Jenny Beth Martin

In the 2016 Republican presidential primary, she endorsed Ted Cruz.

In the face of the Puerto Rican government-debt crisis and in concert with major distressed-debt hedge funds in 2015, Martin and Tea Party Patriots have opposed a U.S. Senate bill to allow Puerto Rico's public authorities access to bankruptcy restructuring options.

As of 2014, Martin was receiving two salaries from the Tea Party Patriots: a $15,000 per month fee for "strategic consulting" and a $272,000 salary as President, with total annual compensation over $450,000.

Jenny Beth Martin is the co-founder and national coordinator of the Tea Party Patriots, and a columnist for The Washington Times. In February 2010, Martin was named to TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential Leaders. She is the co-author of Tea Party Patriots: The Second American Revolution.

While in the car on the way to a job to clean homes, Martin heard Rick Santelli speaking about the financial bailout. "This is America! How many of you people want to pay for your neighbor's mortgages [when they have] an extra bathroom and can't pay their bills?" Martin credits Santelli's words with goading her into action against the bailout. Shortly after, Martin organized her first tea party rally in Atlanta. By June 2009, Martin had formed Tea Party Patriots, along with Amy Kremer and Mark Meckler. In 2010, Martin was being paid $6,000 a month by the organization. Meckler resigned from the Tea Party Patriots, citing differences with Martin and other board members over how the organization was being managed.

In 2008, the Martin's filed for bankruptcy, with tax debts alone of more than $680,000. Their company specializing in supplying temporary workers failed due to a faltering economy and an unscrupulous former business partner.

Martin graduated from Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia, in 1990. She later received a bachelor's in business administration from the University of Georgia. She is married to Lee Martin and they have twins, a boy and a girl, born in 2003.