Alison Lundergan Grimes
Encyclopedia
Alison Lundergan Grimes is an American attorney and Democratic politician who is the Secretary of State of Kentucky
-elect, having defeated incumbent Elaine Walker
in the May 17, 2011 primary election and Republican Bill Johnson
in the November 8, 2011 general election.
. She went to Lexington Catholic High School
in Lexington, Kentucky
and then went on to graduate from Rhodes College
where she was a member of Chi Omega
sorority and graduated from the Washington College of Law
at American University
in Washington, D.C.
before running for Secretary of State.
.
When Grayson resigned to accept a position at Harvard University
, Governor Steve Beshear
appointed Bowling Green
Mayor Elaine Walker
over Grimes to fill the rest of Grayson's term in office. Despite this Grimes stayed in the race and defeated Walker by a double digit margin in the May primary.
She went on to face Republican businessman and former Senate candidate Bill Johnson
. A main aspect of the campaign was Grimes opposition to Johnson's proposal to require an address in order to vote. Grimes argued this would take away voting rights from the homeless among others. She also became well known through commercials that showed her elderly grandmothers.
Grimes defeated Johnson with over 60% of the vote. She received a higher percentage of the vote than any other Kentucky
statewide Democratic candidate during the 2011 elections and has received much speculation over her possible political future.
Her term as Secretary of State will begin on December 13, 2011.
Secretary of State of Kentucky
The Secretary of State of Kentucky is one of the constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is now an elected office, but was an appointed office prior to 1891. The current Secretary of State is Democrat Elaine Walker, who was appointed by Governor Steve Beshear to fulfill the...
-elect, having defeated incumbent Elaine Walker
Elaine Walker
Elaine Nogay Walker is an American politician and the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She assumed office on January 29, 2011 and is a member of the Democratic Party...
in the May 17, 2011 primary election and Republican Bill Johnson
Bill Johnson (Kentucky politician)
Bill Johnson is a western Kentucky businessman and high school math teacher who was the unsuccessful Republican candidate for Secretary of State of Kentucky in the November 8, 2011 general election.-Early years and career:...
in the November 8, 2011 general election.
Early Life and Education
Grimes is the daughter of former Kentucky Democratic chairman Jerry Lundergan and was born in Maysville, KentuckyMaysville, Kentucky
Maysville is a city in and the county seat of Mason County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,993 at the 2000 census, making it the fiftieth largest city in Kentucky by population. Maysville is on the Ohio River, northeast of Lexington. It is the principal city of the Maysville...
. She went to Lexington Catholic High School
Lexington Catholic High School
Lexington Catholic High School is a parochial secondary school affiliated with the Catholic Church located in the Rosemill neighborhood in Lexington, Kentucky. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington.-History:...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
and then went on to graduate from Rhodes College
Rhodes College
Rhodes College is a private, predominantly undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Originally founded by freemasons in 1848, Rhodes became affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in 1855. Rhodes enrolls approximately 1,700 students pursuing bachelor's and master's...
where she was a member of Chi Omega
Chi Omega
Chi Omega is a women's fraternity and the largest member of the National Panhellenic Conference. Chi Omega has 174 active collegiate chapters and over 230 alumnae chapters. Chi Omega's national headquarters is located in Memphis, Tennessee....
sorority and graduated from the Washington College of Law
Washington College of Law
American University Washington College of Law is the law school of American University. It is located on Massachusetts Avenue in the Spring Valley neighborhood of northwest Washington. WCL is ranked 50th among law schools by US News and World Report...
at American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
in Washington, D.C.
Career
She was a practicing attorney in Lexington, KentuckyLexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
before running for Secretary of State.
Secretary of State
In 2010 Grimes announced her candidacy for the office of Secretary of State of Kentucky, left open by term limited incumbent Republican Trey GraysonTrey Grayson
Charles Merwin "Trey" Grayson III is the director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School, a former Secretary of State of Kentucky and a candidate in the 2010 GOP primary to replace Jim Bunning, losing to Rand Paul.-Early years and career:A product of the Kenton County public school...
.
When Grayson resigned to accept a position at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Governor Steve Beshear
Steve Beshear
Steven Lynn "Steve" Beshear is an American politician who is the 61st Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. A Democrat, Beshear previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1974 to 1979, was the state's Attorney General from 1980 to 1983, and was Lieutenant Governor from...
appointed Bowling Green
Bowling Green
A bowling green is a lawn used for playing the game of bowls.Bowling Green may also refer to:-Places:United States*Bowling Green, Florida*Bowling Green, Indiana*Bowling Green, Kentucky, the largest city in the United States named Bowling Green...
Mayor Elaine Walker
Elaine Walker
Elaine Nogay Walker is an American politician and the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She assumed office on January 29, 2011 and is a member of the Democratic Party...
over Grimes to fill the rest of Grayson's term in office. Despite this Grimes stayed in the race and defeated Walker by a double digit margin in the May primary.
She went on to face Republican businessman and former Senate candidate Bill Johnson
Bill Johnson
Bill Johnson may refer to:Arts and Entertainment*Bill Johnson , American actor known for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2...
. A main aspect of the campaign was Grimes opposition to Johnson's proposal to require an address in order to vote. Grimes argued this would take away voting rights from the homeless among others. She also became well known through commercials that showed her elderly grandmothers.
Grimes defeated Johnson with over 60% of the vote. She received a higher percentage of the vote than any other Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
statewide Democratic candidate during the 2011 elections and has received much speculation over her possible political future.
Her term as Secretary of State will begin on December 13, 2011.