Joy Koesten

Joy Koesten
Member of the Kansas House of Representatives from the 28th district
In office January 9, 2017 – January 14, 2019
Preceded by	Jerry Lunn
Succeeded by	Kellie Warren
Personal details
Born	(1954-12-30) December 30, 1954 (age 69) Springfield, Missouri, US
Political party	Democratic (2018–present)
Other political affiliations	Republican (before 2018)

Joy Koesten (born December 30, 1954) is an American politician who served in the Kansas House of Representatives from the 28th district from 2017 to 2019.[1][2]

Joy Koesten and her husband launched a campaign to fund an Endowed Professorship in Developmental and Behavioral Health at Children’s Mercy Hospital supporting research into adolescent depression and suicide prevention.[3]

On August 7, 2018, she was defeated in the Republican primary for the 28th district by Kellie Warren.[4] On December 13, 2018, she announced she was changing her party affiliation from Republican to Democratic.[5]

Joy had announced that she will run for the Kansas Senate 11 Seat in the Overland Park/Leawood area on September 15, 2019.[6] She was defeated by Republican Kellie Warren, by a vote of 52.7%, to Koesten's 47.3%.[7]

References

1. "From candidate to legislator: Koesten prepares to begin her first term in the Kansas House of Representatives". Kansas City Jewish Chronicle. January 5, 2017. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
2. "Representative Joy Koesten". Kansas Legislature. Archived from the original on September 7, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
3. Wankum, Leah (May 8, 2019). "Briefly Noted: Children's Mercy receives endowment to research adolescent depression, suicide prevention". Shawnee Mission Post - Community news and events for northeast Johnson County. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
4. Marso, Andy (August 8, 2018). "Conservatives win, oust Koesten, Markley in GOP primaries". Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
5. "Outgoing Lawmaker Switching From GOP to Democratic Party". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. December 14, 2018. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
6. Cooper, Brad. "Sunday Reader: Koesten returns; Capps gets opponent | Sunflower State Journal". sunflowerstatejournal.com. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
7. "Joy Koesten". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 7, 2021.