Jimmy Kennedy

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Jimmy Kennedy
Frywins.jpg
2nd Governor of the Midwest
In Office:
2013 - Present
Lt. Governor: Lincoln Winters
Preceded by Thomas Allum
Succeeded by Incumbent
1st Democratic Co-Chair of NGA
Co-chairing with Governor Pizzuto
In Office:
2013 - Present
Preceded by Office Established
Succeeded by In Office
Senior Senator of the Wabash Valley
In Office:
2011 - 2013
Serving with George Jameson
Preceded by Regionalization
Succeeded by David Vithoulkas
70th Speaker of the Illinois General Assembly
In Office:
2007 - 2011
Preceded by Mike Madigan (D)
Succeeded by Regionalization
Born

20 April, 1978
New York City, New York
Political Party Democrat
Spouse Chelsea Sink (1997 - 2001)
Lilya Kennedy (2012 - Present)
Children Alexandra Sink-Kennedy
Jeffrey S. Kennedy
Abigail Lilya Kennedy
Profession University Teacher
Religion Roman Catholic


James F. Kennedy is the current Governor of the Midwest Region and Democratic Co-Chair of the National Governor's Association.

Prior to becoming Governor, Kennedy was elected and served a 2-year term as the Senior Senator of the Wabash Valley. During his Senatorial service, he acted as both the Chair (during the DNC's Majority) and Ranking Member (during the GOP's Majority) of the powerful Government, Regulations and Commerce Committee. He previously served as the 70th Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and as the 38th Illinois Secretary of State, succeeding two long-time Illinois DNC Party icons, Mike Madigan, and Jesse White.

Contents

Early Life

James Ferrer Kennedy was born in 1978 in New York City, New York, to Andrew Kennedy and María Ferrer. The following year, the family moved to Ohio.

Coming from a family of lawyers, he was educated in a good public school of Cleveland. He'd become a very good student, getting a scholarship to study at Harvard University in 1996. In 2000, following the completetion of his Political Science degree, James moved to Chicago, Illinois, to teach History at the Illinois University.

Political Begginings

In early 2000, James found himself having political aspirations, and decided to fill in the papers to run for Attorney General. Unknown among Illinois citizens, he began to campaign through every county to listen to voters and get his message through. However, this wasn't enough to win the nomination to the much more known Lisa Madigan. In his concession speech endorsing the future Attorney General, Kennedy was able to deliver a message that would gain him much support among the Chicago base, thus already preparing for his political future.

Illinois Legislator

In 2001 he'd run for IL House of Representatives, defeating popular two term-incumbent Tom Cross in a close recount in which Kennedy got just 19 votes more than his opponent. Despite being a freshman, he was already trusted many leadership duties and became a prominent member of the House Democratic Caucus. He was seen as a potential candidate for State House Majority Leader, Governor in 2003 and Senate in 2004, but declined to run every time. He continued pushing forward legislation which improved Illinois in many ways.

Secretary of State

In 2006, with the retirement of IL Secretary of State Jesse White, and former Republican Leader Tom Cross announcing his intentions to run for his seat, the Democratic Party found itself in need to find a candidate that would be able to succesfully challenge Cross. Despite his bad relations with Governor Blagojevich, the man who asked him to run, Kennedy accepted, and narrowly defeated Cross again by just 635 votes, becoming the 38th Secretary of State. His tenure in this office, however, wouldn't last for too long.

Return to the State Legislature: Speaker

Just 10 months later, Speaker Mike Madigan (D) announced his resignment and retirement from politics. Kennedy would have been interested to run for the leadership position had he been in the House, but denied intentions to run for Madigan's House seat (and later Speaker seat once in the House) due to his commitment to his recently elected office.

However, IL Democratic Party leaders, such as former Chicago Mayor George Jameson (who would later become his Junior Senate Partner) and Senator Barack Obama endorsed him to succeed Madigan, seeing him as the best possible replacement. After many drafts being launched, Kennedy accepted. He won in a landslide and was elected Speaker of the State Congress.

As Speaker, Kennedy fought for progressive agenda, most remarkably passing an outlaw of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing and in the workplace and an environmental-friendly energy plan. He served from 2007 to 2011, when he succesfully ran for Senator.

Senator of the Wabash Valley

After narrowly defeating Congressman David Vithoulkas, and Vice President Hayes being confirmed by the outgoing Senate, Senator-elect Kennedy unsuccesfully run for the President Pro Tempore seat in the friendly (and close) Senate Democratic Leadership Elections. Dmitri Kowalchuk of Florida was confirmed instead.

Later on, Senate Majority Leader Esther Cullen (D-KY) decided to trust Kennedy the powerful GRAC committee gavel. He's been the most active Chairman, passing over 20 bills in the first weeks, and having held the important Auto Crisis hearings.

