Ballotpedia: Joe Kent

Green Beret PAC: Joe Kent

Joe was born in Sweet Home, Oregon and raised in Portland. He earned his bachelor's degree from Norwich University. He lives with his wife, Heather, and their 2 sons in Yacolt. 

Joe served for 20 years as an Army ranger and then in the U.S. Special Forces, serving 11 tours of combat. He has also worked as a field operative in the CIA, a foreign policy advisor to President Trump, and worked as a project manager for a technology company.

Joe Kent previously ran for US representative in Congressional District 3 in 2022, but he did not win.

Candidate website

Washington State Standard:  Economy Election 2024 Police & Courts Politics Gluesenkamp Perez and Kent spar as poll shows rematch is a dead heat

Wants to reduce the cost of raising children by expanding the child tax credit and making necessities like diapers and formula tax-deductible.

Supports expanding the child tax credit and making necessities like diapers and formula tax-deductible.

Believes federal government needs to reduce spending.

- Supports expanding the child tax credit and making necessities like diapers and formula tax-deductible.
- Believes federal government needs to reduce spending.

Economy

Opposes rebuilding the Interstate 5 bridge between Washington and Oregon, believes the existing bridge should be retrofitted and a different new bridge should be built.

- Opposes rebuilding the Interstate 5 bridge between Washington and Oregon, believes the existing bridge should be retrofitted and a different new bridge should be built.

Energy & the Environment

Opposes federal legislation on abortion and believes it is a state issue.

- Opposes federal legislation on abortion and believes it is a state issue.

Healthcare

As of October 7, 2024, Joe Kent’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

Public Safety

Opposes letting transgender women compete in women's athletics.

- Opposes letting transgender women compete in women's athletics.

Education

Opposes continued foreign aid to Ukraine.

Supports reducing undocumented immigration.

Opposes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants living in America.

- Opposes continued foreign aid to Ukraine.
- Supports reducing undocumented immigration.
- Opposes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants living in America.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Twitter

Facebook

Joe Kent

Joe served for 20 years as an Army Ranger and then in the U.S. Special Forces, serving 11 tours of combat. He has also worked as a field operative in the CIA, a foreign policy advisor to President Trump, and worked as a project manager for a technology company.

Joe Kent previously ran for U.S. representative in Washington Congressional District 3 in 2022, but did not win.

Supports the youth summer employment program.

Opposes using U.S. taxpayer dollars to resettle "unvetted Palestinian refugees" in Washington State.

Supports "Buy American" provisions for electric vehicle chargers.

Believes in reducing federal oversight for local industries.

Opposes policies that harm American manufacturing.

Believes addressing congestion and increasing transportation choices improves the carbon footprint and reduces emissions.

Opposes environmental regulations that burden farmers and landowners.

Supports waiving "Buy America" requirements for electric vehicle chargers.

Supports the Energy and Water Development FY24 Appropriations Bill, which allocates funding for energy and water projects and research.

Opposes the "Lower Energy Costs Act," believing it is ineffective since the "Limit, Save, Grow Act" would implement "H.R. 1."

Opposes policies that limit American energy production and funding for local districts.

Opposes rebuilding Interstate 5 bridge between Washington and Oregon, believes existing bridge should be retrofitted and a different new bridge should be built.

- Opposes rebuilding Interstate 5 bridge between Washington and Oregon, believes existing bridge should be retrofitted and a different new bridge should be built.

Opposes access to gender-affirming healthcare.

Opposes the use of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria in American retirement accounts.

Believes the UNHCR facilitates US-bound migration through cash debit cards and funds for prescription medication, lodging, and travel.

Opposes any new federal legislation on abortion.

Believes veterans are "cut off from the healthcare they were promised" after serving.

Opposes federal legislation on abortion, believes it is a state issue.

- Opposes federal legislation on abortion, believes it is a state issue.

Opposes receiving corporate political action committee (PAC) donations.

Opposes Amendment No. 2, which would require a photo ID to vote.

Believes Democrats use the January 6th insurrection to distract from their "disastrous record."

Opposes H.R. 1, which would expand voting rights.

Believes in having a strategic plan to win difficult rematch elections, viewing their district as a prime opportunity to flip "a blue seat red."

Believes in the potential for Republican victories in rematches, citing the 2020 General Election where three Republicans won against Democrats in the same districts after losing in 2018.

Believes in addressing community concerns with law enforcement officials.

Supports the firefighters that Larch provides to the community.

Believes firefighters are essential for preventing devastation from wildfires, saying, "Without those firefighters, we are going to be devastated.”

Believes "crime and the opioid epidemic are plaguing American communities" and attributes the importation of "lethal drugs like fentanyl" to a "porous southern border."

Believes in strong measures to combat vandalism and property damage, citing recent ANTIFA vandalism of the Clark County Republican Party HQ.

Supports the Secure the Border Act, which would provide funding for Border Patrol agents to combat fentanyl trafficking.

Believes in strong public safety measures.

Supports the "Protection of Women and Children" legislation.

Supports the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2025 (H.R. 4662) which includes provisions for education funding and programs.

Opposes the participation of transgender women in female sports and the use of women's locker rooms and bathrooms.

Believes in closing Yacolt’s Larch Correction facility.

Opposes the Blue Dog PAC, which accepts donations from pharmaceutical companies and defense contractors.

Opposes the inclusion of transgender women in female sports.

Opposes access to "pornographic material" in schools.

Supports selling more weapons to Ukraine.

Opposes foreign military sales to Ukraine.

Opposes sending U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund foreign wars.

Opposes military intervention in foreign conflicts.

Supports providing military assistance to Ukraine.

Opposes policies that support foreign manufacturing over American manufacturing.

As of October 8, 2024, Joe Kent’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Joe Kent is a retired 20-year veteran of the U.S. Special Forces and has worked as a field operative in the CIA. He also served as a foreign policy advisor to President Trump and worked as a project manager for a technology company before retiring on his military pension.

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Washington currently has 10 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a legal resident of Washington for at least seven years before their election. US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.