John Payton (politician)

{{Short description|American politician}}

John Payton is an auto dealer, cattle rancher, and state legislator in Arkansas. He served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2013 to 2022, including as Majority Whip. He has since served in the Arkansas Senate. He is a Republican. He is an auto auctioneer and raises cattle.{{Cite web|url=https://senate.arkansas.gov/senators/john-payton/|title=John Payton|website=Arkansas Senate}} He sponsored a bill criminalizing the presence of adults in a bathroom unless they are the same sex as any minors present.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/mar/07/arkansas-senate-sends-john-paytons-bathroom-bill-to-house-for-further-consideration/|title=Arkansas Senate sends Sen. John Payton's bathroom bill to House for further consideration|date=March 7, 2023|website=Arkansas Online|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307220557/https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2023/mar/07/arkansas-senate-sends-john-paytons-bathroom-bill-to-house-for-further-consideration/|archive-date=March 7, 2023|url-status=live}}

He is a member of the National Rifle Association of America.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whiterivernow.com/2021/12/06/state-rep-john-payton-announces-for-state-senate/|title=State Rep. John Payton announces for State Senate|website=White River Now – Batesville, AR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120073130/https://www.whiterivernow.com/2021/12/06/state-rep-john-payton-announces-for-state-senate/|archive-date=January 20, 2022|url-status=live}}