Jason Spencer
Jason Spencer is a former Republican member of the Georgia House of Representatives, representing District 180 from 2011 to 2018. Spencer resigned on July 31, 2018.[1]
Biography
Spencer earned his B.S. from the University of Georgia and South University, and his M.S. from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. At the time of his resignation, Spencer's professional experience included working as a physician's assistant in family and emergency medicine.
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Georgia committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Game, Fish, and Parks |
| • Human Relations and Aging |
| • Juvenile Justice |
| • Science and Technology |
| • Special Rules |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Spencer served on the following committees:
| Georgia committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Game, Fish, and Parks |
| • Human Relations and Aging |
| • Juvenile Justice |
| • Science and Technology |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Spencer served on the following committees:
| Georgia committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Game, Fish, and Parks |
| • Human Relations and Aging |
| • Juvenile Justice |
| • Special Rules |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Spencer served on the following committees:
| Georgia committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Children and Youth |
| • Game, Fish, and Parks |
| • Special Rules |
Issues
Presidential preference
2012
Jason Spencer endorsed Newt Gingrich in the 2012 presidential election.[2]
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
2018
General election
General election for Georgia House of Representatives District 180
Steven Sainz won election in the general election for Georgia House of Representatives District 180 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Steven Sainz (R) | 100.0 | 14,530 | |
| Total votes: 14,530 | |||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 180
Steven Sainz defeated incumbent Jason Spencer in the Republican primary for Georgia House of Representatives District 180 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Steven Sainz | 57.8 | 2,463 | |
 | Jason Spencer | 42.2 | 1,798 | |
| Total votes: 4,261 | |||
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2016
Elections for the Georgia House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 24, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 11, 2016.
Incumbent Jason Spencer ran unopposed in the Georgia House of Representatives District 180 general election.[3][4]
| Georgia House of Representatives, District 180 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Jason Spencer Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 16,168 | |
| Total Votes | 16,168 | |||
| Source: Georgia Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Jason Spencer ran unopposed in the Georgia House of Representatives District 180 Republican primary.[5][6]
| Georgia House of Representatives, District 180 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Jason Spencer Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Georgia House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014, with runoff elections taking place where necessary on July 22, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 7, 2014. Incumbent Jason C. Spencer defeated Nancy H. Stasinis in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[7][8][9]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Jason Spencer Incumbent |
59% | 2,759 |
| Nancy H. Stasinis | 41% | 1,921 |
| Total Votes | 4,680 | |
2012
Spencer ran in the 2012 election for Georgia House of Representatives District 180. Spencer defeated Adam Jacobson in the Republican primary on July 31, 2012.[10] The general election took place on November 6, 2012.[11][12]Spencer ran unopposed in the general election.[13]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jason Spencer Incumbent |
100% | 14,671 | |
| Total Votes | 14,671 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Jason Spencer Incumbent |
51.7% | 4,157 |
| Adam Jacobson | 48.3% | 3,886 |
| Total Votes | 8,043 | |
2010
Spencer defeated Adell James (D) in the November 2 general election.[14]
| Georgia House of Representatives, District 180 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Jason Spencer (R)
|
7,701 | 69.5% | ||
| Adell James (D) | 3,384 | 30.5% | ||
Spencer came in second in the July 20 primary.[15]
| Georgia House of Representatives, District 180 - Republican Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Cecily Hill
|
2,010 | 44.3% | ||
| Jason Spencer
|
1,615 | 35.6% | ||
| Rindy Howell | 911 | 20.1% | ||
He faced incumbent Cecily Hill in a primary runoff held August 10, winning 2,191-2,010.[16]
| Georgia House of Representatives, District 180 - Republican Primary Runoff (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Jason Spencer
|
2,193 | 54.9% | ||
| Cecily Hill | 1,805 | 45.1% | ||
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.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
At the time of his resignation, Spencer and his wife, Melaney, had two children.
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.
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Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Georgia scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2018
In 2018, the Georgia General Assembly was in session from January 8 through March 29.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on social issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on children's education.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Georgia General Assembly was in session from January 9 through March 31.
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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 Georgia General Assembly was in session from January 11 through March 24.
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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 Georgia 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 Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 13 through March 21.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 13 through March 21.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Georgia State Legislature was in session from January 9 through March 29.
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Noteworthy events
Television appearance and calls for resignation
On July 22, 2018, Spencer appeared on an episode of Who Is America?, a television series created by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. During the episode, Cohen plays the part of an Israeli military expert and has Spencer participate in what Cohen told the legislator was a counterterrorism video. During this exchange, Spencer pulled down his pants and yelled racial slurs before attacking a dummy wearing a black hijab with a knife.
Shortly following the show's airing, House Speaker David Ralston (R) called on Spencer to resign, saying, "Representative Spencer has disgraced himself and should resign immediately. Georgia is better than this." Gov. Nathan Deal (R) said, "There is no excuse for this type of behavior, ever, and I am saddened and disgusted by it." Gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp (R) removed Spencer from his list of endorsements for governor and called on Spencer to apologize.
Spencer initially said he would not resign, and that the producers of the show took advantage of him. "Sacha Baron Cohen and his associates took advantage of my paralyzing fear that my family would be attacked," he said, adding that he was not given the chance to have final approval over what would air. He called the media company's behavior "deceptive and fraudulent" and apologized for the episode.[17]
On July 24, 2018, Spencer sent a resignation email to House Speaker Ralston. He resigned effective on July 31, 2018.[1]
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2012, 2010
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 GeorgiaPol.com, "State Rep. Jason Spencer Sends Speaker Ralston His Resignation," July 24, 2018
- ↑ Newt Gingrich 2012, "Slate of Georgia Officials Back Newt Gingrich for President," December 13, 2011
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed August 17, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "General Election results," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Qualifying Candidate Information," accessed March 13, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "General primary results," accessed May 24, 2016
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed March 10, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed May 28, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed November 13, 2014
- ↑ Associated Press, "Results," accessed July 31, 2012
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State Elections Division, "Candidate List," accessed May 29, 2012
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "General Primary/General Nonpartisan/Special Election July 31, 2012," accessed August 9, 2012
- ↑ Georgia Elections Division, "2012 Election Results" accessed November 16, 2012
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official 2010 Election results," accessed April 16, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed April 16, 2014
- ↑ Georgia Secretary of State, "August 10, 2010 State Representative primary runoff results
- ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Ga. lawmaker urged to resign after using racial slurs, dropping pants in TV show," July 22, 2018
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Cecily Hill |
Georgia House District 180 2011–2018 |
Succeeded by Steven Sainz (R) |
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