 to 2017. He also became a familiar face on political commentary programs across NBC, MSNBC, CNN, and CNBC. In April 2021, Ford joined Fox News as a political contributor, frequently appearing on “Special Report” and co-hosting “The Five” starting in January 2022.
Educationally, Ford earned a Bachelor of Arts in American history from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School in 1996. He currently resides in New York City with his wife, Emily Threlkeld, whom he married in 2008, and their two children.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Ford is part of the broader Ford family political dynasty in Memphis, which includes several relatives who have held public office, such as his uncles John N. Ford and Emmitt H. Ford, and his aunts Ophelia Ford and Kemba Ford.