Joyce Elliott
Joyce Ann Elliott (born March 20, 1951) is an American politician from the state of Arkansas. Since 2009, she has been a member of the Arkansas Senate representing the 31st district, which consists of portions of Little Rock and Pulaski County. She was previously a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, serving from 2001 to 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Joyce Elliott | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 31st district | |
| Assumed office January 12, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Irma Hunter Brown |
| Majority Leader of the Arkansas Senate | |
| In office January 12, 2009 – January 10, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Tracy Steele |
| Succeeded by | Robert F. Thompson |
| Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives | |
| In office January 8, 2001 – January 13, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Booker |
| Succeeded by | Fred Allen |
| Constituency | 56th district (2001–03) 33rd district (2003–07) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 20, 1951 Willisville, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Southern Arkansas University (BA) Ouachita Baptist University (MA) |
| Website | https://www.joyceelliott.com/ |
Elliott was the Democratic nominee in the 2020 election for Arkansas's 2nd congressional district, losing in the general election to incumbent Representative French Hill on November 3, 2020.[1] If elected, she would have been the only Black representative from Arkansas ever elected to Congress.[2][3]
Early life and career
Joyce Ann Elliott was born on March 20, 1951, in Willisville, Arkansas. Elliott was the second person of color to graduate from her recently integrated high school; the first was her older sister.[3]
Elliott attended Southern Arkansas University where she earned a B.A. in English and speech. She attended Ouachita Baptist University where she earned an M.A. in English.[4]
Elliott taught at Joe T. Robinson High School for 30 years.
State legislature
Elliott served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2000 to 2006. In 2008, she was elected to the Arkansas State Senate, where she represents the 31st district.[5]
Elliott began working on hate crime legislation in 2001 during her first term in office. Arkansas is one of three states without a statute criminalizing various types of bias-motivated violence or intimidation.[6][7]
As of 2020, she is the chair of the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus.[8]
Elections
2000 election
| 2000 Arkansas State Representative District 56 Election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Joyce Elliott | 5,556 | 83 |
| Republican | Herbert L. Broadway | 1,104 | 17 |
| Total Votes: | 6,660 | 100 | |
2010 election
Elliott ran against Republican nominee Timothy Griffin for the seat of retiring Democratic incumbent Vic Snyder who retired. In the general election, Elliott lost to Griffin.
| 2010 Arkansas's 2nd Congressional District Election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Tim Griffin | 122,091 | 57.9 |
| Democratic | Joyce Elliott | 80,687 | 38.27 |
| Green | Lewis Kennedy | 3,599 | 1.71 |
| Independent | Lance Levi | 4,421 | 2.10 |
| Write-Ins | 54 | 0.03 | |
| Total Votes: | 210,852 | 100 | |
2020 election
Elliott announced her candidacy for the U.S. House in Arkansas's 2nd congressional district on November 12, 2019, against Republican incumbent French Hill.
| 2020 Arkansas 2nd Congressional District Election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | French Hill | 182,248 | 55.65 |
| Democratic | Joyce Elliot | 145,225 | 44.35 |
| Total Votes: | 327,503 | 100 | |
References
- Max Brantley (November 4, 2020). "Joyce Elliott concedes, but calls for restoration of trust and counting of outstanding absentee votes". Arkansas Times.
- "Black-American Members by State and Territory, 1870–Present | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
- "Record number of Black women set to run for U.S. Congress". Reuters. July 29, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
- "About Joyce Elliott". www.joyceelliott.com. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- "Joyce Elliott". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- Valentine, Brittany (August 21, 2020). "Arkansas has a potential anti-hate crime bill in the works". Al Dia News Media. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- "Arkansas introduces hate crime legislation backed by governor, attorney general". ABC 7. August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- Millar, Lindsey (February 5, 2020). "Legislative black caucus, Democratic Party address harassment and threats to Flowers, Davis". Arkansas Times. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joyce Elliott. |
- Senator Joyce Elliott (D) official Arkansas Senate website
- Joyce Elliott for Congress official campaign site
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Appearances on C-SPAN
| Arkansas Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Irma Hunter Brown |
Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 31st district 2009–present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Tracy Steele |
Majority Leader of the Arkansas Senate 2009–2011 |
Succeeded by Robert F. Thompson |
| Arkansas House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by Thomas Moore |
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 33rd district 2003–2007 |
Succeeded by Fred Allen |
| Preceded by Michael Booker |
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 56th district 2001–2003 |
Succeeded by Wayne Nichols |