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Mike Kennedy (politician)

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This article is about the Utah legislator. For other people with the same name, see Michael Kennedy (disambiguation).
Mike Kennedy
Member-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Utah's 3rd district
Assuming office
January 3, 2025
SucceedingJohn Curtis
Member of the Utah Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 5, 2021
Preceded byDan Hemmert
Constituency14th district (2021–2023)
21st district (2023–present)
Member of the Utah House of Representatives
from the 27th district
In office
January 1, 2013 – January 1, 2019
Preceded byJohn Dougall
Succeeded byBrady Brammer
Personal details
Born
Michael Stevan Kennedy

1969 (age 54–55)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKatrina
Children8
EducationBrigham Young University (BS, JD)
Michigan State University (MD)
WebsiteCampaign website

Michael Steven Kennedy[1] (born 1969) is an American physician, attorney, and politician. He has served as a Republican member of the Utah Senate, representing District 21 since 2023. Prior to redistricting he represented District 14 starting in 2021. He previously served as a member of the Utah House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019.[2][3] Kennedy was a candidate in the 2018 U.S. Senate election in Utah. He received the most votes at the Utah State Republican Convention but was defeated by Mitt Romney in the subsequent primary for the Republican nomination.[4]

In June of 2024, Kennedy won the Republican nomination for Utah's 3rd congressional district with 39%[5] of the vote in a crowded field of 5 candidates despite being outspent 5-1 and 2-1 by top two competitors. He had previously won the Utah Republican Party nominating convention after six rounds of voting.[6]

Early life and career

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Kennedy earned his BS from Brigham Young University. While a student at BYU Kennedy took two years off to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[7]

He earned his MD from Michigan State University, and his JD from Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School while taking law classes at night and running his medical practice during the day. Kennedy lives in Alpine, Utah, where he works as a family doctor for Premier Family Medical Group.[8][9]

Political career

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When District 27 incumbent Republican Representative John Dougall ran for state auditor and left the seat open, Kennedy was selected as one of two candidates from five by the Republican convention for the June 26, 2012 Republican primary which he won with 2,586 votes (52.9%)[10] and won the November 6, 2012 general election with 14,335 votes (92.1%) against Constitution candidate Scott Morgan.[11]

During the 2014 general election, Kennedy faced Democratic nominee William McGree, winning with 6,997 votes (88.4%).

During the 2016 legislative session, Kennedy served on the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee, the House Health and Human Services Committee, and the House Political Subdivisions Committee.[12]

On March 9, 2018, Kennedy distributed a letter to members of District 27 announcing that he would not seek re-election for the Utah House of Representatives. He instead opted to run for the U.S. Senate. On April 22, 2018, Kennedy edged out Mitt Romney at the Republican Convention with 50.88% of the delegate votes. Romney came in a close second with 49.12%, allowing both to compete in the primary on June 26, 2018, but Kennedy would lose the primary to Mitt Romney.[13][14][15]

Kennedy drew attention as a vocal supporter of gun rights, even meeting with UtahGunExchange.com, a private gun exchange who would later have a presence at March For Our Lives near the Utah Capitol and the 2018 Chicago Peace March and Rally, where their militaristic vehicle included a replica .50-caliber machine gun.[16][17]

Kennedy announced his candidacy for Utah's 3rd congressional district on January 4th, 2024,[18] two days[19] after the districts Representative John Curtis announced his candidacy for the United States Senate.

References

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  1. ^ "Mike Kennedy's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  2. ^ "Michael S. Kennedy (R)". Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah State Legislature. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  3. ^ "Michael S. Kennedy". Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah House of Representatives. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  4. ^ "Mitt Romney wins the GOP nomination in Utah's U.S. Senate race". The Salt Lake Tribune. June 26, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  5. ^ "Election Results". electionresults.utah.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  6. ^ Tomco, Brigham; Seariac, Hanna (April 27, 2024). "State Sen. Mike Kennedy wins 3rd Congressional District GOP nomination after 6 rounds of voting". Deseret News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Kennedy campaign bio
  8. ^ "Conflict of Interest Form" (PDF). Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah House of Representatives. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  9. ^ "Michael S. Kennedy, M.D., J.D." Salt Lake City, Utah: University of Utah Health Care. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  10. ^ "2012 Primary Canvass Reports". Salt Lake City, Utah: Lieutenant Governor of Utah. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  11. ^ "2012 General Canvass Report". Salt Lake City, Utah: Lieutenant Governor of Utah. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  12. ^ "Committees". le.utah.gov. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  13. ^ "Mitt Romney fails to secure Utah GOP nomination, will face primary | CNN Politics". CNN. 22 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Mitt Romney comes in second place at Utah GOP convention, forced into primary". Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  15. ^ "Utah Republican delegates force Mitt Romney into a primary election with state lawmaker Mike Kennedy in the race for the U.S. Senate". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  16. ^ "Gehrke: The guy behind Utah's school safety effort embraces the gun fringe, oh, and he's also running for Senate".
  17. ^ "Members of Utah gun group detained in Chicago during 'March For Our Lives' tour".
  18. ^ Beal-Cvetko, Bridger; Jan. 4, KSL com | Posted-; P.m, 2024 at 2:35. "State Sen. Mike Kennedy joins campaign for Rep. John Curtis' 3rd District seat". www.ksl.com. Retrieved 2024-07-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ "US Rep. John Curtis announces Senate campaign to replace Sen. Mitt Romney". heraldextra.com. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
[edit]
Utah House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Utah House of Representatives
from the 27th district
2013–2019 		Succeeded by
Utah State Senate
Preceded by Member of the Utah State Senate
from the 14th district
2021–2023 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Utah State Senate
from the 21st district
2023–present 		Incumbent
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