Joe Jett
Joe Jett (Republican Party) was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, representing District 56. He assumed office on January 14, 2013. He left office on January 9, 2023.
Jett (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Arkansas House of Representatives to represent District 56. He won in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Jett was a Democrat until December 2016 when he switched his party affiliation to Republican. In a statement, Jett said, "This is not a decision I made lightly. I have given this a considerable amount of time, thought and prayer. I was encouraged to move forward after meeting with constituents throughout District 56."[1]
Biography
Jett served in the United States Air Force.[2]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021-2022
Jett was assigned to the following committees:
- House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee
- House Revenue and Taxation Committee, Chair
- Joint Budget Committee
- Joint Performance Review Committee
2019-2020
Jett was assigned to the following committees:
- Joint Budget Committee
- Joint Performance Review Committee
- House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee
- House Revenue and Taxation Committee, Chairperson
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Arkansas committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Insurance and Commerce |
| • Revenue and Taxation, Chair |
| • Joint Budget |
| • Joint Budget |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Jett served on the following committees:
| Arkansas committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Insurance and Commerce |
| • Revenue and Taxation, Chair |
| • Joint Budget |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Jett served on the following committees:
| Arkansas committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Revenue and Taxation, Vice Chair |
| • Legislative Council |
| • Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development |
| • Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight |
| • Joint Energy, Alternate |
| • Advanced Communications and Information Technology, Alternate |
| • Joint Advanced Communications and Information Technology, Alternate |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
Joe Jett did not file to run for re-election.
2020
See also: Arkansas House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 56
Incumbent Joe Jett won election in the general election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 56 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Joe Jett (R) | 100.0 | 9,232 |
| Total votes: 9,232 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Joe Jett advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 56.
2018
General election
General election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 56
Incumbent Joe Jett defeated Ryan Carter in the general election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 56 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joe Jett (R) | 75.4 | 5,794 |
| Ryan Carter (D) | 24.6 | 1,889 | ||
| Total votes: 7,683 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 56
Ryan Carter advanced from the Democratic primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 56 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Ryan Carter | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 56
Incumbent Joe Jett advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 56 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Joe Jett |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2016
Ballotpedia's analysis revealed that only 42 of the 100 seats up for election in 2016 involved competition between Democrats and Republicans. This made it numerically impossible for Democrats to take control of either Arkansas legislative chamber in 2016.
The reason for the low competition was that candidates were in safe districts for their parties. Between 1972 and 2014, an upward trend in uncontested state legislative elections occurred.
The Democratic Party of Arkansas focused its 2016 efforts on the state’s House of Representatives. Without the numbers to win the state Senate, H.L. Moody, communications director for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, told Ballotpedia that the party’s goal was to “start building back where we can,” beginning with the House.
Ballotpedia spoke to political analyst Richard Winger, who said that the early primary deadline for the 2016 elections was a possible factor as well, making it difficult for Democrats to recruit candidates early.
The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing period began at noon local time on November 2, 2015, and ended at noon local time on November 9, 2015.[3]
Incumbent Joe Jett ran unopposed in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 56 general election.[4]
| Arkansas House of Representatives, District 56 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic |  Joe Jett Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Arkansas Secretary of State | ||
Incumbent Joe Jett ran unopposed in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 56 Democratic Primary.[5][6]
| Arkansas House of Representatives, District 56 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Joe Jett Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Arkansas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014; a runoff election took place where necessary on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014. Incumbent Joe Jett was unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[7][8]
2012
Jett ran in the 2012 election for Arkansas House of Representatives, District 56. Jett ran unopposed in the May 22 Democratic primary and ran[9] unchallenged in the November 6, 2012, general election as well.[10][11]
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Joe Jett did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2014
Jett's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[12]
Education
- Excerpt: "Education is the KEY to forming responsible, honest and productive citizens. Our youth are challenged more today than ever before in the classrooms and in the job market. As parents, community members and citizens of this great state we owe it to our children to provide them with the best education possible."
Economy
- Excerpt: "I understand the needs of District 56 and rural Arkansas. Education and economic development are crucial in attracting jobs and industry to our District. Serving as Chairman of the Arkansas State Aeronautical Commission has given me insight into how state commissions and boards operate."
Agriculture
- Excerpt: "Agriculture is Arkansas’ largest industry and is a vital , growing component of the state’s economy."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Arkansas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2022
In 2022, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from February 14 to March 15.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to small business issues.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 11 to October 15.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from April 8 to April 24.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 14 through April 24.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from February 12 through March 12. The legislature held a special session from March 13 to March 15.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the 91st Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 9 through May 1. The Legislature held a special session from May 1 to May 3.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the 90th Arkansas State Legislature was in session from April 13 through May 9. The Legislature held a three-day special session from April 6 to April 8 over healthcare. The Legislature held a second special session from May 19 to May 23 over transportation.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the 90th Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 12 through April 2.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Arkansas General Assembly was in session from February 10 to March 20. Ballotpedia staff did not find any state legislative scorecards published for this state in 2014. If you are aware of one, please contact editor@ballotpedia.org to let us know. |
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 89th Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 14 through May 17.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Jett and his wife, Lisa, have two children.[2]
See also
2020 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Arkansas House of Representatives District 56 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Arkansas Times, "Rep. Joe Jett flips to the Republican party," December 9, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 joejett.com, "About Joe," accessed April 8, 2014
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Election Dates," accessed November 17, 2015
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 General Election and Nonpartisan Runoff Election," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Candidate Information," accessed July 25, 2016
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Results," accessed April 19, 2016
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Candidate Information," accessed March 5, 2014
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed June 26, 2014
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Election Results 2012," accessed November 7, 2012
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2012 Election candidates," March 8, 2012
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed December 20, 2013
- ↑ joejett.com, "Issues," accessed April 8, 2014
- ↑ Ballotpedia, "Arkansas's Freedom Scorecard," accessed July 10, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Arkansas House of Representatives District 56 2013-2023 |
Succeeded by Steve Magie (D) |
