James Thomas Payne is an American politician and educator serving as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 11th House district. Born on June 12, 1998, in Reed, Kentucky, Payne was raised in this unincorporated community located in Henderson County. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Professionally, Payne works as an educator and school administrator. He currently serves as the Assistant Principal for Career and Technical Education at Henderson County High School. Prior to this administrative role, he worked as an agriculture teacher and served as an advisor to the school's Future Farmers of America chapter.

Education

Payne graduated from Henderson County High School in 2016. He attended Murray State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 2019. During his time at the university, he was elected student body president, served as the student representative on the university's board of regents, and chaired the Kentucky Board of Student Body Presidents.

He continued his graduate studies at Murray State University, earning a Master of Arts in Education in teacher leadership in 2021. He subsequently earned a second Master of Arts in Education in educational administration in 2024.

Political Experience

Payne represents Kentucky's 11th House district, which includes all of Henderson County. He assumed office on January 1, 2025, succeeding Jonathan Dixon. His current term is scheduled to end on January 1, 2027.

In the 2024 election cycle, Payne sought the seat after incumbent Jonathan Dixon chose not to seek reelection. Payne was unopposed in the Republican primary and advanced automatically. He won the general election on November 5, 2024, with 14,964 votes.

During the 2025-2026 legislative session, Payne was assigned to the Postsecondary Education Committee, the Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee, and the House Agriculture Committee. He is running for re-election to the Kentucky House of Representatives for District 11, with the Republican primary scheduled for May 19, 2026.