Tom Jensen

{{Short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Tom Jensen | image = | office = Judge of the 27th Kentucky Circuit Court | term_start = December 2012 | term_end = February 16, 2016 | predecessor = John Knox Mills | successor = Danny Evans | state_senate1 = Kentucky | district1 = 21st | term_start1 = January 1, 2005 | term_end1 = December 2012 | predecessor1 = Albert Robinson | successor1 = Albert Robinson | office2 = Minority Leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives | term_start2 = January 8, 1991 | term_end2 = January 3, 1995 | predecessor2 = William Strong | successor2 = Danny Ford | state_house3 = Kentucky | district3 = 85th | term_start3 = January 1, 1989 | term_end3 = January 1, 1997 | predecessor3 = Albert Robinson | successor3 = Tommy Turner | term_start4 = January 1, 1985 | term_end4 = January 1, 1987 | predecessor4 = Albert Robinson | successor4 = Albert Robinson | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = | party = Republican }}

'''Thomas Lee Jensen''' (born December 29, 1948) is an American politician from Kentucky who was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, the Kentucky Senate, and the 27th Kentucky Circuit Court.

Jensen was first elected to the house in 1984, defeating incumbent Republican representative Albert Robinson for renomination. Robinson challenged Jensen in 1986, defeating him for renomination.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 28, 1986 |title=Deskins survives primary challenge |work=The Lexington Herald-Leader |page=A13 |quote=Former Rep. Albert Robinson defeated incumbent Tom Jensen.}}</ref> Jensen was elected to the house again in 1988 when Robinson unsuccessfully ran for the Kentucky Senate.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 18, 1988 |title=2 friends split over 21st district senate bid |work=The Lexington Herald-Leader |page=B1}}</ref> Jensen did not seek reelection to the house in 1996.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 31, 1996 |title=Republicans aiming for control of state senate |work=The Lexington Herald-Leader |page=B1 |quote=Fourteen incumbents aren't seeking re-election in the House, including former Minority Leader Tom Jensen...}}</ref>

In 2004 Jensen ran for the senate and defeated Robinson for renomination, who had been elected senator in 1994.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 19, 2004 |title=Most incumbents prevail, but some upsets occur |work=The Lexington Herald-Leader |page=A12}}</ref>

In 2012 Jensen was elected to the 27th Kentucky Circuit Court after incumbent judge John Knox Mills resigned to teach at the University of the Cumberlands.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 8, 2012 |title=Judiciary chairman exits re-election race |work=The Lexington Herald-Leader |page=A3}}</ref> He resigned from the court in February 2016 and was replaced by Commonwealth's Attorney Danny Evans.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Nita |date=March 23, 2016 |title=Evans appointed circuit judge for Laurel and Knox |url=https://www.sentinel-echo.com/community/evans-appointed-circuit-judge-for-laurel-and-knox/article_c51f5276-f106-11e5-8d20-7b7683baaf96.html |work=The Sentinel Echo |access-date=February 10, 2024}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}} {{National Conference of State Legislatures presidents|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jensen, Tom}} Category:1948 births Category:Living people Category:Republican Party Kentucky state senators Category:Republican Party members of the Kentucky House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Kentucky General Assembly Category:20th-century members of the Kentucky General Assembly Category:Presidents of the National Conference of State Legislatures