Blake Carpenter

Blake Carpenter (born January 14, 1991) is a Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives, representing the 81st district and is currently the speaker pro tem. He has served since 2015.

Blake Carpenter
Speaker pro tempore of the Kansas House of Representatives
Assumed office
January 9, 2023
Preceded byBlaine Finch
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives
from the 81st district
Assumed office
January 9, 2023
Preceded byLeah Howell
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives
from the 81st district
In office
January 12, 2015 – January 8, 2023
Preceded byJim Howell
Succeeded byLeah Howell
Personal details
Born (1991-01-14) January 14, 1991
Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseCziara
EducationWichita State University (BBA)

Biography

Carpenter's first step into politics was during college. While attending Wichita State University, he joined the College Republicans. After a few months of being actively involved with the group, he was elected vice-chairman in spring 2013. During the fall semester of 2013 the chairman of the College Republicans stepped down, and Carpenter stepped into the chairman's role.[1] Carpenter remained the chairman until the end of the 2014 spring semester.

During the 2014 spring semester Carpenter had a class project to interview a state representative. He decided to interview his state representative who was Jim Howell. Howell was stepping down to run for the Sedgwick County Commission. During their conversation, Carpenter said he wanted to run for public office someday, and Howell asked him "Why not just do it now?”.[1] After some consideration, Carpenter decided to run and began gathering petition signatures to get his name on the ballot. During the 2014 election cycle, Carpenter ran against Democrat Lynn Wells. In an interview with the Derby Informer newspaper, Carpenter described himself as having conservative values.[2] Carpenter defeated Wells in the November general election.[3][4][5]

After the election ended in November 2014, he graduated from Wichita State University in December with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He currently serves as the House Majority Whip, a position he was elected to in December 2018, for a term starting in January 2019.

Carpenter and wife Cziara married each other in December 2013.

Representative Carpenter announced in October 2021 that he would be taking a leave of absence for the 2022 legislative session in order to complete a military obligation as an officer in the Kansas Air National Guard.[6] Leah Howell, his predecessor's wife, was selected by Republican precinct committee members in the 81st District on Jan. 8, 2022 to serve in Representative Carpenter's place for the 2022 legislative session.[7]

Committee membership

2015–2016 sessions

  • Health and Human Services
  • Education Budget (2015 Session Only)
  • Judiciary (2016 Session Only)
  • Veterans, Military and Homeland Security

2017–2018 sessions

  • Chairman of the Joint Committee on Information Technology
  • Vice-Chairman of Elections
  • Federal and State Affairs
  • Local Government
  • Higher Education Budget

2019-2020 sessions

  • Vice Chairman of Elections
  • Federal and State Affairs
  • Insurance
  • Interstate Cooperation
  • Higher Education Budget

2021-2022 sessions

  • Chairman of Elections
  • Federal and State Affairs
  • Higher Education Budget

Endorsements

Carpenter has received past endorsements from the following organizations:

  • Kansans for Life[8]
  • National Rifle Association (NRA) - A+ grade[9][10]
  • National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)[11]
  • Kansas Chamber of Commerce PAC[12]
  • Kansas Realtors PAC[13]

References
  1. webmaster@wichita.edu (March 27, 2015). "WSU grad Blake Carpenter takes his place in the Kansas House of Representatives - Wichita State News". www.wichita.edu.
  2. Stinnett, Linda. "Carpenter, Wells to vie for Howell's seat".
  3. Stinnett, Scott Elpers & Linda. "Carpenter wins 81st District, first bid at public office".
  4. "South-central Kansas incumbents mostly hold on to Legislature seats".
  5. Derby Informer article about Carpenter Winning 2014 Election
  6. "Rep. Blake Carpenter taking temporary leave of absence from legislature".
  7. "Representative Blake Carpenter". Facebook.
  8. http://www.voteprolife.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2016-Kansas-Primary-Endorsements.pdf
  9. NRA-PVF. "NRA-PVF - Grades and Endorsements". NRA-PVF.
  10. "NRA-PVF | Grades and Endorsements".
  11. "98 Kansas Legislative Candidates Earn Small Business Endorsements - NFIB". www.nfib.com. September 19, 2016.
  12. Group, New Boston Creative. "Chamber PAC Primary Endorsements - Kansas Chamber of Commerce". www.kansaschamber.org. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  13. Kansas Realtor Assoc. Endorsement List
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