Morgan McGarvey

John Morgan McGarvey (born December 23, 1979) is an American attorney and politician serving as a 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. He is the U.S. representative-elect for Kentucky's 3rd congressional district.

Early life and education

McGarvey was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and attended duPont Manual High School. 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. 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.

Early political career

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

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 Republican Larry West 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.

In the senate, his current committee assignments include the Appropriations and Revenue Committee, 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.

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

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2022

On October 12, 2021, McGarvey launched a campaign to represent Kentucky's 3rd congressional district after Kentucky's sole Democratic Congressman and Chair of the House Budget Committee John Yarmuth announced his retirement from the seat. In the primary election, McGarvey defeated state Representative Attica Scott for the Democratic nomination. McGarvey won his election and will begin his first term in congress in January 2023.

Caucus Memberships

* New Democrat Coalition
* Congressional Progressive Caucus

Personal life

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

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 the 2009 book ''An American Family: Three Decades with the McGarveys'', published by National Geographic. Spaulding's work documenting the McGarveys continues today.

Electoral history

References

External links

Morgan McGarvey for Congress
campaign website
Senator Morgan McGarvey
official legislative website
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{{DEFAULTSORT:McGarvey, Morgan
1979 births
21st-century American politicians
Democratic Party Kentucky state senators
Living people
Politicians from Louisville, Kentucky
University of Missouri alumni
University of Kentucky College of Law alumni