In 2012, with the removal from office of both Senator Morgenthau (D-WA) and Governor Flint (D-WA) and the elevation of Lt. Governor Morrison (R-ID), followed by the appointment of Senator Karcin (R-OR), the Senate changed hands and went to the Republicans. Due to this, Kennedy lost his gavel, but retained control of the GRAC DNC Leadership.

In an interview with Red Blanchard in "The Red Zone", Senator Kennedy announced he'd challenge Governor Allum in the 2012 Elections instead of running for re-election. Early polls showed a dead heat tie with Kennedy taking Michigan and Illinois and Allum taking Indiana, Wisconsin and Minnesota. As the race continued, polls continued calling the race too close to call. After Governor Allum dropped out on the last week of campaigning for unknown reasons, Kennedy was officially elected.

Governor of the Midwest

Jimmy Kennedy was inaugurated the 13th January, 2013 as the 2nd Governor of the Midwest, 1st Democrat, and 1st Hispanic American in the whole nation since regionalization.

Cabinet

  • Lieutenant Governor = Lincoln Winters (2013 - Present)

Lincoln Winters, former Congressman for Illinois, was elected Lt. Governor after defeating GOP Minority Leader John Houston

  • Chief of Staff = Carlo Richards of Michigan (2013 - Present)

Carlo Richards, US Army Veteran, was appointed Chief of Staff in late 2013.

  • Secretary of Public Safety = Orlando Fischer of Illinois (2014 - Present)

With over 25 years of experience in the federal DOJ under his belt, Mr. Fischer is a former Deputy Director of the U.S. Marshal Service.

  • Secretary of Commerce = Dave Arechiga of Wisconsin (2014 - Present)

Mr. Arechiga is a bright-minded young Keynesian considered a quickly rising up-and-comer on the economic policy think tank he sits on. He's un-affiliated.

  • Secretary of Education = Robert Turner of Minnesota (2014 - Present)

Former Superintendent of Minneapolis Public Schools, his experience on the field convinced Kennedy.

  • Secretary of Transportation = Frank Conner of Illinois

Mr. Conner, is a Democratic urban planner with many years of experience relieving traffic congestion.

  • Secretary of Environmental Protection = N/A
  • Secretary of Energy = Dr. Clement Sherwood, of Minnesota

Dr. Sherwood is a professor of nuclear physics at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and runs the fundraising operations for the alumni association there.

  • Secretary of Labor = Charlie Mayes of Wisconsin

Mr. Mayes was elevated from his position of Deputy Director of Labor after the retirement of Sec. Harrison. He has received the commendation of the UAW.

  • Secretary for Health = Isaac Cameron of Michigan

Former State Senator Cameron previously served as ranking minority member on the education committee, but had also worked on health policy during his term. He reached his current post thanks to his bipartisanship and qualifications.

  • Solicitor General = Natalia Ladỳnina of Indiana

Labor and Economy

Education

Public Safety

Environment

Civil Rights and Government Reform

Personal Life

Kennedy met his first wife, prosecutor Chelsea Sink, in 1995, and married her in 1997. That same year, their first son Jeffrey was born, and later, in 2000, they adopted a Chinese 9-year old girl, Alexandra. Chelsea died in a plain crash in 2001, while campaigning for her husband.

In 2012, James met Lilly Richards, and after dating her for a few months, they decided to marry. Their first child, Abigail, was born in 2013.

Election Results

Election Location Election Candidate Party Votes  % Candidate Party Votes  % Candidate Party Votes  %
U.S. Senate Elections, 2010 Wabash Valley General Jimmy Kennedy Democrat 4,485,600 50.40% David Vithoulkas Republican 4,378,800 49.20% Daniel Mallory Independent 35,600 0.40%
Assemblyman, 2007 Illinois, 22nd District General Jimmy Kennedy Democrat 145,781 67.81% Wallace Matteson Republican 69,079 32.13% Others Independent 128 0.06%
Secretary of State, 2006 Illinois General Jimmy Kennedy Democrat 676,798 45.12% Tom Cross Republican 676,163 45.08% Others Independent 147,039 9.8%
Assemblyman, 2003 Illinois, 84th District General Jimmy Kennedy Democrat 55,871 53.21% Larry Ehmen Republican 49,015 46.68% Others Independent 116 0.11%
Assemblyman, 2001 Illinois, 84th District General Jimmy Kennedy Democrat 47,433 49.93% Tom Cross Republican 47,414 49.91% Others Independent 149 0.16%
Attorney General, 2000 Illinois Democratic Primaries Jimmy Kennedy Democrat 360,747 24.05% Lisa Madigan Democrat 836,198 55.78% Others Democrat 303,050 20.17%

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