Joe Turner May (born June 8, 1937) is an American businessman, electrical engineer, inventor, aviator, and politician.
Biography Born on June 8, 1937, in Broadway, Virginia, May graduated from Virginia Tech in 1959. Between 1955–1958, he served in the United States Army.
In 1977, May founded EIT, a Sterling-based electronics manufacturer. May holds more than 20 patents in the fields of electrical and electronic engineering. He is also an avid aviator, holding licenses in both fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
Between 1994 and 2014, he served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 33rd district. The district included parts of Clarke, Frederick and Loudoun counties. May, a self described moderate, was a member of the Republican Party caucus. During his time in the House of Delegates, May was co-chair of the Science and Technology committee between 1998–2001, and chair between 2002–2007. From 2008–2014, he was chair of the committee on Transportation.
In June 2013, Dave LaRock defeated May in the 33rd district Republican primary.
In December 2013, May announced his candidacy in a special election to succeed Democratic Attorney General-elect Mark Herring, in the Virginia State Senate. After the Republican Party decided to choose its candidate through a "mass meeting" instead of a primary, May declared he would run as an independent. May was endorsed by both the conservative-leaning National Federation of Independent Business and the centralist Independent Greens Party. On election day, May garnered 10% of the vote, while the Democratic and Republican candidates received 53% and 38%, respectively.
May was the Republican candidate in the January 8, 2019, special election for the 33rd district to the Virginia Senate, losing to Democrat Jennifer Boysko, following Jennifer Wexton's election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
May and his wife, Roberta Compton Downs, reside in Leesburg, Virginia.
Electoral history Date Election Candidate Party Votes % Virginia House of Delegates, 33rd district November 2, 1993 General Joe T. May Republican 9,773 51.9% Jean S. Brown Democratic 8,736 46.4% Christina Nelson Huth Independent 323 1.7% Linda M. Wallace retired; seat stayed Republican November 7, 1995 General Joe T. May Republican 10,090 61.7% Richard D. Winter Democratic 6,239 37.4% Write-ins 4 0.02% November 4, 1997 General Joe T. May Republican 11,976 59.6% Kenneth P. Halla Democratic 6,563 32.7% Robert E. Primack Independent Greens 1,536 7.7% Write-ins 15 0.1% November 2, 1999 General Joe T. May Republican 14,095 98.8% Write-ins 167 1.2% Nov 6, 2001 General Joe T. May Republican 17,107 98.1% Write-ins 328 1.9% Nov 4, 2003 General Joe T. May Republican 16,031 98.1% Write-ins 311 1.9% Jun 14, 2005 Republican primary Joy T. May 2,974 59.8%Christopher G. Oprison 1,999 40.2% November 8, 2005 General Joe T. May Republican 20,621 91.8% Write-ins 1,847 8.2% November 6, 2007 General Joe T. May Republican 14,978 59.8% Marty Martinez Democratic 10,029 40.1% Write-ins 35 0.1% November 3, 2009 General Joe T. May Republican 22,489 96.9% Write-ins 722 3.1% November 8, 2011 General Joe T. May Republican 13,027 97.4% Write-ins 346 2.6% June 4, 2013 Republican primary Dave LaRock 2,958 57.3% Joe T. May 2,201 42.7% Virginia State Senate, 33rd district January 21, 2014 Special election Jennifer Wexton Democratic 11,427 52.7% John Whitbeck Republican 8,128 37.5% Joe T. May Independent 2,119 9.8% Write-ins 3 0.01% January 8, 2019 Special election Jennifer Boysko Democratic 14,127 69.5% Joe T. May Republican 6,183 30.4% Write-ins 27 0.01%
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