Joy Hofmeister
Joy Lynn Hofmeister (née Janosky, born September 7, 1964) is an American educator and politician who served as the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction from 2015 to 2023. Hofmeister was sworn in as Oklahoma's 14th State Superintendent on January 12, 2015, after defeating the incumbent Republican candidate, Janet Barresi, in the primary election and Democratic candidate John Cox in the general election. Hofmeister was re-elected on November 6, 2018, and sworn in for a second four-year term as State Superintendent on January 14, 2019. Hofmeister won re-election after facing Democrat John Cox a second time, as well as independent candidate Larry Huff.
Joy Hofmeister | |
|---|---|
| 14th Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
| In office January 12, 2015 – January 9, 2023 | |
| Governor | Mary Fallin Kevin Stitt |
| Preceded by | Janet Barresi |
| Succeeded by | Ryan Walters |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joy Lynn Janosky September 7, 1964 |
| Political party | Republican (before 2021) Democratic (2021–present) |
| Spouse | Gerald Hofmeister |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Texas Christian University (BA) University of Oklahoma (MA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
On October 7, 2021, Hofmeister changed her party affiliation to the Democratic Party and ran in the 2022 gubernatorial election, losing to incumbent Gov. Kevin Stitt. As a result of her switch, she became the only Democratic statewide elected official in Oklahoma and the first to hold office since 2011. She is the most recent Democrat to hold statewide office in Oklahoma.