Joyce Elliott

Joyce Ann Elliott (born March 20, 1951) is an American politician from the state of Arkansas. From 2009 to 2022, she was a member of the Arkansas Senate representing the 31st district, which consisted of portions of Little Rock and Pulaski County.[1] 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
In office
January 12, 2009 – January 9, 2023
Preceded byIrma Hunter Brown
Succeeded byRedistricted
Majority Leader of the Arkansas Senate
In office
January 12, 2009 – January 10, 2011
Preceded byTracy Steele
Succeeded byRobert F. Thompson
Member of the
Arkansas House of Representatives
In office
January 8, 2001 – January 13, 2007
Preceded byMichael Booker
Succeeded byFred Allen
Constituency56th district (2001–03)
33rd district (2003–07)
Personal details
Born (1951-03-20) March 20, 1951
Willisville, Arkansas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationSouthern Arkansas University (BA)
Ouachita Baptist University (MA)

Elliott was the Democratic nominee in the 2010 and 2020 elections for Arkansas's 2nd congressional district, losing the former election to Republican Tim Griffin, and the latter to incumbent Republican French Hill.[2] If elected, she would have been the only African American to ever represent Arkansas in Congress.[3][4]

Early life, education, 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.[4]

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.[5]

Elliott taught at Joe T. Robinson High School from 1989 to 2003.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8][9]

In 2020, she was the chair of the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus.[10]

In 2020 she was endorsed by Barack Obama.[11]

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
See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas § District 2

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
See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas § District 2

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
  1. "Senator Joyce Elliott". Arkansas Senate.
  2. Max Brantley (November 4, 2020). "Joyce Elliott concedes, but calls for restoration of trust and counting of outstanding absentee votes". Arkansas Times.
  3. "Black-American Members by State and Territory, 1870–Present | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  4. "Record number of Black women set to run for U.S. Congress". Reuters. July 29, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  5. "About Joyce Elliott". www.joyceelliott.com. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  6. Smittle, Stephanie (August 27, 2020). "From Willisville to Washington: Sen. Joyce Elliott is ready to school Congress". Arkansas Times. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  7. "Joyce Elliott". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  8. Valentine, Brittany (August 21, 2020). "Arkansas has a potential anti-hate crime bill in the works". Al Dia News Media. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  9. "Arkansas introduces hate crime legislation backed by governor, attorney general". ABC 7. August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  10. Millar, Lindsey (February 5, 2020). "Legislative black caucus, Democratic Party address harassment and threats to Flowers, Davis". Arkansas Times. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  11. "First Wave of 2020 Endorsements". September 25, 2020.
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