Joseph K. Wood
Joseph K. Wood | |
|---|---|
| Chair of the Arkansas Republican Party | |
| Assumed office August 19, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Cody Hiland |
| Secretary of Transformation & Shared Services | |
| In office January 2023 – September 2023 | |
| Governor | Sarah Huckabee Sanders |
| Preceded by | Mitch Rouse |
| Succeeded by | Aide Fisken |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Chicago |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | June |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Fayetteville, Arkansas |
| Website | arkansasgop.org/staff |
Joseph K. Wood is an American judge and politician serving as the chair of the Arkansas Republican Party since August 2023. He previously served as Secretary of Transformation & Shared Services in Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders' cabinet in 2023. He served two terms as Washington County judge, being elected in 2016 and reelected in 2018.
Early life and education
Joseph Wood was born in Chicago.[1] He was abandoned as a newborn and lived in an orphanage until his adoption. He is the author of a book series about a child who is adopted.[2] He graduated from Iowa State University in 1987 and Ecclesia College in 2016.[1]
Political career
In 2008, Wood lost a campaign to be state party chair of the Arkansas Republican Party to Doyle Webb.[3] He was elected Washington County judge in 2016 and reelected in 2018.[2] He was the first Black judge elected in Arkansas. He lost the Republican primary in the 2022 Arkansas lieutenant gubernatorial election, placing fourth with 8.60% of the vote.[1] During the campaign, he describes himself as a Conservative Republican.[4]
In January 2023, he was appointed Secretary of Transformation & Shared Services in Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders' cabinet.[3] In August 2023, he was named chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party.[5] He was replaced in Huckabee's cabinet by Aide Fisken in September 2023.[6] In June 2024, Wood was replaced as chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party convention for a day by Saline County attorney Jennifer Lancaster in a rejection of party leadership.[7] Wood served as a presidential elector for the 3rd congressional district, pledged to vote for Donald Trump.[8] In 2025 Wood was appointed to the seven-member Black History Commission of Arkansas; his term ends in 2026.[9]
References
- ^ a b c "Joseph Wood". ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ a b "Sanders Announces Intent to Nominate Judge Joseph Wood as Secretary of Transformation and Shared Services - Arkansas Governor - Sarah Huckabee Sanders". governor.arkansas.gov. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
- ^ a b Wickline, Michael R. (November 12, 2024). "Shnaekel, Wood vie for lead of state GOP". edition.arkansasonline.com. Arkansas Online. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
- ^ "Joseph Wood for Lieutenant Governor". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
- ^ "Former Wash Co Judge named Chairman of AR Republican Party". KNWA FOX24. 2023-08-19. Archived from the original on 2024-05-26. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
- ^ Wickline, Michael R. "Sanders appoints aide Fisken as secretary of Arkansas Department of Transformation and Shared Services". Arkansas Department of Transformation and Shared Services. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ "Republican state chairman loses bid to lead the party's convention | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette". www.nwaonline.com. 2024-06-08. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
- ^ "Governor Sanders Receives Certification of the 2024 General Election". governor.arkansas.gov. Retrieved 2025-05-10.
- ^ Albarado, Sonny (March 14, 2025). "Former Democratic state senator and current state GOP chair appointed to Black History Commission". Arkansas Advocate. Retrieved 2025-06-01.