Joyce Beatty

Joyce Beatty is a Democratic politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Ohio's 3rd congressional district, a position she has held since 2013 after being first elected in 2012. Born in Dayton, Ohio, she earned her Bachelor of Arts from Central State University and a Master of Science from Wright State University. Her early professional life included work as a professor at Sinclair Community College and serving as the Director of Human Services for Montgomery County. Prior to her federal service, Beatty served five terms in the Ohio House of Representatives starting in 1999, where she rose to become the first female Democratic House Leader in the state's history. Following her time in the state legislature, she held a senior executive role at The Ohio State University as the Senior Vice President for Outreach and Engagement. In this capacity, she focused on fostering community partnerships and economic development before returning to electoral politics to run for Congress. In the U.S. House, Beatty is a senior member of the House Committee on Financial Services and served as the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus from 2021 to 2023. She has been recognized for her advocacy in financial literacy and diversity, notably through the "Beatty Rule," which requires the Federal Reserve to include diverse candidates in its search for regional bank presidents. Her legislative work also encompasses civil rights, women's health initiatives, and federal investment in community infrastructure within her district.

Representative Beatty supports expanding the Affordable Care Act and moving toward universal healthcare access through a public option. On economic policy, she advocates for raising the federal minimum wage, ensuring equal pay for women, and increasing access to capital for minority-owned businesses. She is a strong supporter of voting rights legislation, including the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Regarding immigration, she favors a humane system that provides a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and protects Temporary Protected Status recipients. She also supports federal investment in renewable energy to address climate change and advocates for stricter gun control measures such as universal background checks.