Joe Balyeat

{{short description|American politician}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name= Joe Balyeat

| image name=

| state_senate=Montana

| state=Montana

| district= 34th

| term= 2004 – June 2012

| preceded=

| succeeded= Scott Sales

| state_house1=Montana

| district1=32nd

| term1=2000–2004

| preceded1=Joe Barnett

| party= Republican

| birth_date= {{birth date|1956|10|26}}

| birth_place= Great Falls, Montana, U.S.

| death_date= {{death date and age|2022|10|4|1956|10|26}}

| death_place= Bozeman, Montana, U.S.

| alma_mater= University of Montana

| occupation= CPA

| spouse= Linda Lee

| residence= Bozeman, Montana

}}

Joe Balyeat (October 26, 1956 – October 4, 2022) was an American politician from the state of Montana. He served as a member of the Montana Legislature.{{cite web|last=Bozeman Daily Chronicle|title=Balyeat Resigns Senate Seat|url=http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/politics/article_6454f4a6-b130-11e1-8ae1-0019bb2963f4.html|accessdate=19 August 2012}} Balyeat was elected as a Republican to Senate District 34, representing Bozeman, Montana, in 2004. Previously, Balyeat served two terms in the Montana House.{{cite web|last=Montana Legislature|title=JOE BALYEAT (R)|url=http://leg.mt.gov/css/Sessions/62nd/leg_info.asp?HouseID=0&SessionID=105&LAWSID=3704|accessdate=4 April 2011}}

Balyeat resigned his Senate Seat in June 2012 to take on the Montana State Director role with Americans for Prosperity.{{cite web|last=Bozeman Daily Chronicle|title=Balyeat tours as new Americans for Prosperity director|url= http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/politics/article_82e8ef94-bb5d-11e1-bd7e-001a4bcf887a.html|accessdate=19 August 2012}} He would have been ineligible to run for re-election due to Montana's term limits.

Balyeat was found dead from natural causes in Truman Gulch on October 5, 2022.{{cite web|last=KBZK|title=UPDATE: Hunter found dead near Truman Gulch identified|url=https://www.kbzk.com/news/local-news/a-hunter-was-found-deceased-near-truman-gulch-trailhead|accessdate=5 October 2022}} Balyeat had been hunting and did not return when expected.