Morgan McGarvey

Morgan McGarvey (born December 23, 1979) is an American politician and Democratic member of the Kentucky Senate, where he represents the 19th district. In December 2018, he was elected as minority leader, becoming one of the youngest members of a general assembly in the nation to serve in a leadership role.^[1]

Early life and education[]

McGarvey was born in Anchorage, Kentucky, and attended duPont Manual High School.^[2] He earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and a juris doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law.^[3] Morgan is the son of John McGarvey, who was a staff member for former Kentucky Governor Wendell Ford and current City Attorney for Anchorage, Kentucky since 1987.^[4]

Career[]

Prior to his election to the Kentucky State Senate, McGarvey worked for Jack Conway as special assistant to the Attorney General of Kentucky. He also previously worked for U.S. Representative Ben Chandler and for the law firm Frost Brown Todd.^[5] McGarvey now practices law at Morgan Pottinger McGarvey, a firm founded by his grandfather.^[6]

Kentucky Senate[]

McGarvey was first elected in the 2012 election for Kentucky State Senate District 19. He defeated three other candidates in the Democratic primary on May 22, 2012, with 40.7% of the vote and was unopposed in the general election on November 6, 2012. In 2016, he was re-elected to a second four-year term after defeating the Republican candidate in the general election. In 2018, he became Minority Floor Leader for the Kentucky State Senate. On November 3, 2020, McGarvey won election for his third term after running unopposed.^[7]

In the senate, his committee assignments include the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Committee, the Banking and Insurance Committee, the State and Local Government Committee, and the Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs Task Force.^[8]

McGarvey's legislative achievements have garnered him praise from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, who named him their 2015 Legislator of the Year^[8] and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, who bestowed him with a Leadership Award.^[9] McGarvey was named a Most Valuable Policymaker by Greater Louisville Inc.^[8] and 2016 Outstanding Young Professional by the University of Kentucky College of Law.^[10]

U.S. House[]

On July 7, 2021, Attica Scott announced her primary challenge for U.S. representative for Kentucky's 3rd congressional district, a seat currently held by Kentucky's sole Democratic Congressman and Chair of the House Budget Committee John Yarmuth.^[11] On October 12, Yarmuth announced his decision to retire.^[12]On October 13, 2021, McGarvey launched his primary challenge against Scott to fill Representative Yarmuth's seat.^[13]

Personal life[]

McGarvey and his wife, Chris, live in the Strathmoor neighborhood, a part of the Highlands in Louisville, Kentucky, with their three children.^[8]

The life of McGarvey's family has been documented by photographer Pam Spaulding for over forty years, dating back to before McGarvey was born. Spaulding began the project while working at the Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper and published her photos in a 2009 book for National Geographic: An American Family: Three Decades with the McGarveys.^[14] Spauldings work documenting the McGarveys continues today.

Electoral history[]

References[]

External links[]

• Morgan McGarvey for Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Twitter account
• Legislative website
• Appearances on C-SPAN

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