James Jones (Pennsylvania)

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

James Jones

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

May 17, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Southern Illinois University, 1988

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Navy

Years of service

1973 - 1990

Personal

Birthplace

Luxora, Ark.

Religion

Non-denominational Christian

Profession

Entrepreneur and businessman

Contact

Campaign website

James Jones (Republican Party) ran for election for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. He lost in the Republican primary on May 17, 2022.

Jones completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

James Jones was born in Luxora, Arkansas. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1973 to 1990. Jones earned a bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University in 1988. His career experience includes working as an entrepreneur and businessman. He has been affiliated with Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia, the NRA, the GOA, Vietnam Veterans, the DAV, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Pennsylvania Farmers.

Elections

2022

See also: Pennsylvania gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania

Austin Davis defeated Carrie DelRosso, Timothy McMaster, Michael Bagdes-Canning, and Nicole Shultz in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Austin Davis (D)	56.5	3,031,137
		Carrie DelRosso (R)	41.7	2,238,477
		Timothy McMaster (L)	1.0	51,611
		Michael Bagdes-Canning (G)	0.5	24,436
		Nicole Shultz (Keystone Party of Pennsylvania)	0.4	20,518

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 5,366,179
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania

Austin Davis defeated Brian Sims and Ray Sosa in the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Austin Davis	63.0	768,141
		Brian Sims	25.1	305,959
		Ray Sosa	11.9	145,228

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,219,328
= 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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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Carrie DelRosso	25.6	318,970
		Rick Saccone	15.7	195,774
		Teddy Daniels	12.1	150,935
		Clarice Schillinger	11.9	148,442
		Jeff Coleman	10.1	126,072
		James Jones	9.1	113,966
		Russell Diamond	6.0	74,265
		John Brown	4.8	59,267
		Chris Frye	4.7	58,752

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,246,443
= 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Gerald Carnicella (R)
• Brandon Flood (R)
• Angela Grant (R)

2016

See also: Pennsylvania's 2nd Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Democratic. Dwight Evans (D) defeated James Jones (R) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Evans defeated incumbent Chaka Fattah, Dan Muroff, and Brian Gordon to win the Democratic nomination in the primary. In 2015, Fattah was indicted on charges of bribery, money laundering, and bank and mail fraud, among other charges, making him vulnerable in the primary. Fattah was the first congressional incumbent to lose a primary election in 2016.

U.S. House, Pennsylvania District 2 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Dwight Evans	90.2%	322,514
	Republican	James Jones	9.8%	35,131
Total Votes				357,645
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State

U.S. House, Pennsylvania District 2 Democratic Primary, 2016

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Dwight Evans	42.3%	75,515
Chaka Fattah Incumbent	34.4%	61,518
Brian Gordon	13.2%	23,655
Dan Muroff	10.1%	18,016
Total Votes		178,704
Source: Pennsylvania Department of State

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

James Jones completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Jones' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Born and raised as a sharecropper in rural Luxora, Arkansas, I earned an Eagle Scout badge in the Boy Scouts of America, then joined the US Navy as a young man. My naval service included patrol duties in Vietnam, Beirut, various cruises in the western Pacific and the Gulf of Hormuz, and service in the First Gulf War and managed budgets over $200,000,000.00. I completed various naval engineering studies and nuclear biological chemical training and I trained US Navy Seals in unarmed self-defense.

After I retired from the US Navy, I sought strategies to unite citizens in common causes to improve our lives and fashion a brighter future for our children and our grandchildren. I adapted my expertise to help deliver national security solutions for this 21st century. I strongly support the family, so one of my highest priorities is staying involved in the lives of my three children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. 

