Katrina Shealy

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In 2008, Shealy ran for the Republican Party's State Senate District 23 nomination against long-time incumbent state senator Jake Knotts. Despite support from prominent Republicans including United States Senator Jim DeMint, [5] Shealy was defeated.

2012 election

Shealy filed again as a candidate in the 2012 Republican primary. Her name was removed from the ballot after it was determined that she incorrectly filed her candidate paperwork. This case went to the SC Supreme Court and resulted in the removal of over 200 candidates from the ballot that year who had also incorrectly filed their paperwork.[ citation needed ] It was known as the Great Ballot Debacle of 2012.[ by whom? ] Shealy fought to have her name added to the general election ballot as a petition candidate and won the November 7, 2012 general election with 51% of the vote. [6]

2016 election

In 2016, she defeated her two Republican primary challengers, Michael Sturkie and Patricia Wheat, attaining more than 60% of the vote. In the general election, she was unopposed and elected to a second term in the state Senate.

2020 election

Running against Democrat Bill Brown, Shealy was reelected to serve a third term on November 3, 2020, with 72.5% of the vote. [7]

2024 election

In 2024, Shealy will again see two Republican primary challengers, Carlisle Kennedy and Zoe Warren. The winner will run unopposed in the general election.

Tenure

Shealy chairs the Senate Family and Veterans' Services Committee, and serves on the Senate Corrections and Penology, Finance, and Rules Committees. [8]

In her first term, Shealy served on the Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee, Corrections and Penology Committee, Fish, Game and Forestry Committee, General Committee, and the Judiciary Committee. [1] In 2015, Shealy was elected First Vice Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party.

She now serves on the Finance Committee, Labor, Commerce and Industry, Rules, Family and Veteran Services, which she chairs, and Corrections and Penology. Shealy was appointed to serve on the SC Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee On Children and also serves as past chair of the Southeastern Legislative Committee Human Services and Public Safety Committee. She serves as Chair of the S.C. Suicide Prevention Committee and is a member of the S.C. Child Fatality Review Committee. Shealy serves as Chair of the Family and Veterans Services Committee and is the first Republican woman to serve as chair of a Standing Committee in the South Carolina Senate. [9] Shealy is also co-chair of the SC Suicide Prevention Coalition and a member of the Governor's Committee on Domestic Violence. She also serves on the Senate Operations and Management Committee. Senator Shealy serves on the Board for the National Foundation of Women Legislators and served as National Chair in 2022.

In 2018 Shealy was the sponsor of Legislation in SC that was signed into law by the Governor creating the Office of the Child Advocate (S805). This Agency has oversight over the nine state agencies that handle children's issues and went into effect on July 1, 2019. [10]

Reproductive rights

In 2022 Shealy received national attention for a speech criticizing her colleagues' approach to abortion legislation. [11] In 2023, she joined with a Democrat, an Independent and two other Republican women state senators, calling themselves, "The Sister Senators": Sen. Mia McLeod (I-Richland), Sen. Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington), Sen. Penry Gustafson (R-Kershaw), Sen. Margie Bright-Matthews (D-Colleton), and Sen. Sandy Senn (R-Charleston). They blocked male state senators from passing a bill that would ban almost all abortions in South Carolina by filibustering it. [12] [13] [9] On May 23, 2023, Senate Republicans passed another bill that severely restricted abortion rights to six weeks, exceptions made only in cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormalities or the woman's life or health being in danger and paving the way for a Supreme Court confrontation over its elements. Shealy had offered an alternative amendment that would have preserved some rights, including a ban expanded to twelve weeks, but it was rejected by the Senate in a 21 to 25 vote. [14]

Endorsements

In June 2023, Shealy endorsed Tim Scott in the 2024 United States presidential election. [15]

Katrina's Kids

In 2015 Shealy created a 501(c)3, Katrina's Kids, to serve children in Foster Care and Group Homes across all 46 counties in South Carolina. The foundation raises funds to send children to summer camp, participate in sporting opportunities, or any approved extracurricular activity not supported by state funding. The foundation has also helped with medical or dental funding for children. Katrina's Kids holds an Annual Music Benefit and a Race for the Case 5K event that helps supply suitcases and backpacks for children entering foster care. [16]

Personal life

Shealy is a Lutheran. [1]

Awards

Shealy has received the following awards: [17]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography". www.scstatehouse.gov. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Katrina Shealy". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
  3. ↑ Zernike, Kate (2023-05-07). "The Unexpected Women Blocking South Carolina's Near-Total Abortion Ban". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-05-12.
  4. ↑ "South Carolina Senate to get 6th woman as former Columbia city council member wins special election". The Associated Press. January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Sen. Jim DeMint to Campaign with Katrina Shealy". 22 June 2008.
  6. ↑ The State [ dead link ]
  7. ↑ Katrina Shealy, Ballotpedia , May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Senate Standing Committees". South Carolina Legislature. 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  9. 1 2 The Unexpected Women Blocking South Carolina’s Near-Total Abortion Ban, New York Times , Kate Zernike, May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  10. ↑ Katrina Shealy Pushes SC Child Advocacy Agency, FITSNews , March 8, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  11. ↑ "South Carolina State Sen. Katrina Shealy (R) responds to no exceptions for rape and incest in proposed abortion ban".
  12. ↑ "South Carolina's only women senators resist new abortion restrictions up for debate". PBS NewsHour. 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  13. ↑ Republican women are helping block an abortion ban in South Carolina, WBTW , May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  14. ↑ South Carolina Senate passes abortion ban, setting up Supreme Court showdown, The Hill , Nathaniel Weixel, May 23, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  15. ↑ Sen. Tim Scott in Spartanburg to announce campaign endorsements". FOX Carolina. June 12, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  16. ↑ 'Katrina's Kids' Gives Back To Those In Need, FITSNews , April 10, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  17. ↑ "South Carolina Legislature Online - Member Biography".
  18. ↑ LeBlanc, Steve (September 19, 2023). "'Sister senators' who fought abortion ban to receive JFK Profile in Courage award". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  19. ↑ "2023 Leading Women Dinner Honorees" . Retrieved 28 November 2023.
Katrina Shealy
Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 23rd district
Assumed office
January 2013
South Carolina Senate
Preceded by Member of the South Carolina Senate
from the 23rd district
2013–present		Incumbent
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