Republican state Rep. Justin Wilmeth likes to tout his record on fiscal responsibility and Arizona’s economy, but when it came to his own finances, a court had to step in. New reporting from the Arizona Mirror found that Wilmeth defaulted on an $18,700 student loan, failed to respond to the resulting lawsuit or attend any hearings, and ultimately had his legislative wages garnished by court order.
In 2024, Wilmeth was sued over an unpaid $18,700 student loan. According to court records reviewed by the Arizona Mirror, Wilmeth did not respond to the lawsuit or attend any hearings, resulting in a default judgment that, with interest and court costs, brought the amount owed to more than $22,000.
In 2025, a court ordered Wilmeth’s legislative salary to be garnished until the debt was repaid.
Asked by the Arizona Mirror why a court had to force repayment while he advocates for responsible state budgeting, Wilmeth did not directly answer. He instead pointed to the Legislature’s low salary.
The Arizona Mirror also reported that Wilmeth earned an additional $11,900 from the Arizona Republican Party for contracting and consulting work in 2025 and disclosed 16 trips paid for by others that year.
Published: Sep 11, 2026