Savannah Maddox

Last updated

Eldon Maddox
​
(m. 2008)​
Savannah Maddox
Rep. Savannah Maddox.jpg
Member of the KentuckyHouseofRepresentatives
from the 61st district
Assumed office
January 1, 2019
Children2
Education Northern Kentucky University (BA)
Website maddoxforky.com

Savannah Lee Maddox (born November 2, 1987) is an American politician. [2] She is a Republican and represents District 61 containing Grant County, Gallatin County, and parts of Kenton and Boone Counties in the Kentucky House of Representatives. [3] Maddox is viewed as one of the General Assembly's furthest-right members. [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Early life and career

Maddox received a Bachelor of Arts in History & International Relations from Northern Kentucky University. [2] [1] After an internship with U.S. Representative Geoff Davis, she worked for the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Services. [7] [2] In 2016, Maddox worked on U.S. Senator Rand Paul's reelection campaign. [2]

Kentucky House of Representatives

Maddox was first elected to the 2019 Kentucky House of Representatives in the 2018 election, when she defeated Grant County Judge-Executive Darrell Link by 5,000 votes (36%) in the general election. [2]

Maddox supported the passage of Senate Bill 150, which legalized constitutional concealed carry for legal gun owners in Kentucky. [8] [9] The bill was endorsed by the National Rifle Association of America, while it was opposed by the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police, Louisville Metro Police Department, and by the Kentucky Sheriff's Association. [10] [11] [12] [8] It was signed into law in October 2019, and Maddox, along with Governor Matt Bevin, was awarded the .50 Caliber Freedom Award from the National Association for Gun Rights for her work in passing the legislation. [8]

Maddox introduced House Bill 321 in January 2020, which died in committee. It would have made it a felony for a doctor to perform a surgery or prescribe a medication to a minor intending to alter the child's gender. [13] [14]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Maddox was an opponent of Governor Andy Beshear's emergency orders, calling them acts of "tyranny." [15] She proposed a measure to restrict the governor's ability to enact a state of emergency, but it failed to advance. [16] [17] Beshear said his actions saved lives, and that they reflected guidance from the White House Coronavirus Task Force. [18]

Maddox's connection to armed militia groups who organized certain protests generated controversy, as did her posting of photos of herself with white supremacists. [19] [20] Kentucky State House Democrats called on Republican leaders to formally censure Maddox after protestors from a local far-right anti-government militia Three Percenters Chapter that she had taken pictures with hung governor Beshear in effigy outside the state capitol in 2020. [21] She had made comments about Beshear after a protest, that she did not personally attend, which the Democrats said encouraged the protestors to escalate their tactics. [21] [22] House Democrats also criticized Maddox for tweets she made in 2014 and 2015 in which she criticized Jews, Muslims, and then-President Barack Obama. [23]

Maddox proposed House Bill 28 in January 2022, which was defeated in the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare chaired by State Senator Ralph Alvarado. [24] [25] As she proposed it, it would have banned the state government, local governments, state colleges, and private employers from forcing employees or applicants to disclose whether or not they have received any COVID-19 vaccine shots. [26] The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce opposed HB 28. [27] [28] An amended version of the bill, which excluded private employers, cleared the House Committee in March 2022, and passed in the House. [29]

2023 gubernatorial campaign

On June 6, 2022, Maddox announced that she would run in the 2023 Kentucky gubernatorial election. [30] In her announcement video, she criticized Beshear's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and fellow Republicans for not challenging the governor's emergency orders. [31]

In the run-up to the primary, which she ultimately did not compete in, she ran against a number of Kentucky Republicans, including former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, state Auditor Mike Harmon, and state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles. [32] As of November 2022, she was reported to have raised $210,796 for her campaign. [33] Maddox withdrew from the race on December 20, 2022. [34]

Personal life

Maddox married Eldon Maddox in 2008, and they have two children. [2] [35] She attends an evangelical Christian church in Williamstown, Kentucky. [2] [36]

Related Research Articles

Stephen Roberts Nunn is an American convicted murderer and former politician who served as the Deputy Secretary of Health and Family Services for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Political party strength in Kentucky</span> Strength of the various political parties in the US state of Kentucky

The following table indicates the party of elected officials in the U.S. state of Kentucky:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Beshear</span> Governor of Kentucky from 2007 to 2015

Steven Lynn Beshear is an American attorney and politician who served as the 61st governor of Kentucky from 2007 to 2015. He served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1974 to 1980, was the state's 44th attorney general from 1980 to 1983 and was the 49th lieutenant governor from 1983 to 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States Senate election in Kentucky</span>

