Jay Hardaway is a native of the Big Country who has spent his life learning from his family and his community and giving back through public service at the local, state, and federal levels. He’s also volunteered through his church, raised money for local organizations, and worked on many key regional initiatives. A life of service has made Jay a trusted leader in the community who serves when called upon.
A graduate of Abilene Christian High School, Jay continued his education locally at McMurry University, graduating in 2005. In 2008, he married Lindsay, a graduate of Abilene High School and Texas Tech University’s School of Nursing, and they have been married for 17 wonderful years and have four children: Lucy, a freshman at Abilene High School; Claire, an 8th grader at Mann Middle School; Nellie, a 5th grader at Austin Elementary; and Henry, a 2nd grader at St. John’s Episcopal School.
Jay began his career at a Central Texas investment firm focusing on commercial real estate in Texas’s major metro cities. In 2011, Jay and his family moved back to Abilene, where he began working for a family business based in Albany, Texas. In 2014, Jay was elected to serve on the Abilene City Council, a post he held until 2017, when Congressman Jodey Arrington tapped him to be his district director, setting up offices in Lubbock and Abilene, as well as working with the staff in DC on policy issues, constituent services and other key initiatives.
Throughout his public service, Jay has also made time to give back by serving with a variety of local organizations, including the Abilene Education Foundation, the Ben Richey Boys Ranch, the Community Foundation of Abilene, the Grace Museum, St. John’s Episcopal School, United Way of Abilene and the West Texas Rehabilitation Center. Recently, Jay and Lindsay have helped raise money for United Way of Abilene as the 2025 Campaign Chairs, supporting education, health, and financial stability across dozens of organizations.
Previously, Jay has also been tapped or volunteered to lead steering committees to prioritize city and regional projects, including the Dyess Joint Land Use Study, the Abilene Firefighters Pension Board, the Taylor County Expo Center, and the West Central Texas Council of Governments. He also served on the Abilene Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee, and board of directors at the Texas Alliance for Energy Producers.
Outside of public service, Jay has been a conservative grassroots leader, serving as Vice Chair of the Taylor County Republican Party and as a member of the Ted Cruz Campaign finance committee. He has worked tirelessly on campaigns to elect strong conservative leaders at the state and federal level. From fundraising to blockwalking and organizing major campaign events, Jay has worked hard to keep Texas Red and protect our Conservative values.
Jay Hardaway is a native of the Big Country who has spent his life learning from his family and his community and giving back through public service at the local, state, and federal levels. He’s also volunteered through his church, raised money for local organizations, and worked on many key regional initiatives. A life of service has made Jay a trusted leader in the community who serves when called upon.
Previously, Jay has also been tapped or volunteered to lead steering committees to prioritize city and regional projects, including the Dyess Joint Land Use Study, the Abilene Firefighters Pension Board, the Taylor County Expo Center, and the West Central Texas Council of Governments. He also served on the Abilene Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee, and board of directors at the Texas Alliance for Energy Producers.
