Jake Ellzey

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]

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
Amarillo, Texas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseShelby Hoebeke
Children2
EducationUnited States Naval Academy (BS)
WebsiteHouse website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1992–2012
RankCommander
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan
Iraq War

Early life and education

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
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

2021 special
Main article: 2021 Texas's 6th congressional district special election

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]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Electoral history

2018
Republican primary results, 2018[21]
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

Election results:[22]

District Democratic Republican Libertarian Total Result
District 10--65,06275.83%20,73324.17%85,795100.00%Republican Hold

2021
Texas's 6th congressional district special election, 2021[23]
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)
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
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

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

References
  1. "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. 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.
  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. "Texas Election Results". Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  20. "Candidates". RMSP PAC. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  21. "2018 Primary Election Official Results". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  22. "Texas 2020 election". The Texas Tribune. November 3, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  23. "Texas' 6th Congressional District's election results". www.texastribune.org. Texas Tribune. May 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
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