I have served in various leadership roles in my community and county. As a devout Christian and active member of Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia, I was appointed to manage the Faith-Based Initiatives in Bucks County under former President George W. Bush and the late Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick. I also served on the Bristol Township Weed and Seed Council, the Berean Institute Board of Directors, and the Philadelphia Prostate Council under Businessman, Mr. Michael Milliken.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Frederick Douglass Conservative: Pro life, 2A, Constitutionalist
• I am not afraid to think big, take risks and do things differently
• My naval service included patrol duties in Vietnam, Beirut, various cruises in the western Pacific and the Gulf of Hormuz, and service in the First Gulf War and managed budgets over $200,000,000.00.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Strategic Government Planning, Organizational Policy, Budgets, Finance, Tax Reform, Energy Independence, Cyber Security, First and Second Amendments, School Choice, Election Integrity, Pennsylvania Farmers, Commodities, Healthcare, Immigrations, and Veteran Homelessness.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

As a Christian, I look up to Jesus Christ with His standard of excellence. He has helped me to create a moral compass of right and wrong, and to serve God and country to the best of my ability! Jesus was a listening leader. Because He loved others with perfect love, He listened without being condescending. I feel a great leader listens not only to others but also to his conscience and to the promptings of God's voice. For me, leadership is the act of influencing and serving others out of Christ's interests in their lives so they accomplish God's purposes for and through them - a servant leader!

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Not at this time.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The haracteristics or principles most important for an elected official to me may be described as a particular system of values and beliefs, as well as principles of conduct. Moralistic behavior is characterized by such traits as honesty, integrity, humility, courage, and compassion. Ideally, elected officials embody these traits, since they are in a position of power and must make decisions that affect their constituents for years, or even decades to come. The character of an elected official reflects the character of the community from which they were chosen.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

1. Create a Mission Statement.

2. Define “High Performance.”
3. Develop Strategic Organizational Goals/Priorities for 3 - 5 years.
4. Create criteria of tracking Performance Metrics, a GAAP for Legislators
5. Engage in legislative matters and growth
6. Willing to collaborate with the Governor and legislators
7. Commitment to following action plans

8. Partner to support internal compliance goals

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I believe that the core responsibility for someone elected to the Lieutenant Governor's office is to collectively decide policy issues for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This person is responsible for implementing the governing body's policy directives and legislative laws, as well as overseeing the administrative operation of the office.

What legacy would you like to leave?

To leave a legacy means putting a stamp on the future and making a contribution to future generations. I seek to leave a legacy because I want to leave a legacy to feel as if my life mattered. By working hard, it will help me to know what I want my legacy to become by building it.
I want to be remembered as a hard-working and dedicated man, who went above the call of duty to accomplish my goals in support of the US Constitution and the Pennsylvania Constitution. I want to be respected for the knowledge transfer capabilities that I bring to the position. And I want the same for the Governor's Office and that we are good people and good servant leaders to represent "We The People" in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

When Martin Luther King Jr died, I felt there was no longer a civil rights leader or a person alive to represent black people living in rural America. I was 13 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Farmer and sharecropper for 14 years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Bible (KJV)
The President and The Freedom Fighter, Brian Kilmeade

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

William Wallace, Brave Heart, the medieval Scottish patriot who is spurred into revolt against the English when the love of his life is slaughtered.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Something About You, Michon Young

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I struggle to keep a planned fitness schedule while running for office and running my business.

A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean do you?

The lieutenant governor is the state's highest officer following the governor and assumes the role when the governor is out of state or incapacitated. The lieutenant governor also becomes the governor should the governor die, resign, or be removed from office. For me, the Lieutenant Governor means to reinvent the role of the lieutenant governor as an independent voice inside the administration. To use the US Constitution, the Pennsylvania Constitution, and strategic plans to use my words to fight for the freedom and rights of "We The People" in America.

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

The Lieutenant Governor’s official duties include serving as President of the State Senate, Chairing the Board of Parole and Pardons, the Local Government Advisory Committee, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council, Military Base Community Enhancement Commission, Turn Pike Commission, State Police, and overseeing the work of the State Fire Commissioner.

Different states require governors to have different degrees of responsibility for the state budgeting process. If it were your choice, what do you believe is the appropriate degree of gubernatorial involvement with this process in your state?

