{{Short description|American politician (born 1937)}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Joe May | honorific_suffix = | image = | caption = | state_delegate = Virginia | district = 33rd | term_start = January 12, 1994 | term_end = January 8, 2014 | preceded = Linda M. Wallace | succeeded = Dave LaRock | birth_name = Joseph Turner May | birth_date = {{Birth date and age | 1937 | 6 | 8}} | birth_place = Broadway, Virginia, U.S. | party = Republican | spouse = Roberta Compton Downs | children = 3 | alma_mater = Virginia Tech | profession = Electrical engineer | website = <!-- Military service --> | allegiance = {{flag|United States|1912}} | branch = United States Army | service_years = 1955&ndash;1958 | rank = Sergeant | unit = 89th Ordnance Detachment | commands = | awards = }}

'''Joe Turner May''' (born June 8, 1937) is an American businessman, electrical engineer, inventor, aviator, and politician.

==Biography== Born on June 8, 1937, in Broadway, Virginia, May graduated from Virginia Tech in 1959. Between 1955&ndash;1958, he served in the United States Army.

In 1977, May founded EIT, a Sterling-based electronics manufacturer.<ref name="2014VaElection"/> May holds more than 20 patents in the fields of electrical and electronic engineering.<ref name="2014VaElection"/><ref name="vtaee">{{cite web | title = Joe May is inducted into the Academy of Engineering Excellence | publisher = Bradley Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering, Virginia Tech | url = http://www.ece.vt.edu/news/articles/may.html | date = 2009-05-01 | access-date = 2013-05-31 | df = mdy-all | archive-date = 2012-07-21 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120721215709/http://www.ece.vt.edu/news/articles/may.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> He is also an avid aviator, holding licenses in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft.<ref>{{cite news |first=Danielle |last=Nadler |url=https://issuu.com/leesburgtoday/docs/05-07-2015_lt_issue |title=May Unveils Latest Invention, A First For Helicopter Technology |work=Leesburg Today |date=May 7, 2015 |page=3 |volume=27 |issue=18}}</ref>

Between 1994 and 2014, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 33rd district. The district included parts of Clarke, Frederick and Loudoun counties. May, a self described moderate, was a member of the Republican Party caucus.<ref name="2014VaElection">{{cite news | first=Ben |last=Pershing | title =Joe May looks for the middle ground in special election for control of Virginia Senate| work = The Washington Post | date = 2013-01-20 | url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/joe-may-looks-for-the-middle-ground-in-special-election-for-control-of-virginia-senate/2014/01/19/6e854630-7dc4-11e3-9556-4a4bf7bcbd84_story.html?tid=hpModule_99d5f542-86a2-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394 | access-date =2013-01-20 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="hod2013">{{cite web | title = Bio for Joe T. May | publisher = Virginia House of Delegates | url = http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/a7b082ef6ed01eac85256c0d00515644/715920ff7891b2e085257b64004568f2?OpenDocument | access-date = 2013-05-31 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> During his time in the House of Delegates, May was co-chair of the Science and Technology committee between 1998&ndash;2001, and chair between 2002&ndash;2007. From 2008&ndash;2014, he was chair of the committee on Transportation.<ref name="hod2013"/>

In June 2013, Dave LaRock defeated May in the 33rd district Republican primary.<ref name="2013VaPrimary">{{cite news |first1=Ben |last1=Pershing |first2=Errin |last2=Whack | title = Democrats give nod to Northam, Herring in statewide races | work = The Washington Post | date = 2013-06-11 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/voter-turnout-sparse-for-down-ticket-races-in-virginia/2013/06/11/dc9c4364-d2a0-11e2-8cbe-1bcbee06f8f8_story.html | access-date = 2013-06-12 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In December 2013, May announced his candidacy in a special election to succeed Democratic Attorney General-elect Mark Herring, in the Virginia State Senate. After the Republican Party decided to choose its candidate through a "mass meeting" instead of a primary, May declared he would run as an independent.<ref>{{cite news | first= Caitlin |last=Gibson | title = May breaks from GOP, will run as Independent in race for Herring's seat | work = The Washington Post | date = 2013-06-11 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/may-breaks-from-gop-will-run-as-independent-in-race-for-herrings-seat/2013/12/03/f6e524ea-5c4b-11e3-bc56-c6ca94801fac_story.html | access-date = 2013-06-12 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> May was endorsed by both the conservative-leaning National Federation of Independent Business<ref name="gvi">{{cite news |title=Business Group Endorses May For State Senate |work=Leesburg Today |url=http://www.leesburgtoday.com/news/politics/business-group-endorses-may-for-state-senate/article_9eae1c8e-74ae-11e3-93b1-0019bb2963f4.html |access-date=2014-01-05 |date=January 3, 2014 |archive-date=January 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140105054730/http://www.leesburgtoday.com/news/politics/business-group-endorses-may-for-state-senate/article_9eae1c8e-74ae-11e3-93b1-0019bb2963f4.html |df=mdy-all |url-status=live }}</ref> and the centralist Independent Greens Party.<ref name="ho8p">{{cite web | title = Independent Green Party endorsee Joe May for State Senate 33rd District| publisher = votejoinrun.us| url =http://www.votejoinrun.us/2013.12.01_arch.html| access-date =2013-12-25 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> On election day, May garnered 10% of the vote, while the Democratic and Republican candidates received 53% and 38%, respectively.

