‘Survivor’ contestant is first-ever from Sacramento area to reach season finale
Sacramento Fire Capt. Joe Hunter has made it to the “Survivor” season 48 finale, the first-ever resident from the capital region to be a finalist on the award-winning reality TV show.
Hunter, 45, a 19-year veteran of the Sacramento Fire Department, has used his skills to make it to the finale while he and 17 other contestants competed in Fiji to win a $1 million prize and the title of “Sole Survivor.” The three-hour “Survivor” season finale airs at 8 p.m. Wednesday on CBS and Paramount+.
So far this season, Hunter has been a “challenge beast,” winning four individual immunities. His strategy on the show has been playing what he calls a loyal and honest game, sticking with his alliances.
Since the season premier episode, Hunter has connected with fellow contestant Eva Erickson, 24, of Rhode Island, who is the first openly autistic contestant on the show. Erickson spoke to Hunter about her autism diagnosis, asking him for help when she can occasionally get overstimulated with what’s going on in the competition, Parade reported.
“I have made a decision,” Hunter said in a confessional interview on the show. “She’s with me. I got her. That was meant to be. Even if, whatever comes of that, or why that happened, I’m not gonna let her down. Even if that hurts my game, whatever. If I gotta go home early, I’m not gonna let her down.”
Hunter lives in West Sacramento. He started his career in 2006 and has served as a drill instructor, drill master and paramedic, according to his LinkedIn profile.
In a “Survivor” episode that aired May 14, he spoke about mourning the death of his sister, Joanna, explaining in a confessional interview that he had a chance to say goodbye to her, US Weekly reported. He said his sister was originally the person who wanted to compete on the show, and he applied to join the show’s cast to be her voice on the island.
After losing his older sister, Joanna Lynn Lewis, to domestic violence in 2011, Hunter has been vocal in sharing his testimony against domestic violence and has supported the Sacramento Family Justice Center in the past.
Authorities initially declared Lewis’ death a suicide, but a Solano County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson has told CalMatters the agency had reopened the investigation into Lewis’ death for a third time.
Hunter has testified in the state legislature in support California Senate Bill 989, also known as Joanna’s Law in honor of his sister. State Sen. Angelique Ashby, D-Sacramento was the lead author of SB 989.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 989 into law in September to prevent death investigations from being improperly classified as suicides by equipping investigators and family members of victims to intervene and identify domestic violence-related deaths.
“It changed the course of my life and my family’s life forever,” Hunter said in a video with the Sacramento Family Justice Center. “She was, by far, not only the most powerful person in my life but my best friend.”
This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 2:32 PM.
