Joe Kent

Joseph Clay Kent (born April 11, 1980) is an American politician, former United States Army officer, and former Central Intelligence Agency paramilitary officer. A member of the Republican Party, he was the Republican candidate in the United States House of Representatives election for Washington's third congressional district in 2022 and 2024.

Kent enlisted in the 75th Ranger Regiment and applied for the Special Forces before the September 11 attacks. He served eleven combat tours, primarily in Iraq, and retired in 2018, becoming a paramilitary officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In January 2019, Kent's wife, Shannon, was killed in a suicide bombing in Manbij. He became involved in political advocacy after Shannon's death.

In February 2021, Kent announced his campaign for the United States House of Representatives election for Washington's third congressional district. He established himself as a candidate supportive of Donald Trump. Kent won the Republican primary against incumbent Jaime Herrera Beutler, but lost to Democratic candidate Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in what was considered a major upset. Kent ran again in 2024, losing to Gluesenkamp Perez again by a larger margin.

In February 2025, Trump named Kent as his nominee for director of the National Counterterrorism Center. That month, he began serving as the chief of staff to Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence.