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Jake Ellzey

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Jake Ellzey
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 6th district
Assumed office
July 30, 2021
Preceded byRon Wright
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 10th district
In office
January 12, 2021 – July 30, 2021
Preceded byJohn Wray
Succeeded byBrian Harrison
Personal details
Born
John Kevin Ellzey

(1970-01-24) January 24, 1970 (age 54)
Amarillo, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseShelby Hoebeke
Children2
EducationUnited States Naval Academy (BS)
WebsiteHouse website
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1992–2012
RankCommander
Battles/wars

John Kevin "Jake" Ellzey Sr. (born January 24, 1970) is an American politician and former military officer serving as the U.S. representative for Texas's 6th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives for the 10th district from January to July 2021.[1] He served in the United States Navy as a fighter pilot, completing tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.[2][3]

Early life and education

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Ellzey was born in Amarillo, Texas, and raised in Perryton.[4] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from the United States Naval Academy in 1992.[5] Ellzey was deployed nine times in his 20 years in the Navy before becoming a commercial airline pilot.[6]

Career

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Lieutenant Ellzey studies a map during a mission in 1997
Ellzey meeting with Rear Admiral Richard O'Hanlon in 2009

Since retiring from the Navy, Ellzey has worked as a pilot for Southwest Airlines[7] and as a consultant. He was also a social aide in the White House Office during the Bush administration.[8] From 2012 to 2018, he was one of five commissioners of the Texas Veterans Commission.[9]

In 2018, Ellzey was an unsuccessful candidate for Texas's 6th congressional district. During his campaign, he was endorsed by The Dallas Morning News.[10] He placed second in the Republican primary, behind Ron Wright, who won the general election.

Ellzey was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2020. He took office on January 12, 2021.[1] He resigned in July 2021 to take his seat in Congress. Governor Greg Abbott set August 31, 2021, as the special election date for the Texas State House of Representatives District 10 seat that Ellzey vacated.[11][12] Republican Brian Harrison won the seat, defeating the representative who previously held the seat, John Wray.

U.S. House of Representatives

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Elections

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2021 special

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On February 26, 2021, Ellzey announced his candidacy in Texas's 6th congressional district special election to replace Ron Wright, who died in office on February 7.[13][14][15][16] In the 23-candidate nonpartisan blanket primary, Ellzey finished second to Wright's widow Susan, who had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, and 354 votes ahead of Democrat Jana Sanchez. On May 2, Sanchez conceded to Ellzey.[17] Governor Greg Abbott set July 27 as the special election runoff date.[18] Ellzey defeated Wright in the runoff, 53% to 47%.[19] He was sworn in on July 30, 2021.[7]

2022

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Ellzey defeated James Buford and Bill Payne in the Republican primary election, and was re-elected unopposed in the general election.[20]

2024

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Ellzey received support from AIPAC and Pro-Israel America in his re-election campaign.[21][22] He defeated Democrat John Love III, a former member of the Midland city council, in the general election with 66.4% of the vote.[23]

Tenure

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At the start of the 118th Congress, Ellzey supported Rep. Kevin McCarthy in his bid for the House speakership, voting for him in all 15 rounds.[24] He later opposed the October 2023 vote to remove McCarthy as speaker, which ultimately succeeded 216–210.[25] In the succeeding election for the next speaker, Ellzey opposed the candidacy of Republican nominee Jim Jordan, choosing instead to vote for Mike Garcia. He would ultimately support the new nominee, Mike Johnson, in the fourth and final ballot.[26]

Ellzey was part of a bipartisan congressional delegation that visited Tel Aviv in June 2024, meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defense minister Yoav Gallant.[27][28]

Committee assignments

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Caucus memberships

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Political positions

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Ellzey voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[31][32]

Electoral history

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2018

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Republican primary results, 2018[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ron Wright 20,659 45.1
Republican Jake Ellzey 9,956 21.7
Republican Ken Cope 3,527 7.7
Republican Shannon Dubberly 2,880 6.3
Republican Mark Mitchell 2,141 4.7
Republican Troy Ratterree 1,854 4.0
Republican Kevin Harrison 1,768 3.9
Republican Deborah Gagliardi 1,674 3.7
Republican Thomas Dillingham 543 1.2
Republican Shawn Dandridge 517 1.1
Republican Mel Hassell 266 0.6
Total votes 45,785 100.0
Republican primary runoff results, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ron Wright 12,747 52.2
Republican Jake Ellzey 11,686 47.8
Total votes 24,433 100

2020

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Election results:[34]

District Democratic Republican Libertarian Total Result
District 10 - - 65,062 75.83% 20,733 24.17% 85,795 100.00% Republican Hold

