Megan Hunt (politician)
Megan Hunt | |
---|---|
Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 8th district | |
Assumed office January 9, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Burke Harr |
Personal details | |
Born | Megan Catherine Hunt May 9, 1986 Blair, Nebraska |
Political party | Democratic |
Children | 1 |
Residence | Omaha, Nebraska |
Education | Dana College (BA) |
Occupation | Entrepreneur |
Website | meganfornebraska |
Megan Catherine Hunt (born May 9, 1986) is an American entrepreneur and politician serving as a member of the Nebraska Legislature.[1] A member of the Democratic Party, Hunt represents the 8th legislative district in Omaha, consisting of the midtown neighborhoods of Dundee, Benson, and Keystone. She succeeded term-limited Nebraska State Senator Burke Haar.[2] She identifies as bisexual,[1] and was the first openly LGBT person elected to the state legislature of Nebraska,[3] as well as the first woman to represent the 8th district.[4]
Hunt was strongly critical of former President Donald Trump and his role in the incitement of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol.[5]
Hunt has been critical of Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts for not wearing a mask while gathered close to others during the COVID-19 pandemic, his administration's response to the pandemic,[6] and Ricketts’s choices and actions surrounding a 2020 contract with an out of state company for the provision of COVID-19 testing kits.[7][8] Hunt also introduced an amendment to let Douglas County, Nebraska, impose a local mask mandate, but later withdrew it.[9]
Early life and education[]
Hunt is originally from Blair, Nebraska, but eventually moved to Omaha Nebraska.[10]
Hunt graduated from Blair High School in Blair, Nebraska, in 2004.[11] Hunt earned a Bachelors of Arts in Intercultural communication and German from Dana College in Blair in 2008.[12][11]
Hunt has received Shout Magazine's 30 under 30 award.[11] She was also recognized by the Midlands Business Journal in 2011 as a member of their 40 under 40 class,[13] and was also one of Omaha Jaycees' Ten Outstanding Omahans in 2016.[14]
Career[]
Hunt previously owned a boutique clothing store called Hello Holiday.[15] She also founded Safe Space Nebraska, a nonprofit organization that protects bar patrons from harassment.[12][16]
Political career[]
Hunt has also been a trustee of the Business Ethics Alliance since 2014 and has been a member of Friends of Planned Parenthood since 2015. In 2019, she completed Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow. [11]
Nebraska State Legislature[]
Hunt serves on the Business and Labor Committee, the Committee on Committees, the Government Committee, the Military and Veteran Affairs Committee, the Urban Affairs Committee, and the State-Tribal Relations Committee.[11] She has sponsored sixty-eight bills during her legislative tenure.[17]
Hunt was one of eleven Nebraska state senators who attempted to call a legislative special session for racial and social justice issues in Nebraska.[18]
Political positions and bills introduced[]
Abortion[]
Hunt opposes restrictions to access to abortion. In 2019, she opposed legislation that would legalize abortion pill reversal, where healthcare providers could provide information about drugs that can reverse medication-based abortions.[19] In 2020, Hunt opposed legislation that would have made dismemberment abortions in the second semester illegal.[20] In 2021, she introduced legislation to repeal the state's ban on telemedicine consultations about medication-based abortion.[21]
Climate change[]
Hunt supported legislation which would conduct a study on the effects of climate change in Nebraska, during the 2020 legislative session.[22]
Education[]
Hunt has indicated support for making a community college education more affordable for Nebraska students.[2]
Food stamps[]
Hunt was previously critical of Nebraska's decision not to re-apply for emergency SNAP benefits during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic.[23] She also introduced Legislative Bill 121 which would allow those with felony drug convictions to qualify for food stamps.[24]
LGBTQ rights[]
Hunt generally supports employment protection laws for LGBT people in the workplace.[2]
Prison reform and drug laws[]
Hunt has stated that Nebraskan prisons should focus more so on rehabilitation.[2] She is in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana and allowing those with previous convictions to have their records expunged.[2] Hunt also believes that investments in early education are required to help reduce the so-called school-to-prison pipeline.[2]
Voter ID laws[]
Hunt has been critical of voter ID laws and stated that there is no voter fraud in Nebraska.[25]
Electoral history[]
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Megan Hunt | 3,284 | 56.38 | |
Democratic | Mina Davis | 1,299 | 22.30 | |
Democratic | Josh Henningsen | 1,242 | 21.32 | |
Total votes | 5,825 | 100.0 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Megan Hunt | 7,634 | 64.11 | |
Democratic | Mina Davis | 4,274 | 35.89 | |
Total votes | 11,908 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold |
Personal life[]
Hunt is currently a single mother to a daughter named Alice.[11] She is an atheist.[26]
References[]
- ^ a b "Blair native wins Nebraska Legislature District 8". Pilot-Tribune & Enterprise, November 8, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Staff, Gateway (October 15, 2018). "Q&A with Legislative candidate Megan Hunt". Gateway. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ "Megan Hunt becomes first openly LGBTQ person elected to legislature" KMTV, November 8, 2018.
