Megan Hunt (politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Megan Hunt
Hunt smiling
Member of the Nebraska Legislature
from the 8th district
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Preceded byBurke Harr
Personal details
Born
Megan Catherine Hunt

(1986-05-09) May 9, 1986 (age 35)
Blair, Nebraska
Political partyDemocratic
Children1
ResidenceOmaha, Nebraska
EducationDana College (BA)
OccupationEntrepreneur
Websitemeganfornebraska.com

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 speaking at a campaign event

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[]

Nebraska's 8th Legislative District Election, 2018
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[]

  1. ^ a b "Blair native wins Nebraska Legislature District 8". Pilot-Tribune & Enterprise, November 8, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Staff, Gateway (October 15, 2018). "Q&A with Legislative candidate Megan Hunt". Gateway. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "Megan Hunt becomes first openly LGBTQ person elected to legislature" KMTV, November 8, 2018.
  4. ^ "Record number of women running for office in Nebraska". KMTV, May 11, 2018.
  5. ^ Ozaki, Andrew (January 8, 2021). "Nebraska lawmakers call assault on US Capitol shameful". KETV. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  6. ^ Bella, Timothy (November 19, 2020). "A server filmed a viral video of Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts maskless. Then she was fired". The Washington Post.
  7. ^ Dunker, Chris. "Ricketts promises Test Nebraska data won't be sold". JournalStar.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  8. ^ Dunker, Chris. "Senators call on governor to end Test Nebraska contracts". JournalStar.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  9. ^ writer, Paul Hammel World-Herald staff. "Nebraska lawmaker offers amendment to let Douglas County health director mandate masks". Omaha.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  10. ^ Star, ZACH PLUHACEK Lincoln Journal. "3rd candidate in mix for Omaha legislative seat". JournalStar.com. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Biography « District 08 Blog". news.legislature.ne.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Legislature, Megan Hunt for (March 26, 2021). "About". Megan Hunt for Legislature. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "Midlands Business Journal unveils its 10th annual '40 Under 40'". Silicon Prairie News. November 15, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  14. ^ "Ten Outstanding Young Omahans | Omaha Magazine". www.omahamagazine.com. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  15. ^ Lang, Nico (August 14, 2019). "Nebraska's First Openly LGBTQ Lawmaker Wants to Get More Queer People Elected". NewNowNext. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  16. ^ Jordan, Steve (August 12, 2018). "Newcomer Democrats compete for legislative seat in north-central Omaha".
  17. ^ "Nebraska Bills - Open States". openstates.org. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  18. ^ "Eleven Nebraska senators request special session to address racial, social issues". www.1011now.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  19. ^ Young, JoAnne. "Omaha senator: Abortion reversal bill must be repealed". JournalStar.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  20. ^ Young, JoAnne. "Ban on certain second-trimester abortions stalls in Legislature". JournalStar.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  21. ^ "Bill targets Nebraska's ban on using telemedicine for medication abortions – Nebraska Daily News". Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  22. ^ Walton, Don. "Extreme weather planning rejected as senators question climate change". JournalStar.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  23. ^ "Nebraska ends emergency SNAP benefits". KMTV. September 2, 2020. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  24. ^ Walton, Don. "Sen. Megan Hunt tackling tough issues on new terrain". JournalStar.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  25. ^ "Winner-take-all & Voter ID bills pushed in NE Unicameral". KMTV. February 18, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  26. ^ "Legislator Spotlight: Nebraska Sen. Megan Hunt - State Innovation Exchange". Retrieved March 30, 2021.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""