Joseph Backholm

Senior Fellow for Biblical Worldview and Strategic Engagement

Joseph Backholm is Senior Fellow for Biblical Worldview and Strategic Engagement at Family Research Council. He combines extensive legal, political, and policy experience with a love for the way biblical truth cultivates human flourishing.

Previously, Mr. Backholm served as legal counsel and Director of What Would You Say? at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview where he developed and launched a growing platform that creates short, animated videos answering common questions about faith and culture. His YouTube career began as a self-identified "6'5 Chinese Woman" in a series of YouTube videos exploring the logic of gender identity.

He served as a legislative attorney for three years and spent 10 years as the President and General Counsel of the Family Policy Institute of Washington in Washington State where he managed educational, legislative, and electoral operations on behalf of life, marriage, religious freedom, and parental rights. He led three ballot initiatives on marriage and gender privacy.

He is a Washington State native who loves travel, sports, and whatever his kids are into. Joseph received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Washington and his law degree from Seattle University. He and his wife Brook have four children. 

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Recent Activity

No, You Can’t Invoke the 14th Amendment to Raise the Debt Ceiling

A War On Nature and Nature's God Escalates

The Injustice of Biden’s Equity Agenda

Sad and Futile Ideas About Happiness

Why Are Young Progressives So Unhappy?

Why Blue States Are Legalizing Kidnapping

Thinking Biblically about Guns

Podcast Test Pilot

A Master's Degree in Miseducation

Ukraine, East Palestine, and the Politics of Crisis

Fighting An Online Epidemic

When The World Calls Christians "Fascist"

At Grammys and Elsewhere, the Devil Is in the Details

Haris Alic, Randy Weber, Glenn Youngkin, Mark Houck, Mary Miller, Joseph Backholm

Bob Good, Connor Semelsberger, Joseph Backholm, Tony Perkins, Gregg Walters

School Choice Is an Issue of Discipleship

Is California The True Freedom State?

A Win For The Status Quo

What John Fetterman Teaches Us about Why We Vote

Policies Have Consequences, Mr. President

The Injustice of the Equity Agenda

An Excuse to Discriminate?

The Left Isn’t Afraid of Christian Nationalism. They’re Afraid of Christians.

Is It UnChristian to Send Migrants to Chicago and Martha’s Vineyard?

Motherless or fatherless, on purpose

Disciple Your Kids and Run for School Board

A Transgender Power Play in California

In the Marriage Debate, Let’s Make Sure We Define ‘Love’ the Same Way God Does

Politics and the Strange Providence of God

It’s Okay to Be Grateful for America

Biden v. America

Why Are Drag Queens Everywhere?

We Expect Too Much of Government

Are they now the Tampa Bay Gay Pride Rays?

The Supreme Court Case That Could Be as Important as Dobbs

What Christians Should Remember about Pride Month

Refusing to Let the Law Tell Lies

Fighting over the assets in our cultural divorce

Mary Miller, Matt Carpenter, Jonathan Mitchell, David Closson, Joseph Backholm

Mike Waltz, Kevin Brady, Joseph Backholm, Mary Margaret Olohan, Becky Gerritson

Ukraine, Russia, and Who to Believe

Florida bill shows how good policy makes for good politics

Despite War, Progressive Priorities Remain Unchanged

Is America really getting gayer?

Should Christians Always Be Winsome?

When Liberal "Truths" Come Home to Roost, We Get Lia Thomas

Is Diversity a Biblical Goal?

The courage of Barronelle Stutzman

The Sleeper SCOTUS Case That Could Radically Change Education

Haris Alic, Kevin Cramer, Mark Green, Bob Fu, Luther Harrison, Dave Brat

Cultural bullies out for revenge

Let's take them at their word

What To Believe About Issues Jesus Didn't Discuss

While the World Burns, Biden Celebrates Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal

Obeying Politicians Is Not the Same as Obeying the Law

Critical Race Theory and the Path to Truth

Back to School Is Different This Year

How Unmet Expectations Destroy our Faith

Thinking Biblically About Racism

Thinking Biblically About "Pride Month"

Why I Don't Use Preferred Pronouns

Thinking Biblically About Judging

Thinking Biblically About Communication

Thinking Biblically About Identity

Thinking Biblically About Forgiveness

Thinking Biblically About Love

Is the Equality Act Biden's dragonnade?

Thinking Biblically About Safety

Trump Judges and the Equality Act

Ohio Public School Orders Teachers and Students to Lobby for LGBT Legislation

For LGBT Activists, Critical Thinking Has Become Offensive

Utah Parents Push Back Against the Transgender Agenda - and Win

Alabama Bill Would Protect Children From Puberty Blockers

Thinking Biblically About Unity

7 Executive Actions on Abortion, Gender Identity We Can Expect From Biden

What Does Joe Biden's HHS Nominee Have to Do with the Senate Run-Offs in Georgia?

Why the Left Lost the Election Even if Biden Wins the White House

Reince Priebus, Ken Blackwell, J. Christian Adams, Connor Semelsberger, Mary Beth Waddell, Joseph Backholm, Brent Keilen

Christian Voting Myth #4: "I'm Not in the Majority Where I Live, So Why Bother?"

The Left's (Real) Issue with Amy Coney Barrett

Christian Voting Myth #3: "I Don't Like Either Candidate, So What's the Point?"

Christian Voting Myth #2: "God Is in Charge Anyway So It Doesn't Matter if I Vote"

Christian Voting Myth #1: "One Vote Doesn't Make a Difference"

The religious war over the Supreme Court

Why There's Nothing Unprecedented about what the Republicans (or Democrats) are Doing

Jonathan Cahn, Carter Conlon, Joseph Backholm

The Election Started Today. Here Are Five Things to Remember.

What it Means if Kamala Harris is a "Pragmatic Moderate"

Michele Bachmann, John Schilling, Doug Wilson, Joseph Backholm

Why Every Church Should Start a Christian School

Coronavirus, Education, and Tofu: Why Choice is the Solution to the Education Conundrum

Joseph Backholm, Senior Fellow for Biblical Worldview and Strategic Engagement

SCOTUS Delivers for Religious Schools