Don Jones (Ohio politician)
Don Jones | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 95th district | |
| In office January 6, 2019 – June 1, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Andy Thompson |
| Succeeded by | Ty Moore |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Cadiz, Ohio, US |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Amy Jones |
| Alma mater | Ashland University |
Donald Jones is a Republican former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 95th district from 2019 to 2025. Jones's district included all of Carroll, Harrison, and Noble counties and portions of Belmont and Washington counties. Prior to elected office, Jones served as an agricultural education teacher at Harrison Central High School.[1] He also serves as a volunteer firefighter and EMT.[2]
Former State Representative Andy Thompson's term expired at the end of 2018. Thompson had served 8 years in the Ohio House and was term limited per the Ohio Constitution causing an open seat in the 95th district.[3] Unopposed in the Republican primary, Jones went on to win the seat with more than 65% of the vote.[4] He was sworn into office for the first time on January 6, 2019.
In 2021, Jones sponsored legislation to ban the teaching that any individual is “inherently racist,” that any individual “bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by the same race or sex,” or that slavery “constitutes the true founding” of the United States. Jones argued, "Critical race theory is a dangerous and flat-out wrong theory." Asked if any Ohio schools actually teach the things that Jones sought to ban, Jones could not cite any examples.[5]
FirstEnergy scandal
Rep. Don Jones supported House Bill 6 (HB 6), which was later at the center of the FirstEnergy bribery and racketeering scandal. See Ohio nuclear bribery scandal.
Campaign finance reports show that Jones received $3,000 from the FirstEnergy political action committee in 2019.[6]
Jones was not charged in the federal bribery case. However, their support for HB 6 and campaign contributions from FirstEnergy drew scrutiny from watchdog organizations and media outlets, which pointed to the utility’s extensive financial influence in Ohio politics.[7][8]
Resignation
On June 1, 2025, Jones resigned from the Ohio House after accepting an appointment from President Donald Trump to serve as the State Executive Director of the Ohio Farm Service Agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He began his new role on June 2, 2025.[9]
References
- ^ Baker, Jon. "Don Jones will focus on education as 95th House District lawmaker". Times Reporter. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
- ^ Baker, Jon. "Brett Hillyer, Don Jones begin duties in Ohio House of Representatives". Times Reporter. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
- ^ Thompson, Andy (2018-10-24). "Thompson gives endorsement". Columbus Alive. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
- ^ Kelly, Michael (2018-11-07). "Republicans retain state representative seats". Marietta Times. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
- ^ Gabriel, Trip; Goldstein, Dana (2021-06-01). "Disputing Racism's Reach, Republicans Rattle American Schools". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
- ^ "List: Lawmakers and FirstEnergy donations". Ohio Capital Journal. July 24, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
- ^ "Utility Money Still Flows in Ohio Politics After HB6 Scandal". Center for Public Integrity. June 7, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
- ^ Bischoff, Laura A. (August 16, 2020). "Dark money groups poured millions into Ohio elections, often with few strings attached". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
- ^ "Representative Don Jones Announces Resignation from the Ohio House of Representatives". Ohio House of Representatives. Retrieved June 2, 2025.