May was the Republican candidate in the January 8, 2019, special election for the 33rd district to the Virginia Senate, losing to Democrat Jennifer Boysko, following Jennifer Wexton's election to the U.S. House of Representatives.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cline |first1=Nathaniel |title=Boysko, May to face-off in special election |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/boysko-may-to-face-off-in-special-election/article_40ddec4c-ecd1-11e8-ae70-bf602875cc2c.html |work=Loudoun Times-Mirror |date=November 20, 2018 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Baratko |first1=Trevor |title=Boysko wins 33rd Senate District special election |url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/boysko-wins-rd-senate-district-special-election/article_c1a24718-13a7-11e9-a24f-435586c684a2.html |access-date=January 9, 2019 |work=Loudoun Times-Mirror |date=January 8, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

May and his wife, Roberta Compton Downs, reside in Leesburg, Virginia.

==Electoral history== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Date !! Election !! Candidate !! Party !! Votes !! % |- ! colspan="6" | Virginia House of Delegates, 33rd district |- ! rowspan="4" | November 2, 1993<ref name="VaElectionsDb">{{cite web | title = The Virginia Elections and State Elected Officials Database Project, 1776-2007 | publisher = University of Virginia Library | url = http://vavh.iath.virginia.edu/php/election.php | access-date = 2013-05-31 | df = mdy-all | archive-date = 2014-01-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140102200953/http://vavh.iath.virginia.edu/php/election.php | url-status = dead }}</ref> | rowspan="4" align="center" | General | '''Joe T. May''' | {{party shading/Republican}} | '''Republican''' | align="right" | '''9,773''' | align="right" | '''51.9%''' |- | Jean S. Brown | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | align="right" | 8,736 | align="right" | 46.4% |- | Christina Nelson Huth | {{party shading/Independent}} | Independent | align="right" | 323 | align="right" | 1.7% |- | colspan="4" style="background:Beige" | ''Linda M. Wallace retired; seat stayed Republican'' |- ! rowspan="3" | November 7, 1995<ref name="sbe1995">{{cite web|title=1995 Election Results - HOD |publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections |url=http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/1995/rslts95-hod_va_dist-loc.htm |access-date=2013-05-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725003210/http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/1995/rslts95-hod_va_dist-loc.htm |archive-date=2013-07-25 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | rowspan="3" align="center" | General | '''Joe T. May''' | {{party shading/Republican}} | '''Republican''' | align="right" | '''10,090''' | align="right" | '''61.7%''' |- | Richard D. Winter | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | align="right" | 6,239 | align="right" | 37.4% |- | colspan="2" | Write-ins | align="right" | 4 | align="right" | 0.02% |- ! rowspan="4" | November 4, 1997<ref name="sbe1997">{{cite web|title=1997 Election Results - HOD |publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections |url=http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/1997/hod1197.htm |access-date=2013-05-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724161859/http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/1997/hod1197.htm |archive-date=2013-07-24 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | rowspan="4" align="center" | General | '''Joe T. May''' | {{party shading/Republican}} | '''Republican''' | align="right" | '''11,976''' | align="right" | '''59.6%''' |- | Kenneth P. Halla | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | align="right" | 6,563 | align="right" | 32.7% |- | Robert E. Primack | {{party shading/Green}} | Independent Greens | align="right" | 1,536 | align="right" | 7.7% |- | colspan="2" | Write-ins | align="right" | 15 | align="right" | 0.1% |- ! rowspan="2" | November 2, 1999<ref name="sbe1999">{{cite web|title=Election Results - House of Delegates - Nov 1999 Gen Election |publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections |url=http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/1999/Results-HOD-Nov99-Gen--by_dist-loc.htm |access-date=2013-05-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228232647/http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/1999/Results-HOD-Nov99-Gen--by_dist-loc.htm |archive-date=2012-12-28 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | rowspan="2" align="center" | General | '''Joe T. May''' | {{party shading/Republican}} | '''Republican''' | align="right" | '''14,095''' | align="right" | '''98.8%''' |- | colspan="2" | Write-ins | align="right" | 167 | align="right" | 1.2% |- ! rowspan="2" | Nov 6, 2001<ref name="sbe2001">{{cite web | title = General Election- November 6, 2001 | publisher = Virginia State Board of Elections | url = http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/2001/nov2001/html/c_08_033.htm | access-date = 2013-05-31 | df = mdy-all | archive-date = 2012-12-29 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121229000209/http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/2001/nov2001/html/c_08_033.