The Governor is vested by the Constitution with the supreme executive power of the State and is responsible to ensure that the executive functions of state government are carried out according to Iowa laws. The Governor has direct financial supervision of overall state departments and annually initiates, prepares, and submits a balanced budget for all revenues and expenditures. The Governor is required to submit an annual Condition of the State message to the General Assembly with the Governor's legislative recommendations and is empowered to approve or disapprove every bill which has passed the General Assembly. The Governor is authorized to make numerous appointments to state boards and commissions and judicial positions. The Governor serves as the Commander in Chief of the State's military and is empowered to grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons. The Lieutenant Governor performs duties as provided by law and those duties of the Governor assigned to the Lt. Governor by the Governor, and assists with all duties of the OfficeGeneral Fund appropriation to the Governor/Lt. Governor's Office to cover staff salaries and support costs for the Office. Funding supports all areas of the office which deals with citizen contacts, correspondence, casework, board and commission appointments, volunteers, and proclamations.

In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?

The Pennsylvania Constitution empowers the governor to veto an entire bill passed by the legislature. The Constitution may expand the executive's veto powers by also authorizing methods of veto that permit particular portions of a bill to be rejected or changed.

The Governor's power to disapprove any item or items of any bill, making appropriations of money, embracing distinct items, and the part or parts of the budget. If the Governor opposes the bill, he can veto it. The Governor can also hold the bill for a time without taking action, either signature or veto, for 10 days while the General Assembly is in session or 30 days after final adjournment, after which it will automatically become law.

If the governor's office in your state does not have the line-item veto power, do you believe it should? Why or why not?

Yes, the Pennsylvania Governors have some form of the line-item veto to reduce spending.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The Pennsylvania Governor's ideal relationship between the governor and state legislators requires legislative support to accomplish their policy objectives and plans for the state. By maintaining legislative relations, it is integral to the success of a governor's administration. Most importantly, the interaction between the governor and the legislature begins the day after the election.

What do you love most about your state?

Virtue, Liberty, and Independence is the state motto of Pennsylvania. The motto of Pennsylvania was officially adopted in the year 1875. The meaning of the Pennsylvania State Motto reflects the attitude and hope of the people of New York following the outbreak of the War Of Independence in 1775-1783. Pennsylvania is a beautiful state, home to picturesque scenery, more than 120 state parks, and a rich selection of towns, cities, and attractions. From Gettysburg to Erie, we have the most alluring places to visit in the state. Pennsylvania is a livable state, full of culture and adventure and some of the most down-to-earth people you'll ever meet. Early American history lives on the historic Gettysburg National Military Park, where the tides turned in favor of the Union during the Civil War. The Chocolate Capital of the US is Hershey, Pa. The first computer existed in Philadelphia in 1946. The first piano in America was built in Philadelphia in 1775. The Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia in 1776.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

When Americans and Pennsylvanians look to the future, they see the greatest challenges on multiple fronts. Majorities are at least somewhat worried about moral values, government leadership, foreign and domestic policies, the state of our public schools, and the soundness of our economic system. The public views providing quality of life, election integrity, voting, school choice, crime and community safety, economic development, increasing spending for trade school training, and reducing the national debt as some of the top policy priorities for the future. And, while these and other issues might benefit from government action, the public has little confidence in the government’s ability to effectively address these issues. Instead, Pennsylvanians look to new leadership, science, and technology as potential problem-solvers for the challenges the country and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will face.

Under what circumstances should the governor of your state be able to use emergency powers?

Pennsylvania voters passed 2 new constitutional amendments, giving the legislature the power to end a disaster declaration, and any state of emergency the Governor puts into place automatically ends after 21 days unless the legislature extends it. State emergency management laws usually define how a governor may declare and end a state of emergency. In some cases, the necessary response to a disaster is beyond the capacity of state and local governments. A state may petition the President to declare a major disaster.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania

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