Jolanda Jones
State houseTexas
District147th
Term startMay 18, 2022
PredecessorGarnet Coleman
Birth nameJolanda Felicia Jones
Birth dateNovember 6, 1965 (age 60)
Birth placeHarris County, Texas, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Houston (BA, JD)

Jolanda Felicia Jones[1] (born November 6, 1965)[2] is an American attorney, politician, and television personality, as well as a former city councilor and heptathlete. A Democrat, she has been a member of the Texas House of Representatives representing the 147th district since May 18, 2022.[3]

Biography

Jones, the oldest of five children, was born to John Ferrell Jones and Gwendolyn Jean West[1] and raised in Houston's Third Ward.[4] During her childhood, she lost her father, brother, and immediate family members to either suicide or murder.[5] Despite her tough circumstances, Jones' mother was insistent that she succeed academically. At Elsik High School, Jones was an All-American basketball player and track and field athlete. She earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Houston, and graduated with a political science degree. While at the University of Houston, she competed in the heptathlon and was a three time NCAA champion (1986, 1987, 1989). She competed at the 1987 Pan American Games where she won bronze. In 1995, she earned her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center.[6] She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha.[7]

In 2004, she competed in Survivor: Palau, where she was the third person eliminated from the game, finishing in 18th place.[4] From 2008 until 2011 she was a member of the Houston City Council, school board member and is a criminal defense lawyer in Texas. In 2016, she appeared on the reality series "Sisters in Law", which focused on several Black female attorneys practicing in Houston, Texas.[8]

In May 2022, Jones became the first openly lesbian Black woman elected to the Texas state legislature after winning the special election to succeed retiring Representative Garnet Coleman in the Texas House District 147.[9][10]

In August 2025, Jones was one of several Democratic representatives who broke quorum to delay the passage of controversial mid-decade redistricting maps.[11] She attracted controversy when she compared the proposed maps to the Holocaust. Jones later apologized.[12]

She was a candidate in Texas' 2025 18th congressional district special election, where she came third place with just over 19% of the vote.[13]

Personal life

Jones is openly lesbian, though she was once married to an abusive husband. Her experiences made her an advocate for LGBTQ causes and domestic violence victims.[5][14]

In 2000, Jones was described as a lifelong Catholic.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Jolanda Felicia Jones". Ancestry Institute. Ancestry. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Survivor – Survivor Cast Member", retrieved 2020-03-04
  3. ^ "Democrat Jolanda Jones narrowly wins special election for state House seat in Houston". Texas Tribune. May 9, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  4. ^ Ross, Dalton. "Jolanda Jones on being portrayed as the 'bitch' on 'Survivor: Palau'". EW.com. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
  5. ^ Johns, Merryn (2020-07-09). "Raising The Bar: Jolanda Jones Delivers Justice". CURVE. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
  6. ^ "Jones '95 is hopeful "Sisters in Law" can change perception of black women on reality TV". www.law.uh.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
  7. ^ Hughes, Jazmine (October 21, 2024). "The Tight-Knit World of Kamala Harris's Sorority". www.newyorker.com. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  8. ^ White, Chelsea Lenora (2016-03-23). "Sisters In Law". Houston Forward Times. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
  9. ^ "Black Gay Candidates Make History With Primary Wins in Texas". www.advocate.com. 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
  10. ^ "Texas elects three openly LGBTQ Black state lawmakers". Dallas News. November 9, 2022.
  11. ^ McCracken, Ford; McKim, Dylan; Neas, Cora (2025-08-05). "Here are the Texas House Democrats who broke quorum". The Hill. Archived 2025-08-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  12. ^ Ardary, Steven (2025-08-06). "Rep. Jolanda Jones apologizes for comparing Texas redistricting plan to Holocaust". FOX 26 Houston. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
  13. ^ Birenbaum, Gabby (2025-11-05). "Menefee advances to runoff for Houston-based CD-18". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  14. ^ "Out for Change: Political Powerhouse - OutSmart Magazine". www.outsmartmagazine.com. 2022-01-28. Retrieved 2022-05-26.
  15. ^ Perry, Elizabeth A. (2000-01-20). "Strive for the best, students told". Clarion Herald. Retrieved 2025-08-05.