2021

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Texas's 6th congressional district special election, 2021[35]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Susan Wright 15,052 19.21
Republican Jake Ellzey 10,851 13.85
Democratic Jana Sanchez 10,497 13.39
Republican Brian Harrison 8,476 10.81
Democratic Shawn Lassiter 6,964 8.89
Republican John Anthony Castro 4,321 5.51
Democratic Tammy Allison Holloway 4,238 5.41
Democratic Lydia Bean 2,920 3.73
Republican Michael Wood 2,503 3.19
Republican Michael Ballantine 2,224 2.84
Republican Dan Rodimer 2,086 2.66
Democratic Daryl J. Eddings Sr. 1,652 2.11
Republican Mike Egan 1,543 1.97
Democratic Patrick Moses 1,189 1.52
Democratic Manuel R. Salazar III 1,119 1.43
Republican Sery Kim 888 1.13
Republican Travis Rodermund 460 0.59
Independent Adrian Mizher 351 0.45
Democratic Brian K. Stephenson 271 0.35
Libertarian Phil Gray 265 0.34
Democratic Matthew Hinterlong 252 0.32
Republican Jennifer Garcia Sharon 150 0.19
Democratic Chris Suprun 102 0.13
Total votes 78,374 100

2021 (runoff)

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2021 Texas' 6th congressional district special election runoff[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jake Ellzey 20,837 53.27
Republican Susan Wright 18,279 46.73
Total votes 39,116 100.00
Republican hold

2022

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2022 Texas' 6th congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jake Ellzey (incumbent) 149,321 100.00
Total votes 149,321 100.00
Republican hold

Personal life

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Ellzey and his wife Shelby have two children. They live near Midlothian, Texas.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Five New Texas House Candidates Who Won't Be Waiting on Election Results". The Texan. November 3, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  2. ^ "Jake Ellzey". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  3. ^ Spinks, Bill (March 3, 2020). "Ellzey wins Texas House District 10 primary". Waxahachie Daily Light. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "Republicans vy for District 10 Texas House seat". CedarCreekLake.com. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "Rep. Jake Ellzey - Texas State Directory Online". www.txdirectory.com. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  6. ^ Peterson, Kristina (July 28, 2021). "Jake Ellzey Wins Texas Special Election, Upsetting Trump-Endorsed Candidate". The Wall Street Journal. New York, New York. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Gillman, Todd J. (July 30, 2021). "Jake Ellzey, fence mended with Trump, is sworn in by Pelosi as Texas' newest congressman". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on July 30, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  8. ^ Spinks, Bill. "Forum set for Texas House candidates". Brownwood Bulletin. Retrieved February 8, 2021.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Rep. Jake Ellzey Sworn In as State Representative for House District 10". www.house.texas.gov. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  10. ^ "We recommend Jake Ellzey in the GOP primary for 6th Congressional District". Dallas News. February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  11. ^ Gromer, Jeffers. Gov. Greg Abbott sets Aug. 31 special election to replace U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey in Texas House, Dallas Morning News, August 6, 2021.
  12. ^ Svitek, Patrick. Special election to fill former state Rep. Jake Ellzey's North Texas seat set for Aug. 31, Texas Tribune, August 6, 2021.
  13. ^ "Freshman state Rep. Jake Ellzey joins crowded race to replace Republican Ron Wright in Congress". Dallas News. February 26, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  14. ^ "Recount laws in Texas". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  15. ^ "Texas 6th Congressional District Special Election Results and more -". Decision Desk HQ. May 1, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  16. ^ Ethan Cohen, Adam Levy and Clare Foran (May 2, 2021). "Susan Wright advances to runoff in Texas' 6th District special election with tight race for second spot". CNN. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  17. ^ Weigel, David; Wang, Amy (May 2, 2021). "Texas Democrats concede lockout in House special election". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  18. ^ Svitek, Patrick (May 12, 2021). "Gov. Greg Abbott sets July 27 as date of special election runoff to succeed late U.S. Rep. Ron Wright". Texas Tribune.
  19. ^ a b "Texas Election Results". Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  20. ^ "Texas Sixth Congressional District Election Results". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  21. ^ "Support Pro-Israel Candidates". AIPAC PAC. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  22. ^ "Pro-Israel America Announces Twenty Candidate Endorsements". Pro Israel America. March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  23. ^ "Republican Jake Ellzey wins reelection to U.S. House in Texas' 6th Congressional District". KOB. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  24. ^ McCartney, Allison; et al. (January 6, 2023). "Vote Count: McCarthy Elected House Speaker After 15 Ballots". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  25. ^ Cook Escobar, Molly; et al. (October 3, 2023). "Live Vote Count: House Decides Whether to Oust McCarthy as Speaker". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  26. ^ Gamio, Lazaro; et al. (October 25, 2023). "Vote Count: Mike Johnson Elected House Speaker After Three-Week Vacancy". The New York Times. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  27. ^ "Gallant to Congress members: We're fighting for Western civilization". Jewish News Syndicate. June 17, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  28. ^ "PM Netanyahu Meets with Bipartisan US Congressional Delegation". gov.il. Prime Minister's Office. July 7, 2024 [June 19, 2024]. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  29. ^ "Candidates". RMSP PAC. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  30. ^ "Members of the Caucus on U.S. - Türkiye Relations & Turkish Americans". Turkish Coalition of America. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  31. ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  32. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ "2018 Primary Election Official Results". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  34. ^ "Texas 2020 election". The Texas Tribune. November 3, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  35. ^ "Texas' 6th Congressional District's election results". www.texastribune.org. Texas Tribune. May 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
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Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 10th district

2021
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 6th congressional district

2021–present
Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
340th
Succeeded by