governor

Kay Ivey

Kay Ivey (R) is the 54th governor of Alabama and the former treasurer (2003-2011) and lieutenant governor (2011-2017) of Alabama.

Associations:

Alabama Forestry Association

National Rifle Association

National Right to Life Committee

party

Republican

jurisdiction

Alabama

service dates

April 10, 2017 - Present

gender

Female

Personal Moments

1944

Kay Ivey is born in Camden, Alabama

Ivey, an only child, is born to Boadman Nettles and Barbara Elizabeth Ivey.

1967

Ivey graduates from Auburn University

Ivey earns her Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary education and moves to California to start working as a high school teacher.

1979

Ivey enters politics

Ivey shifts her career from banking to politics and is appointed to serve as an executive assistant in the Alabama state cabinet by Governor Forrest James (D).

2019

Ivey is diagnosed with lung cancer

Ivey receives treatment for lung cancer at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s hospital.

2020

Ivey defeats her cancer

Ivey is declared cancer-free after successful radiation treatment.

Campaign History

1982

Ivey loses her bid at becoming the state auditor of Alabama

Ivey is unsuccessful in running for the position of state auditor as a member of the Democratic Party.

2002

Ivey is elected as state treasurer of Alabama

Ivey joins the Republican Party and is elected to her first position in public office.

2010

Ivey is elected as lieutenant governor of Alabama

Ivey defeats incumbent Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom Jr. (D) by a margin of 3%, earning 51.47% of the votes to win the election.

2014

Ivey is re-elected as lieutenant governor of Alabama

Ivey becomes the first incumbent Republican lieutenant governor to be re-elected in the state’s history.

2017

Ivey is sworn in as governor of Alabama

After the resignation of Governor Robert Bentley (R), Ivey is sworn in as the second female governor in state history.

2018

Ivey is elected to full term as governor of Alabama

Ivey wins the gubernatorial election by a wide margin, receiving 59.46% of the vote to defeat James C. Fields (D).

2022

Ivey wins re-election

Ivey remains governor of Alabama.

Position on Key Issues

Education

Ivey’s primary education initiative, “Strong Start, Strong Finish” (SSSF) aims to streamline the educational path of all Alabamians. SSSF includes several benchmarks, such as ensuring that all third graders in Alabama are proficient in reading, introducing computer science courses to middle and high schools in Alabama, and offering various post-secondary options to enable a smooth transition into the workforce post-graduation.

Healthcare

Ivey’s main healthcare initiatives have been to improve Alabama Medicaid, as well as supporting behavioral health initiatives for children. At the same time, Ivey has also supported imposing certain limitations on access to Medicaid, including introducing work or training requirements as a prerequisite to eligibility. Other areas of healthcare that Ivey has supported include state licensing for child-care centers, addressing infant mortality, and combating opioid abuse.

Infrastructure

Ivey has made infrastructure a major part of her platform. She has supported increased spending on infrastructure ranging from state-wide projects down to municipal ones. The two infrastructure areas that Ivey has supported the most are transportation infrastructure and high-speed broadband internet infrastructure.

Key Issues:

Education

Healthcare

Infrastructure