Wesley Hunt
{{Short description|American politician (born 1981)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Wesley Hunt
| image = Rep. Wesley Hunt official photo.jpg
| caption = Official Portrait, 2022
| state = Texas
| district = {{ushr|TX|38|38th}}
| term_start = January 3, 2023
| term_end =
| predecessor = Constituency established
| successor =
| birth_name = Wesley Parish Hunt
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|11|13}}
| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| spouse = Emily Hunt
| children = 3
| education = United States Military Academy (BS)
Cornell University (MBA, MPA, MA)
| website = {{url|hunt.house.gov|House website}}
| allegiance = United States
| branch = United States Army
| serviceyears = 2004–2012
| rank = Captain
| unit = Aviation Branch
| battles = Iraq War
| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=|title=Wesley Hunt's voice|type=speech|description=Wesley Hunt on his Conservative upbringing
Recorded January 26, 2023}}
}}
Wesley Parish Hunt (born November 13, 1981){{cite web|title=Candidate Conversation - Wesley Hunt (R)|url=https://www.insideelections.com/news/article/candidate-conversation-wesley-hunt-r|publisher=Inside Elections|accessdate=March 16, 2022}} is an American politician and veteran serving as the U.S. representative for Texas's 38th congressional district since 2023. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Early life and education
Hunt was born and raised in Houston to a military family. After graduating from St. John's School, he attended the United States Military Academy, where he received a Bachelor of Science in leadership and management with mechanical engineering in 2004.{{Cite web |title=Meet Wesley |url=https://wesleyfortexas.com/wesley-and-the-family/ |access-date=January 13, 2023 |website=Wesley Hunt |language=en-US}} His West Point class of 2004 classmates include U.S. representatives John James and Pat Ryan.{{Cite web |title=Bipartisan band of brothers: The West Point grads coming to Congress |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/26/west-point-grads-congress-midterm-results-00070710 |access-date=January 13, 2023 |website=POLITICO |date=November 26, 2022 |language=en}}
Hunt was commissioned into the U.S. Army in 2004{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Otis |date=2023-02-10 |title=Wesley Parish Hunt (1981-) • |url=https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/wesley-parish-hunt-1981/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |language=en-US}} and flew Apache helicopters in the military.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/19/us/texas-republican-wesley-hunt.html |title=Wesley Hunt's Advice for the Republican Party: Update Your Look - The New York Times |work=The New York Times |date=May 19, 2022 |accessdate=November 12, 2022}} He was deployed once to Iraq and was deployed twice to Saudi Arabia as a diplomatic liaison officer. He left the army at the rank of captain in 2012.
After being honorably discharged, he attended Cornell University and obtained a Master of Business Administration, Master of Public Administration,{{cite web |url=https://cornellsun.com/2022/11/09/seven-cornellians-set-to-serve-in-118th-congress/ | title=Seven Cornellians Set to Serve in 118th Congress | date=November 30, 2001 }} and a Master of Industrial and Labor Relations.{{cite web |url=https://cornellsun.com/2022/10/03/cornell-alumnus-wesley-hunt-campaigns-for-upcoming-texas-congressional-election/ | title=Cornell Alumnus Wesley Hunt Campaigns for Upcoming Texas Congressional Election | date=November 30, 2001 }}
U.S. House of Representatives
= Elections =
== 2020 ==
{{see also|2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas#District 7}}
Hunt ran for Texas's 7th congressional district in the 2020 elections. In a field of six candidates, Hunt won the Republican primary election with 61% of the vote.{{Cite web|url=https://thetexan.news/wesley-hunt-wins-gop-congressional-primary-in-rout-will-face-rep-fletcher-in-november/|title=Wesley Hunt Wins GOP Congressional Primary in Rout, Will Face Rep. Fletcher in November|date=March 4, 2020|website=The Texan}} He lost the general election to incumbent Democrat Lizzie Fletcher.{{cite web|url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/elections/congresswoman-lizzie-fletcher-wins-reelection-for-texas-district-7/285-b3b9bf39-4383-45b8-b89a-e00e412e838e|title=Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher wins reelection for Texas' District 7; Wesley Hunt concedes|date=November 3, 2020|access-date=March 28, 2022|last=Carter|first=Lisa|website=KHOU}} Hunt conceded to Fletcher a day after the election.
