Venton Jones

Last updated

Venton Jones
Member of the TexasHouseofRepresentatives
from the 100th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 10, 2023
Website Campaign website

Venton C. Jones Jr. is an American politician and non-profit CEO serving as the representative for the Texas State House's 100th district since 2023. Known for his advocacy for black gay men and those with HIV, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2022 to represent the central Dallas County district. A member of the Democratic Party, Jones is the first HIV-positive member of the Texas Legislature. [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Jones was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health at Texas A&M University and his Master of Science degree in Health Care Administration form the University of Texas at Arlington.

Career

After graduating, Jones worked as the Dallas team leader for United Black Ellument, an HIV prevention and intervention project. In 2010, Jones began to work as the communications and education director at the National Black Gay Men's Advocacy Coalition. A year later, in 2011, President Obama officially recognized him for his efforts in HIV and public health advocacy. [3]

Texas House of Representatives

Jones launched his campaign for the Texas House after incumbent state legislator Jasmine Crockett announced that she would run for the Texas 30th Congressional district. [4] [5] In March, 2022, Jones defeated Daniel Clayton and Marquis Hawkins in the Democratic primary election along with Sandra Crenshaw. In May 2022, Jones defeated Crenshaw in the Democratic runoff election. In November 2022, Jones defeated Joe Roberts in the general election, winning 85 percent of the votes. He assumed office in 2023.

In June 2023, Jones announced he would be running for reelection. [6] After a winning a close primary with just over 50 percent of the votes, Jones ran unopposed in the general election. [7]

In 2025, Jones was the author of a bill that would repeal the state law that banned "homosexual conduct". While the law was ruled unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas , the statute had remained in Texas code though it was unenforced. The bill narrowly passed the Texas House on a bipartisan vote, but failed to receive a vote in the state senate. [8] [9] Jones had introduced the same bill during the previous session as well, but it failed to reach a legislative deadline to make it to a floor vote. [10]

Committee assignments

During the 89th legislative session, Jones served as Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Corrections and on the Appropriations Committee. [11] He previously served on the Public Health Committee. [12]

Personal life

Soon after graduating university in 2006, Jones went on to graduate school. [3] In 2025, on the first day of the legislative session Jones proposed to his partner, Gregory Scott Jr., on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives. [13]

References

  1. ↑ "Meet Venton". VentonFor100. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  2. ↑ "The First HIV-Positive Texas House Member". YouTube . VICE News. August 15, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Justice For All". POZ. December 29, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  4. ↑ Svitek, Patrick (November 24, 2021). "Freshman state Rep. Jasmine Crockett is running for Dallas congressional seat, with Eddie Bernice Johnson's backing". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  5. ↑ Sanchez, ByCharles (December 16, 2021). "'At Home With': Venton Jones on Giving a Voice to the Voiceless, Caring for Community, and Running for Office". TheBody. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  6. ↑ Jones, Venton [@VentonJonesTX] (June 20, 2023). "Happy to announce that I am running for Re-Election!" (Tweet). Retrieved August 22, 2023– via Twitter.
  7. ↑ "::Texas Election Night Results::". results.texas-election.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  8. ↑ Klibanoff, Eleanor (May 15, 2025). "Texas House votes to repeal ban on "homosexual conduct"". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Before stalling in Texas Senate, 'homosexual conduct' bill made legislative history". KXAN Austin. May 30, 2025. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  10. ↑ Nguyen, Alex (May 12, 2023). "Bill striking unconstitutional state law that criminalized homosexuality fails to meet critical deadline in the Texas House". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  11. ↑ Representatives, Texas House of. "Texas House of Representatives". Texas House of Representatives. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  12. ↑ Representatives, Texas House of. "Texas House of Representatives". www.house.texas.gov. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Texas lawmaker proposes to partner in the State Capitol". NBC News. January 15, 2025. Retrieved October 31, 2025.


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