{{short description|American politician (born 1979)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Justin Wilmeth | image = Justin Wilmeth (53779997322) (cropped).jpg | caption = Wilmeth in 2024 | office = Member of the Arizona House of Representatives | alongside = Stephanie Simacek | term_start = January 11, 2021 | term_end = | predecessor = Nancy Barto | successor = | constituency = 15th district (2021–2023)<br>2nd district (2023–present) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|6|26}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican | education = | signature = Justin Wilmeth Signature.png | website = {{url|justinwilmethaz.com|Campaign website}} }} '''Justin Wilmeth''' is an American politician and former child actor who has been a member of the Arizona House of Representatives since 2021. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was elected to the 15th district in 2020, and was subsequently elected from the 2nd district.
==Political career== Wilmer ran for a Legislative District 15 seat in the Arizona House of Representatives, in a distinct covering north Phoenix, after incumbent Republican Nancy Barto decided to run for Arizona Senate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2020/08/06/arizona-legislature-nancy-barto-defeats-heather-carter-senate-race/3315406001/|first=Andrew|last=Oxford|title=Rep. Nancy Barto claims victory, Sen. Heather Carter concedes in north Phoenix primary|website=AZCentral}}</ref>
In 2020, Wilmeth and Steve Kaiser won the a two{{endash}}seat election, defeating Democrat Kristin Dybvig{{endash}}Pawelko.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2020/08/04/steve-kaiser-justin-wilmeth-lead-pack-in-ld15-house-race/|title=Steve Kaiser, Justin Wilmeth lead pack in LD15 House race|website=Arizona Capitol Times}}</ref> Following resdistricting, he was placed in Legislative District 2.<Ref name=Pitzl>Mary Jo Pitzl, [https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/10/03/arizona-legislative-district-2-house-candidates-answer-our-questions/75370493007/ Where do Legislative District 2 House candidates stand on Arizona's key issues?], ''Arizona Republic'' (October 3, 2024).</ref> Wilmeth was reelected in 2022.<Ref name=Pitzl/> In the 2024, Democrat Stephanie Simacek came in first place in LD2; for the second seat, Wilmet and fellow Republican by Ari Daniel Bradshaw were separated by 0.08% in the initial count, triggering a recount.<ref>Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, [https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/112024_election_recounts/a-handful-2024-az-races-are-headed-recounts-including-one-legislative-seat/ A handful of 2024 Az races are headed to recounts, including one legislative seat], ''Arizona Mirror'' (November 20, 2024).</ref> In the recount, Wilmeth had 46,943 votes (29.76%), edging out Bradshaw, who received 46,809 votes (29.68%).<ref>[https://elections.maricopa.gov/asset/jcr:93a0b734-dcca-48b8-a44f-3854e95f9280/11-05-2024%20AZ%20STATE%20REP%20LD2%20-Final%20Official%20Results.pdf Final Official Recount Results of November 5, 2024 General Election], Maricopa County, Arizona.</ref>
In 2022, Wilmeth was named to the 2022 GOPAC Emerging Leaders Class.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 GOPAC Class of Emerging Leaders |url=https://www.gopac.org/2022-emerging-leaders/ |access-date=2022-07-15 |website=GOPAC |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2023-2024 session, Wilmeth was chairman of the House Commerce Committee.<Ref name=Pitzl/> In 2024, Wilmeth sponsored a bill to designate dwarf planet Pluto as Arizona's state planet.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Duhownik |first1=Joe |title=Arizona House committee moves to make Pluto official state planet, honoring Flagstaff discovery |url=https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020124_planet_pluto/arizona-house-committee-moves-make-pluto-official-state-planet-honoring-flagstaff-discovery/ |website=Tucson Sentinel |access-date=8 February 2024 |date=1 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Duda |first1=Jeremy |title=Pluto could become Arizona's official (dwarf) planet |url=https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/02/02/pluto-could-become-arizonas-official-dwarf-planet |website=Axios Phoenix |access-date=8 February 2024 |date=2 February 2024}}</ref> (Pluto was discovered by astronomers at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dreyfuss |first1=Martin |title=It's not officially a planet, but Pluto could be Arizona's official planet |url=https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2024/01/31/its-not-officially-a-planet-but-pluto-could-be-arizonas-official-planet/ |website=Cronkite News |access-date=8 February 2024 |date=31 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Reichley |first1=Marcus |title=Proposed bill seeks to name Pluto as Arizona's official state 'planet' |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/legislature/2024/01/17/arizona-lawmaker-justin-wilmeth-aims-to-make-pluto-official-state-planet/72249755007/ |website=AZ Central |access-date=8 February 2024 |date=17 January 2024}}</ref>) The bill passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs.<ref>Ben Bradley, [https://www.azfamily.com/2024/03/29/gov-hobbs-signs-bill-making-pluto-arizonas-official-state-planet/ Gov. Hobbs signs bill making Pluto Arizona’s official state planet], KTVK (March 29, 2024).</ref>
Wilmeth supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.<Ref name=Pitzl/>
In 2024, Wilmeth was one of three Republicans in the Arizona State House who voted to repeal Arizona's 1864 ban on abortion (adopted when Arizona was still a territory), a ban which contained no exceptions for rape or incest.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Billeaud |first1=Jacques |title=Arizona House advances a repeal of the state's near-total abortion ban to the Senate |url=https://apnews.com/article/arizona-abortion-1864-ban-repeal-lawmakers-84b0cd9a8c44ddaefed2c45e9eff1c79 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=26 April 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Arizona House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilmeth, Justin}} Category:1979 births Category:21st-century members of the Arizona State Legislature Category:Actors from Odessa, Texas Category:American actor-politicians Category:American male child actors Category:Arizona State University alumni Category:Living people Category:Male actors from Texas Category:Politicians from Phoenix, Arizona Category:Republican Party members of the Arizona House of Representatives