- ^ "Record number of women running for office in Nebraska". KMTV, May 11, 2018.
- ^ Ozaki, Andrew (January 8, 2021). "Nebraska lawmakers call assault on US Capitol shameful". KETV. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ Bella, Timothy (November 19, 2020). "A server filmed a viral video of Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts maskless. Then she was fired". The Washington Post.
- ^ Dunker, Chris. "Ricketts promises Test Nebraska data won't be sold". JournalStar.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ Dunker, Chris. "Senators call on governor to end Test Nebraska contracts". JournalStar.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ writer, Paul Hammel World-Herald staff. "Nebraska lawmaker offers amendment to let Douglas County health director mandate masks". Omaha.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ Star, ZACH PLUHACEK Lincoln Journal. "3rd candidate in mix for Omaha legislative seat". JournalStar.com. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Biography « District 08 Blog". news.legislature.ne.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ a b Legislature, Megan Hunt for (March 26, 2021). "About". Megan Hunt for Legislature. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- ^ "Midlands Business Journal unveils its 10th annual '40 Under 40'". Silicon Prairie News. November 15, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ "Ten Outstanding Young Omahans | Omaha Magazine". www.omahamagazine.com. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ Lang, Nico (August 14, 2019). "Nebraska's First Openly LGBTQ Lawmaker Wants to Get More Queer People Elected". NewNowNext. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ^ Jordan, Steve (August 12, 2018). "Newcomer Democrats compete for legislative seat in north-central Omaha".
- ^ "Nebraska Bills - Open States". openstates.org. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ "Eleven Nebraska senators request special session to address racial, social issues". www.1011now.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ Young, JoAnne. "Omaha senator: Abortion reversal bill must be repealed". JournalStar.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ Young, JoAnne. "Ban on certain second-trimester abortions stalls in Legislature". JournalStar.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ "Bill targets Nebraska's ban on using telemedicine for medication abortions – Nebraska Daily News". Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ Walton, Don. "Extreme weather planning rejected as senators question climate change". JournalStar.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ "Nebraska ends emergency SNAP benefits". KMTV. September 2, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ Walton, Don. "Sen. Megan Hunt tackling tough issues on new terrain". JournalStar.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ "Winner-take-all & Voter ID bills pushed in NE Unicameral". KMTV. February 18, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ "Legislator Spotlight: Nebraska Sen. Megan Hunt - State Innovation Exchange". Retrieved March 30, 2021.
External links[]
- 1986 births
- Nebraska Democrats
- Nebraska state senators
- Living people
- 21st-century American politicians
- 21st-century American women politicians
- Women state legislators in Nebraska
- LGBT state legislators in Nebraska
- Bisexual politicians
- Bisexual women
- Politicians from Omaha, Nebraska
- People from Washington County, Nebraska
- People from Blair, Nebraska
- Dana College alumni
- American atheists
- 21st-century American businesswomen
- 21st-century American businesspeople