== 2022 ==
{{see also|2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas#District 38}}
A day after redistricted maps were revealed, Hunt announced his intention to run in the new, solidly Republican 38th district.{{Cite news|last=Svitek|first=Patrick|date=September 28, 2021|access-date=March 28, 2022|title=Proposed new congressional seat in Houston gets prominent GOP candidate|work=Texas Tribune|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/09/28/wesley-hunt-houston-congress/}} Andrew Schneider of Houston Public Media wrote that "state GOP lawmakers carved out a new district, Texas' 38th, specifically with [Hunt] in mind." Hunt faced nine opponents in the primary election and received over 55% of the vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2022/03/02/420265/wesley-hunt-wins-the-gop-nomination-in-houstons-newest-congressional-district/|title=Wesley Hunt wins the GOP nomination in Houston's newest congressional district|date=March 2, 2022|access-date=March 28, 2022|last=Schneider|first=Andrew|website=Houston Public Media}} He was endorsed by Republican Main Street Partnership PAC{{Cite web |title=Candidates |url=https://www.mainstreetrepublicanpac.com/candidates |access-date=December 26, 2022 |website=RMSP PAC |language=en}} He defeated the Democratic nominee, Duncan Klussmann, in the November 8 general election, 63% to 35%.{{Cite web|url=https://abc13.com/texas-politics-us-house-district-38-wesley-hunt-projected-winner-election-results/12432208/|title=Republican Wesley Hunt wins election to U.S. House in Texas' 38th Congressional District|date=November 9, 2022|website=ABC13 Houston}}
= Tenure =
In January 2023, at the beginning of the 118th U.S. Congress, Hunt supported Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. Hunt is on the House Judiciary,{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/70|title=H Res. 70|accessdate=February 2, 2023}} Natural Resources{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/80|title=H Res. 80|accessdate=February 2, 2023}} and Small Business Committees. On the Small Business Committee he chairs the Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains{{cite web|url=https://smallbusiness.house.gov/about/subcommittees/|title=House Committee on Small Business - Subcommittees|accessdate=February 2, 2023}}
Hunt endorsed Donald Trump's campaign in the 2024 presidential election.{{Cite web |last=Svitek |first=Patrick |date=2023-01-11 |title=As Donald Trump mounts his 2024 presidential bid, his support among Texas officials is waning |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/01/11/donald-trump-texas-endorsements/ |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}
== Syria ==
In 2023, Hunt was among 47 Republicans to vote in favor of H.Con.Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.{{Cite web |title=H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … -- House Vote #136 -- Mar 8, 2023 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/118-2023/h136 |access-date=2023-04-04 |website=GovTrack.us}}{{cite news| title=House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria | website=US News & World Report | date=8 March 2023 |url=//www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2023-03-08/house-votes-down-bill-directing-removal-of-troops-from-syria | access-date=6 April 2023}}
== Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 ==
Hunt was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4029522-republicans-and-democrats-who-bucked-party-leaders-by-voting-no/|title=Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no|first=Jared|last=Gans|date=May 31, 2023|access-date=June 6, 2023|work=The Hill}}
Personal life
Around the time of his arrival in Congress, Hunt's wife, Emily, gave birth to a son, Willie, who was born prematurely and needed time in the neonatal intensive care unit, forcing Hunt to leave the Speaker of the House election on its fourth day, missing the 12th and 13th ballots before returning the same day.{{Cite web |last=Sforza |first=Lauren |date=January 6, 2023 |title=Incoming Texas Republican returning to Texas after son born prematurely |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3802485-incoming-texas-republican-returning-to-texas-after-son-born-prematurely/ |access-date=January 7, 2023 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}
Hunt is a Baptist. He attended Champion Forest Baptist Church, which he has said shaped his beliefs.{{Cite news |last= |first= |last2= |first2= |last3= |first3= |last4= |first4= |last5= |first5= |last6= |first6= |last7= |first7= |last8= |first8= |date=2022-11-10 |title=Opinion {{!}} A Newly Elected Black Republican Has a Message for His Party's Leaders |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/10/opinion/wesley-hunt-republicans-future-diversity.html |access-date=2023-04-04 |issn=0362-4331}}
Electoral history
=2020=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 7th congressional district Republican primary, 2020{{cite web|url=https://results.texas-election.com/contestdetails?officeID=2008&officeName=U.%20S.%20REPRESENTATIVE%20DISTRICT%207&officeType=FEDERAL%20OFFICES&from=race|title=2020 March 3rd Republican Primary|access-date=March 28, 2022|publisher=Texas Secretary of State}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Wesley Hunt
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 28,060
| percentage = 61.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Cindy Siegel
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 12,497
