Joyce Elliott

Joyce Ann Elliott was born on March 20, 1951, in Willisville, Arkansas. Elliott was the second person of color to graduate from recently integrated Willisville High School in 1969, with her older sister being the first. Elliott spent four years as the president of the Pulaski County chapter of the National Education Association from 1985 to 1989, later leaving to join and lead the state's American Federation of Teachers chapter in 1992. She taught English at Joe T. Robinson High School from 1989 to 2003. ==Arkansas State legislature==

and his wife, Una, in 2010. Elliott served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2000 to 2006. In 2008, she was elected to the Arkansas State Senate, where she represented the 31st district. Elliott began working on hate crime legislation in 2001 during her first term in office. Arkansas is one of three states without a statute criminalizing various types of bias-motivated violence or intimidation. In 2020, she was the chair of the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus. 2020 congressional campaign In 2020, Elliott ran for the United States House of Representatives in Arkansas's 2nd congressional district against Republican incumbent French Hill. Her campaign was endorsed by Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. She lost to Hill in the general election with 44.6% of the vote. ==Personal life==

Elliott was formerly married to Bill Barnes, with whom she has a son, Elliott. In June 2000, she donated a kidney to her sister. ==Elections==

2000 election 2010 election Elliott ran against Republican nominee Timothy Griffin for the seat of retiring Democratic incumbent Vic Snyder who retired. In the general election, Elliott lost to Griffin. 2020 election Elliott announced her candidacy for the U.S. House in Arkansas's 2nd congressional district on November 12, 2019, against Republican incumbent French Hill. ==References==