FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 11, 2020
CONTACT: Gretchen Hunt
502-291-1079
Emerge Kentucky Alumnae Win Up and Down the Ballot
Louisville, KY—Emerge Kentucky alumnae delivered wins up and down the ballot in the 2020 General Election. 22 Emerge alumnae won their races. Their victories underscore the successes of women candidates who won across the nation, as Joe Biden was elected President and Senator Kamala Harris elected Vice President.
“Emerge Kentucky alums were tenacious and strong this year, and we are thrilled that so many of them have been elected to office. They are continuing to step up, challenge the status quo and run for office all across Kentucky. These women are the future of leadership in Kentucky” said Gretchen Hunt, Executive Director of Emerge Kentucky.
First time candidates, millennials, women of color and veterans were among the Emerge Kentucky winners in this historic election.
Some notable Emerge Kentucky wins:
* Pamela Stevenson (D-43), lawyer and Ret. Colonel in the U.S. Navy, will
become the second African American woman elected to the Kentucky Legislature
in twenty years, joining alum Representative Attica Scott.
* Terry Owens (Radcliff City Council), will become the first woman veteran elected
to Radcliff’s City Council.
* Leesa Unger , a first time candidate, millennial and mother was elected to Frankfort
City Commission.
* Rep. Patti Minter (D-20) retained her seat as the only Democratic legislator west of I-65
in Kentucky.
Other Emerge Kentucky victories:
* Rep. Tina Bojanowski – Kentucky House of Representatives, District 31
* Dana Beasley Brown – Bowling Green City Commission
* Rep. McKenzie Cantrell – Kentucky House of Representatives, District 38
* Cassie Chambers Armstrong – Metro Council, DIstrict 8
* Leiticia Cline – Cave City Council
* Cindi Fowler – Metro Council, District 14
* Willow Hambrick – Georgetown City Council
* Rene Heinrich – Highland Heights City Council
* Lisa Johnson – Versailles City Council
* Rep. Nima Kulkarni – Kentucky House of Representatives, District 40
* Julie Smith-Morrow – Newport Independent School Board
* Serena Baker- Owen – Erlanger/Elsmere School Board
* Kathy Plomin – Lexington City Council, District 12
* Rep. Josie Raymond – Kentucky House of Representatives, District 31
* Rep. Attica Scott – Kentucky House of Representatives, District 41
* Liz Sheehan – Lexington City Council, District 5
* Julia Springsteen – Elizabethtown City Council
* Michelle Williams – Covington City Commission
“We are excited to see how these Emerge Kentucky women will impact positive change in rural and urban communities across the Commonwealth, “ said Susanna French, Board Chair of Emerge Kentucky. “We honor all the women who stepped up to run for office, and will continue to support the women newly elected to office and encourage more women to run for office in Kentucky.
Women who are inspired by this election and are considering a run for office are encouraged to apply for the Emerge Kentucky Class of 2021. Information is available at www.emergeky.org.
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About Emerge Kentucky
Founded in 2009, Emerge Kentucky is the state’s premier organization that recruits, trains, and provides a powerful network to Democratic women who want to run for office. Its mission is to increase the number of Democratic women from diverse backgrounds in public office through recruitment, training, and providing a powerful network. Since 2010, it has trained over 250 women and 36 of its alumni currently hold office in Kentucky. For more information about Emerge Kentucky, visit.https://ky.emergeamerica.org/