| percentage = 27.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Maria Espinoza
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 2,716
| percentage = 5.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kyle Preston
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 1,363
| percentage = 3.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Noteware
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 937
| percentage = 2.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Laique Rehman
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 424
| percentage = 0.9
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 45,997
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 7th congressional district, 2020{{cite web|url=https://results.texas-election.com/static/data/Reports/44144/OfficialCanvassReport.pdf?v=1648476728054|title=2020 November 3rd General Election|access-date=March 28, 2022|publisher=Texas Secretary of State}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lizzie Fletcher (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 159,529
| percentage = 50.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Wesley Hunt
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 149,054
| percentage = 47.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Shawn Kelly
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 5,542
| percentage = 1.8
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 314,125
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2022=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 38th congressional district Republican primary, 2022{{cite web|url=https://results.texas-election.com/static/data/Reports/47010/OfficialCanvassReport.pdf?v=1648476276147|title=Official Canvass Report: 2022 March 1st Republican Primary|access-date=March 28, 2022|publisher=Texas Secretary of State}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Wesley Hunt
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 35,291
| percentage = 55.3%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mark Ramsey
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 19,352
| percentage = 30.3%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = David Hogan
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 3,125
| percentage = 4.9%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ronald Lopez
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 2,048
| percentage = 3.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Brett Guillroy
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 1,416
| percentage = 2.2%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jerry Ford, Sr.
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 997
| percentage = 1.6%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Richard Welch
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 633
| percentage = 1.0%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Alex Cross
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 460
| percentage = 0.7%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Damien Mockus
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 249
| percentage = 0.4%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Philip Covarrubias
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 228
| percentage = 0.4%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 63,799
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas’s 38th congressional district, 2022
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Wesley Hunt
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 162,992
| percentage = 63.00
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Duncan Klussmann
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 91,768
| percentage = 35.47
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Joel Dejean
| party = Independent Party (United States)
| votes = 3,953
| percentage = 1.53
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 258,713
| percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box new seat win
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2024=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Texas's 38th congressional district election, 2024
}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Wesley Hunt (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 214,076
| percentage = 62.9
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Melissa McDonough
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 126,408
| percentage = 37.1
}}{{Election box total no change
| votes = 340,484
| percentage = 100.0
}}{{Election box end}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://hunt.house.gov/ Congressman Wesley Hunt] official U.S. House website
- [https://wesleyfortexas.com/ Wesley Hunt for Congress] campaign website
- {{CongLinks | congbio=H001095 | votesmart=188147| fec= H0TX07170| congress=wesley-hunt/H001095}}
- {{C-SPAN|135407}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunt, Wesley}}
Category:African-American Christians
Category:African-American members of the United States House of Representatives
Category:African-American military personnel
Category:African-American people in Texas politics
Category:Black conservatism in the United States
Category:Candidates in the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections
Category:Cornell University alumni
Category:Politicians from Houston
Category:St. John's School (Texas) alumni
Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas
Category:United States Military Academy alumni
Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives