Justin Wilmeth
American politician (born 1979)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Justin Wilmeth is an American politician and former child actor who has been a member of the Arizona House of Representatives since 2021. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was elected to the 15th district in 2020, and was subsequently elected from the 2nd district.
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2nd district (2023–present)
Justin Wilmeth | |
|---|---|
Wilmeth in 2024 | |
| Member of the Arizona House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office January 11, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Nancy Barto |
| Constituency | 15th district (2021–2023) 2nd district (2023–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 26, 1979 |
| Party | Republican |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Campaign website |
Political career
Wilmer ran for a Legislative District 15 seat in the Arizona House of Representatives, in a distinct covering north Phoenix, after incumbent Republican Nancy Barto decided to run for Arizona Senate.[1]
In 2020, Wilmeth and Steve Kaiser won the a two–seat election, defeating Democrat Kristin Dybvig–Pawelko.[2] Following resdistricting, he was placed in Legislative District 2.[3] Wilmeth was reelected in 2022.[3] In the 2024, Democrat Stephanie Simacek came in first place in LD2; for the second seat, Wilmet and fellow Republican by Ari Daniel Bradshaw were separated by 0.08% in the initial count, triggering a recount.[4] In the recount, Wilmeth had 46,943 votes (29.76%), edging out Bradshaw, who received 46,809 votes (29.68%).[5]
In 2022, Wilmeth was named to the 2022 GOPAC Emerging Leaders Class.[6]
In 2023-2024 session, Wilmeth was chairman of the House Commerce Committee.[3] In 2024, Wilmeth sponsored a bill to designate dwarf planet Pluto as Arizona's state planet.[7][8] (Pluto was discovered by astronomers at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff.[9][10]) The bill passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs.[11]
Wilmeth supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.[3]
In 2024, Wilmeth was one of three Republicans in the Arizona State House who voted to repeal Arizona's 1864 ban on abortion (adopted when Arizona was still a territory), a ban which contained no exceptions for rape or incest.[12]