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Amy Kennedy

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Amy Kennedy
Personal details
Born
Amy Savell

(1978-11-20)November 20, 1978(age 45)
Atlantic City, New Jersey,U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
  • Mark Petitgout
    ​
    ​
    (m.2003;div.2010)​
  • ​
    (m.2011)​
Children5
EducationPennsylvania State University(BS)
Nova Southeastern University(MS)
WebsiteOfficial website

Amy Kennedy(néeSavell;born November 20, 1978)[1]is an American educator, mental health advocate, and former political candidate from thestateofNew Jersey.She was theDemocratic Partynominee in the2020 electionsto representNew Jersey's 2nd congressional districtin theUnited States House of Representatives.

Early life and education[edit]

Amy Savell was born inAtlantic City, New Jerseyand raised inPleasantvilleandAbsecon.[2]Her parents, Leni and Jerry Savell, are both teachers. Jerry also served as afreeholderforAtlantic County, New Jersey,and was acity councilmember in both Absecon and Pleasantville.[3][4]She graduated in 1997 fromHoly Spirit High Schooland earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education fromPennsylvania State University.[5][6]She later earned a Master of Science in environmental education fromNova Southeastern University.[2]

Career[edit]

Kennedy taught middle-school history atNorthfield Community Schools.[4]She later became an education director of the Kennedy Forum, a mental health advocacy group founded by her husband.[7]

Politics[edit]

In the2020 elections,Kennedy ran for theDemocratic Partynomination forNew Jersey's 2nd congressional district.[8]On July 7, 2020, she defeated university professorBrigid Callahan Harrisonand former congressional aide Will Cunningham to win the party's nomination. Kennedy's victory was particularly notable as an "upset victory" because Harrison had been supported byGeorge Norcross,a powerful figure in New Jersey politics.[9][10]As of July 9, 2020, vote totals showed Kennedy winning in all eight counties in the congressional district.[11]She faced Republican incumbentJeff Van Drew,who was originally elected as a Democrat, in the general election.[12][13]

According toThe Washington Post,Kennedy ran as an "anti-establishment insurgent trying to ride the recent energy of grass-roots activists", and was backed byMartin Luther King III,New Jersey governorPhil Murphy,and House Majority LeaderSteny Hoyer.[14]Her campaign focused on mental health issues and education. She is supportive of expanding theAffordable Care Act.[15]

Kennedy raised $1.4 million for her primary campaign, including a $500,000 personal loan.[16]On August 3, 2020, she received the endorsement of former presidentBarack Obama.[17][18]Kennedy lost to Van Drew in the general election.[19]

Personal life[edit]

Kennedy attends a rally for the2012 U.S. Senate campaignofElizabeth Warrenalongside her husband and one of their children

Kennedy met Mark Petitgout in college, and they married in 2003. The brother of formerNFLoffensive tackleLuke Petitgout,Mark playedfootballfor thePenn State Nittany Lions.They lived inLinwood, New Jerseyand had one daughter before divorcing in early 2010.[4]

Kennedy met former United States congressmanPatrick J. Kennedyat a mental-health forum in Atlantic City in 2010.[4][11]They married in July 2011 at theKennedy family compoundinHyannis Port, Massachusetts,withSupreme Court JusticeStephen Breyerofficiating.[20][21]They live inBrigantine, New Jersey,[22]with their five children.[23][24][22]

References[edit]

  1. ^Tully, Tracey (July 7, 2020)."A Kennedy Wins N.J. Primary to Take on Trump Loyalist".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedJuly 9,2020.
  2. ^ab"Meet Amy".Amy Kennedy for Congress.RetrievedJuly 9,2020.
  3. ^"Kennedy, Harrison comes from political families".New Jersey Globe.March 8, 2020.
  4. ^abcd"Patrick Kennedy and the Jersey Girl".February 20, 2012.
  5. ^Pizarro, Max (January 23, 2020)."CD2 Flashpoint: Three Women at the Heart of a Fast-Developing National 2020 Contest".Insider NJ.RetrievedJuly 23,2020.
  6. ^"Patrick and Amy Kennedy to speak on campus March 22 | Penn State University".news.psu.edu.RetrievedJuly 9,2020.
  7. ^"Amy Kennedy running to challenge Jeff Van Drew in New Jersey".Roll Call.January 6, 2020.
  8. ^"Amy Kennedy joins race to replace Jeff Van Drew | News".pressofatlanticcity.com. January 6, 2020.RetrievedJuly 8,2020.
  9. ^Hill, Michael (July 8, 2020)."Amy Kennedy primary win stuns South Jersey political machine".NJTV News.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
  10. ^Kane, Paul (July 10, 2020)."Analysis | The Daily 202: 2020 primaries reveal the atrophy of political 'machines'".Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.RetrievedJuly 12,2020.
  11. ^abRosenberg, Amy S. (July 9, 2020)."Amy Kennedy beat a political machine, but her secret was her own family, not her husband's".The Philadelphia Inquirer.RetrievedJuly 10,2020.
  12. ^"Harrison concedes to Kennedy in a surprising twist to 2nd District Democratic primary".pressofatlanticcity.com. July 8, 2020.RetrievedJuly 8,2020.
  13. ^"Rep. Jeff van Drew wins re-election in New Jersey after party switch".November 6, 2020.
  14. ^Kane, Paul (July 7, 2020)."Amy Kennedy wins N.J. Democratic primary, will face party defector turned Trump loyalist".Washington Post.RetrievedJuly 8,2020.
  15. ^Todisco, Eric (July 9, 2020)."Amy Kennedy, Wife of Patrick Kennedy, Wins New Jersey Congressional Democratic Primary".People.RetrievedJuly 10,2020.
  16. ^Manchester, Julia; Axelrod, Tal (July 7, 2020)."Amy Kennedy wins NJ primary to face GOP's Van Drew".The Hill.RetrievedJuly 9,2020.
  17. ^"First Wave of 2020 Endorsements".September 25, 2020.
  18. ^"Obama just got involved in N.J.'s hottest congressional race".August 3, 2020.
  19. ^McGeehan, Patrick; Tully, Tracey (November 6, 2020)."Van Drew, Who Switched Parties and Backed Trump, Keeps N.J. House Seat".New York Times.RetrievedNovember 6,2020.
  20. ^"Patrick Kennedy Married Amy Petitgout".PEOPLE.com.
  21. ^"Patrick Kennedy: A Kennedy Remade".PEOPLE.com.
  22. ^ab"Amy Kennedy beat a political machine, but her secret was her own family, not her husband's".July 9, 2020.
  23. ^"Ex-RI Rep. Kennedy, wife bring baby home in NJ".providencejournal.com.
  24. ^"Patrick and Amy Kennedy welcome fifth child".WJAR.May 30, 2018.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amy_Kennedy&oldid=1223809667"