The 2014 United States Senate election in Kentucky took place on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the Commonwealth of Kentucky, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election</span>

The 2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election took place on November 3, 2015. Incumbent Democratic Governor Steve Beshear was ineligible to run for a third term due to term limits. Primary elections were held on May 19, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held in three states in 2015 as part of the 2015 United States elections. In Kentucky and Mississippi, the elections were held on November 3, and in Louisiana, as no candidate received a majority of votes at the primary election on October 24, 2015, a runoff election was held on November 21. The last regular gubernatorial elections for all three states were in 2011. Democrats picked up the open seat of term-limited Republican Bobby Jindal in Louisiana, while Republicans re-elected incumbent Phil Bryant in Mississippi and picked up the seat of term-limited Democrat Steve Beshear in Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Bevin</span> Governor of Kentucky from 2015 to 2019

Matthew Griswold Bevin is an American businessman and politician who served as the 62nd governor of Kentucky from 2015 to 2019. He was the third Republican elected to that office since World War II. He is currently the CEO of Neuronetrix Solutions, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Kentucky elections</span>

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Kentucky on November 3, 2015. All of Kentucky's executive officers were up for election. Primary elections were held on May 19, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States Senate election in Kentucky</span>

The 2016 United States Senate election in Kentucky was held November 8, 2016 to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Kentucky, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. The primaries were held May 17.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Beshear</span> Governor of Kentucky since 2019

Andrew Graham Beshear is an American attorney and politician who has served as the 63rd governor of Kentucky since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the son of former Governor Steve Beshear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States Senate election in Kentucky</span>

The 2020 United States Senate election in Kentucky was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the Commonwealth of Kentucky, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, who had been Senate Majority Leader since 2015 and senator from Kentucky since 1985, won reelection to a seventh term in office. He faced off against former U.S. Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath and Libertarian Brad Barron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Kentucky gubernatorial election</span>

The 2019 Kentucky gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2019, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Kentucky. The Democratic nominee, Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear, defeated Republican incumbent Matt Bevin by just over 5,000 votes, or 0.37%, making this the closest gubernatorial election in Kentucky since 1899 by total votes, and the closest since 1915 by percentage. It was also the closest race of the 2019 gubernatorial election cycle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Kentucky elections</span>

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Kentucky on November 5, 2019, with all executive offices in the state up for election. Primary elections were held on May 21, 2019.

Senate Bill 151, also known as SB 151, is a pension bill passed on March 29, 2018, by the Kentucky Senate and the Kentucky House of Representatives. The bill includes increases for cost of living, ends the inviolable contract for new teachers hired after January 1, 2019, and requires employees hired between 2003 and 2008 to pay an additional 1 percent of their pay for health care benefits in retirement. The bill received numerous criticism, especially from teachers. The bill was overturned on December 13, 2018, by the Kentucky Supreme Court as unconstitutional, which prevented the bill from going into effect on January 1, 2019.

Robert Goforth is an American politician and pharmacist who served as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives for the 89th district from 2018 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Kentucky Attorney General election</span>

The 2019 Kentucky Attorney General election was conducted on November 5. Primary elections occurred on May 21, 2019. The general election was held on November 5, 2019. Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear declined to seek reelection to a second term to instead successfully run for Governor. Republican nominee Daniel Cameron won with 57.8% of the vote. He became the first Republican elected attorney general of Kentucky since Eldon S. Dummit in 1944, and the state's first black attorney general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Cameron (American politician)</span> Attorney General of Kentucky from 2020 to 2024

Daniel Jay Cameron is an American attorney and politician who served as the 51st attorney general of Kentucky from 2020 to 2024. A member of the Republican Party, Cameron was the first African American, and the first Republican since 1943, to be elected to the office. He was the Republican nominee in the 2023 Kentucky gubernatorial election, losing to incumbent Democrat Andy Beshear.

Karen Berg is a physician and professor who also serves in the Kentucky State Senate, representing the 26th District. She was elected to the Kentucky Senate as a Democrat in a special election held on June 23, 2020, defeating Bill Ferko. She succeeded Senator Ernie Harris, who resigned on April 15, 2020. She is the only Jewish member of the Kentucky State Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Kentucky gubernatorial election</span>

The 2023 Kentucky gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 2023, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Kentucky. Incumbent Democratic governor Andy Beshear won re-election to a second term, defeating Republican state Attorney General Daniel Cameron. Had Cameron won, he would have become Kentucky's first African-American governor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Kentucky elections</span> U.S. election