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref> | rowspan="2" align="center" | General | '''Joe T. May''' | {{party shading/Republican}} | '''Republican''' | align="right" | '''17,107''' | align="right" | '''98.1%''' |- | colspan="2" | Write-ins | align="right" | 328 | align="right" | 1.9% |- ! rowspan="2" | Nov 4, 2003<ref name="sbe2003">{{cite web | title = General Election- November 4, 2003 | publisher = Virginia State Board of Elections | url = http://www.sbe.state.va.us/ElectionResults/2003/Nov/H_08_033.htm | access-date = 2013-05-31 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140222050948/http://www.sbe.state.va.us/ElectionResults/2003/Nov/H_08_033.htm | archive-date = February 22, 2014 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | rowspan="2" align="center" | General | '''Joe T. May''' | {{party shading/Republican}} | '''Republican''' | align="right" | '''16,031''' | align="right" | '''98.1%''' |- | colspan="2" | Write-ins | align="right" | 311 | align="right" | 1.9% |- ! rowspan="2" | Jun 14, 2005<ref name="sbe2005p">{{cite web|title=Primary Election- June 14, 2005 |publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections |url=http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/2005/Junr2005Primary/index.htm |access-date=2013-05-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813132134/http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/2005/Junr2005Primary/index.htm |archive-date=August 13, 2013 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | rowspan="2" align="center" {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican primary | colspan="2" | '''Joy T. May''' | align="right" | '''2,974''' | align="right" | '''59.8%''' |- | colspan="2" |Christopher G. Oprison | align="right" | 1,999 | align="right" | 40.2% |- ! rowspan="2" | November 8, 2005<ref name="sbe2005">{{cite web | title = General Election- November 8, 2005 | publisher = Virginia State Board of Elections | url = http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/2005/nov2005/html/h_33.htm | access-date = 2013-05-31 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121228235433/http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/2005/nov2005/html/h_33.htm | archive-date = December 28, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | rowspan="2" align="center" | General | '''Joe T. May''' | {{party shading/Republican}} | '''Republican''' | align="right" | '''20,621''' | align="right" | '''91.8%''' |- | colspan="2" | Write-ins | align="right" | 1,847 | align="right" | 8.2% |- ! rowspan="3" | November 6, 2007<ref name="sbe2007">{{cite web|title=November 6, 2007 General Election Official Results |publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections |url=https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2007/196E44FA-8B19-4240-9A44-737216DAA55D/Unofficial/8_p2_s.shtml |access-date=2013-05-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053531/https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2007/196E44FA-8B19-4240-9A44-737216DAA55D/Unofficial/8_p2_s.shtml |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | rowspan="3" align="center" | General | '''Joe T. May''' | {{party shading/Republican}} | '''Republican''' | align="right" | '''14,978''' | align="right" | '''59.8%''' |- | Marty Martinez | {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic | align="right" | 10,029 | align="right" | 40.1% |- | colspan="2" | Write-ins | align="right" | 35 | align="right" | 0.1% |- ! rowspan="2" | November 3, 2009<ref name="sbe2009">{{cite web|title=November 2009 General Election Official Results |publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections |url=https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2009/37C2EDEB-FACB-44C1-AF70-05FB616DCD62/Official/8_p2_s.shtml |access-date=2013-05-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051828/https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2009/37C2EDEB-FACB-44C1-AF70-05FB616DCD62/Official/8_p2_s.shtml |archive-date=2016-03-04 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | rowspan="2" align="center" | General | '''Joe T. May''' | {{party shading/Republican}} | '''Republican''' | align="right" | '''22,489''' | align="right" | '''96.9%''' |- | colspan="2" | Write-ins | align="right" | 722 | align="right" | 3.1% |- ! rowspan="2" | November 8, 2011<ref name="sbe2011">{{cite web | title = November 2011 General Election Official Results | publisher = Virginia State Board of Elections | url = https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2011/EB178FD6-875D-4B0D-A295-900A0482F523/Official/8_p2_s.shtml | access-date = 2013-05-31 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130616054701/https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2011/EB178FD6-875D-4B0D-A295-900A0482F523/Official/8_p2_s.shtml | archive-date = 2013-06-16 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | rowspan="2" align="center" | General | '''Joe T. May''' | {{party shading/Republican}} | '''Republican''' | align="right" | '''13,027''' | align="right" | '''97.4%''' |- | colspan="2" | Write-ins | align="right" | 346 | align="right" | 2.6% |- ! rowspan="2" | June 4, 2013<ref name="sbe2013p">{{cite web|title=June 2013 Primary Election Preliminary Results |publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections |url=http://electionresults.virginia.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=HOD&map=CTY |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615230559/http://electionresults.virginia.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=HOD&map=CTY |archive-date=2013-06-15 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> | rowspan="2" align="center" {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican primary | colspan="2" | '''Dave LaRock''' | align="right" | '''2,958''' | align="right" | '''57.3%''' |- | colspan="2" | Joe T. May | align="right" | 2,201 | align="right" | 42.7% |- ! colspan="6" | Virginia State Senate, 33rd district |- ! rowspan="4" | January 21, 2014<ref name="election2014">{{cite news |first=Danielle |last=Nadler |title=May Secures Spot On Special Election Ballot |work=Leesburg Today |url=http://www.leesburgtoday.com/news/may-secures-spot-on-special-election-ballot/article_fcbf28be-716a-11e3-948b-001a4bcf887a.html |access-date=2013-12-30 |date=December 30, 2013 |archive-date=January 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140106163410/http://www.leesburgtoday.com/news/may-secures-spot-on-special-election-ballot/article_fcbf28be-716a-11e3-948b-001a4bcf887a.html |df=mdy-all |url-status=live }}</ref> | rowspan="4" align="center" | Special election | '''Jennifer Wexton''' | {{party shading/Democratic}} | '''Democratic''' | align="right" | '''11,427''' | align="right" | '''52.7%''' |- | John Whitbeck | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | align="right" | 8,128 | align="right" | 37.5% |- | Joe T. May | {{party shading/Independent}} | Independent | align="right" | 2,119 | align="right" | 9.8% |- | colspan="2" | Write-ins | align="right" | 3 | align="right" | 0.01% |- ! rowspan="3" | January 8, 2019<ref name="election2019">{{cite news |first=Trevor|last=Baratko|title=Boysko wins 33rd Senate District special election |work=Loudoun Times|url=https://www.loudountimes.com/news/boysko-wins-rd-senate-district-special-election/article_c1a24718-13a7-11e9-a24f-435586c684a2.html|access-date=2022-10-11 |date=January 8, 2019 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> | rowspan="3" align="center" | Special election | '''Jennifer Boysko''' | {{party shading/Democratic}} | '''Democratic''' | align="right" | '''14,127''' | align="right" | '''69.5%''' |- | Joe T. May | {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican | align="right" | 6,183 | align="right" | 30.4% |- | colspan="2" | Write-ins | align="right" | 27 | align="right" | 0.01% |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{cite web | title = Joe May | publisher = Virginia Public Access Project | url = http://www.vpap.org/candidates/profile/home/580}} (campaign finance) *{{cite web |title = Delegate Joe May (R-Leesburg) | publisher = Richmond Sunlight | url = http://www.richmondsunlight.com/legislator/jtmay/}} *{{cite web|title=Election Results |publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections |url=http://sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429112846/http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults.html |archive-date=2013-04-29 }}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:May, Joe T.}} Category:1937 births Category:Living people Category:Republican Party members of the Virginia House of Delegates Category:Virginia Tech alumni Category:American electrical engineers Category:20th-century American inventors Category:Helicopter pilots Category:People from Leesburg, Virginia Category:People from Broadway, Virginia Category:Engineers from Virginia Category:21st-century members of the Virginia General Assembly