'Survivor' Star, Sacramento Fire Captain Advocated for Bill to Protect Domestic Violence Victims

Longtime Sacramento fire captain and now beloved reality TV star Joe Hunter was honored by Sacramento elected officials and fellow firefighters for his advocacy which helped to pass a California law that aims to protect future victims of domestic violence and expose potential killers.

Hunter recently returned home from Fiji after filming another season of the reality show “Survivor.” Hunter first appeared in season 48, playing with a code of honor and integrity and choosing to foster a supportive allyship with a younger contestant who faced challenges related to her autism. After finishing as second runner-up, Hunter was invited to appear on the show’s 50th season which will feature a cast of returning players and will premiere in February 2026.

Throughout the show, Hunter donned a domestic violence awareness bracelet in honor of his late sister, Joanna, who was a big fan of the show and encouraged him to audition.

Hunter was honored both in the California Senate and by the city of Sacramento for his bravery displayed on the show, his service to Sacramento as a firefighter and his advocacy on behalf of domestic violence victims and their families.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty, Fire Chief Chris Costamagna and representatives of state Sen. Angelique Ashby’s office gathered at Sacramento Fire Department Station 2 Monday to celebrate Hunter’s achievements. Also in attendance were Hunter’s family — wife Kayte Christensen, mother Patricia Hunter and his children Joseph and Jayde — and his fellow firefighters at his station, who he referred to as his second family.

Advocating for domestic violence justice

Senate Bill 989, or Joanna’s Law, was named after Joe Hunter’s sister Joanna, who was found dead in her home by her husband in 2011. Her suspicious death was quickly ruled a suicide by law enforcement, despite her family and domestic violence experts saying that critical evidence was overlooked.

Hunter worked with Ashby, D- Sacramento, to author the bill which was designed to prevent suspicious deaths from being improperly classified as suicides by equipping investigators and family members of victims with the means to identify domestic violence-related deaths. He also testified in the state Legislature on behalf of the law, equipped with a picture of his late sister.

“After losing his beloved sister, he made a choice: a choice to turn unimaginable grief into purpose,” said Isabel Gatdula, a representative from Ashby’s office. “He became a voice for families across California who felt silenced by flawed investigations. His courage to testify and relive personal pain and fight for justice will save countless lives.”

The state law is the first statute of its kind in the country, according to the Alliance for HOPE International.

Hunter on and off ‘Survivor’

Hunter’s family and coworkers say that the man people saw on their TV is the man that they know too: hardworking, driven and compassionate.

“His whole career is about serving his community and serving others,” Christensen said. “And so for us, it was just really wonderful to see him in that light, because we know it, but everyone got to see why we think he’s so special.”

On season 48, Hunter was known for staying true to his alliance with contestant Eva Erickson, the show’s first openly autistic contestant. Their friendship led to some emotional moments and helped them reach the final three together.

In the time since appearing on the show, Christensen and Hunter’s boss, Fire Battalion Chief Keith Wade, said that Hunter is often recognized by people around Sacramento. Wade said that people are always excited to see him and speak to his kindness and empathy displayed on camera. Hunter’s son Joseph, 11, said that his dad has become such a celebrity at his school that staff members have to act as a buffer lest he be mauled by a horde of elementary school kids.

On what has changed since his initial appearance on the show, Hunter said that it has reinforced his code of ethics.

“You realize the scope of what you can do when you’re kind and when you treat people with respect and dignity,” Hunter said in an interview. “It’s amazing how powerful that can be and the distance that can go.”