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Kentucky on November 7, 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 "About Savannah Maddox". Savannah for Governor. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Brammer, Jack (May 22, 2020). "'Rising star' or 'dangerous'? Meet the chief critic of Kentucky's COVID-19 response" . Lexington Herald-Leader . McClatchy. Archived from the original on September 3, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Representative Savannah Maddox". Legislative Research Commission. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  4. ↑ Brown, Jennifer P. (June 7, 2022). "State Rep. Savannah Maddox joins Republican field for governor in 2023". HopTown Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 7, 2022.
  5. ↑ Bruce Schreiner (June 6, 2022). "Kentucky Rep. Savannah Maddox Launching Bid for Governor," US News & World Report.
  6. ↑ "Rep. Savannah Maddox launches bid for Kentucky governor". spectrumnews1.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Meet the Candidates". GrantKY.com. May 5, 2022. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 "Bevin, Maddox Receive Award for Work on Gun Bill". Spectrum News . October 30, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Gov. Matt Bevin receives award from National Association for Gun Rights". WYMT-TV . October 30, 2019. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Gov. Bevin to sign permitless conceal carry bill after House passes measure". WKYT-TV . March 1, 2019. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Kentucky lawmakers approve NRA-backed concealed carry bill". WDRB. March 1, 2019. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Permitless concealed carry bill passes house". WTVQ. March 2, 2019.
  13. ↑ Fitzsimons, Tim (November 1, 2019). "GOP lawmakers in three states want to ban trans health care for minors". NBC News . Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  14. ↑ Smith-Randolph, Walter (January 29, 2020). "Ky. House Bill would make altering gender of minors with medication, surgery a felony". WKRC-TV . Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  15. ↑ Sonka, Joe (May 26, 2022). "Northern Kentucky GOP lawmaker Savannah Maddox expected to launch run for governor in June". The Courier-Journal . Gannett . Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  16. ↑ "House Bill 322". legislature.ky.gov.
  17. ↑ Recker, Scott (February 25, 2022). "Accused Of Extortion, Louisville's Top Prosecutor Drops Charges – But Keeps Cash". LEO Weekly.
  18. ↑ Bruce Schreiner (June 6, 2022). "Rep. Savannah Maddox launches bid for Kentucky governor". Richmond Register.
  19. ↑ "New Petition Calls for Maddox to Resign". Spectrum News. May 28, 2020.
  20. ↑ Joe Ragusa (June 10, 2022). "Savannah Maddox discusses bid for governor". Spectrum News.
  21. 1 2 "Rep. Savannah Maddox launches bid for Kentucky governor". WPSD Local 6. June 6, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Kentucky House Democrats call for censure of Rep. Savannah Maddox following effigy". Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Rep. Maddox responds to call for censure from Kentucky House Democrats". WLEX-TV . May 28, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Kentucky Rep. Savannah Maddox launching bid for governor". Fox 56 News. June 6, 2022.
  25. ↑ Karthikeyan, Divya (June 6, 2022). "Ky. Rep. Savannah Maddox joins crowded Republican race for governor". 89.3 WFPL News Louisville.
  26. ↑ Sonka, Joe (March 8, 2022). "Governments, colleges may be barred from asking workers, students about COVID shot status". The Courier-Journal. Gannett. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  27. ↑ Ryan Van Velzer (April 18, 2022). "Bills that didn't survive Kentucky's legislative session (but could come back next year)". WVXU.
  28. ↑ Joe Sonka (June 6, 2022). "Northern Kentucky GOP lawmaker Savannah Maddox expected to launch run for governor in June". Yahoo.
  29. ↑ "Kentucky vaccination-related bill advanced by House panel". WHAS-TV . March 8, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  30. ↑ "State Rep. Savannah Maddox joining Kentucky governor's race". WKYT-TV. June 6, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  31. ↑ Horn, Austin (June 6, 2022). "Running to the right, Rep. Savannah Maddox kicks off GOP bid for governor". Lexington Herald-Leader . McClatchy . Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  32. ↑ Luke Pierce (November 11, 2022). "Filing for 2023 elections underway across Kentucky". WCLU Radio.
  33. ↑ "Reports Overview: Savannah Maddox". KREF.
  34. ↑ Hatter, Evan (December 20, 2022). "State Rep. Savannah Maddox drops out of race for Kentucky Governor". WYMT-TV . Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  35. ↑ Dan Adkins (October 30, 2018). "Online reports show software glitches in campaign-finance reports". News-Graphic.
  36. ↑ "Hart County Republican Party; Maddox and Deters campaigns clash during meeting". Jobe for Kentucky. August 17, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.