J.D. Mesnard

Javan Daniel "J.D." Mesnard was born on May 15, 1980, in Tampa, Florida, at MacDill Air Force Base, where his father served as a fighter pilot. He has resided in Arizona for more than 30 years and currently lives in Chandler. Mesnard is a Republican member of the Arizona State Senate, representing District 13, which encompasses Chandler, Gilbert, and Sun Lakes.

Beyond his legislative work, Mesnard is a small business owner, investor, and consultant who actively participates in his community through work with charities, churches, and non-profits.

Education

Mesnard is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Arizona State University with a bachelor's degree in Music Composition. He also holds two master's degrees—one in Business and the other in Public Administration. He has been teaching political science courses for two decades as adjunct faculty at Mesa Community College, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and Arizona State University.

Political Experience

Mesnard began his political career as a policy advisor for the Arizona Senate, where he spent eight years working on issues including education, transportation, retirement, family services, and government administration.

He served in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019, representing different districts during his tenure. A major achievement was his election as Speaker of the House during his final term, where he crafted fiscally responsible budgets and sponsored the largest education investment in state history, which dramatically increased teacher pay by 20 percent.

Mesnard was elected to the Arizona Senate in 2018, taking office in January 2019. He currently serves his fourth term representing District 13. He chairs the Senate Commerce Committee and previously chaired the Finance Committee. In 2019, he introduced legislation to create the position of lieutenant governor of Arizona, a position that began in 2026.