Jeanine Calkin
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jeanine Calkin
| state_senate = Rhode Island
| district = 30th
| term_start1 = January 5, 2021
| term_end1 = January 3, 2023
| predecessor1 = Mark McKenney
| successor1 = Mark McKenney
| term_start2 = January 1, 2017
| term_end2 = December 31, 2018
| predecessor2 = William Walaska
| successor2 = Mark McKenney
| party = Democratic
| birth_place = Johnston, Rhode Island
| residence = Warwick, Rhode Island
| spouse = Daniel
| education = Johnson & Wales University (B.A)
Bryant University (M.A.)
}}
Jeanine Calkin is an American politician from the state of Rhode Island. A member of the Democratic Party, she is a former Rhode Island State Senator. Calkin serves as co-chair of the Rhode Island Political Cooperative, a progressive organization.{{Cite web|title=‘I am not in some sort of progressive civil war,’ R.I. Political Cooperative co-founder says - The Boston Globe|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/10/14/metro/i-am-not-some-sort-progressive-civil-war-ri-political-cooperative-co-founder-says/|access-date=2021-10-19|website=BostonGlobe.com|language=en-US}}
Early life and education
Calkin is from Johnston, Rhode Island. She graduated from Johnston Senior High School in 1987. Calkin first attended the University of Rhode Island before transferring to Johnson & Wales University, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science. Calkin went on to receive a Master's Degree in Information Services from Bryant University.
During her career, she worked in the billing departments for Rhode Island Hospital and Roger Williams Medical Center, the IT department of Johnson & Wales, as a programmer for GTECH Corporation, and a project manager for Analog Devices.
Political career
Calkin and her husband formed their own company before she decided to start Rhode Island for Bernie Sanders in the 2016 United States Presidential Election.{{cite web|last=Dolan |first=Kelcy |url=https://warwickonline.com/stories/calkin-runs-to-align-general-assembly-with-voter-values,114219 |title=Calkin runs to align General Assembly with voter values | Warwick Beacon |publisher=Warwickonline.com |date=July 5, 2016 |accessdate=September 14, 2020}} Calkin later organized on behalf of Sanders during his 2020 Presidential Campaign.{{Cite web|title=The Women Challenging State House Leadership and the Progressives Supporting Them: An interview with Senator-elect Jeanine Calkin - Motif|url=https://motifri.com/jeaninecalkin/?print=print|access-date=2021-10-19|website=motifri.com}}{{Cite web|last=Anderson|first=Patrick|title=Bernie Sanders announces R.I. endorsements|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20200107/bernie-sanders-announces-ri-endorsements|access-date=2021-10-19|website=providencejournal.com|language=en}}
Calkin ran for the Rhode Island Senate in 2016, defeating William Walaska. She lost renomination for her seat to Mark McKenney in 2018.{{cite web|author=Patrick Anderson |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20180912/mckenney-defeats-sen-calkin-in-warwick-democratic-primary |title=McKenney defeats Sen. Calkin in Warwick Democratic primary - News - providencejournal.com - Providence, RI |publisher=providencejournal.com |date=September 12, 2018 |accessdate=September 14, 2020}} She ran against McKenney again in 2020, and won.{{Cite web|url=https://thepublicsradio.org/article/with-final-results-progressives-score-a-series-of-primary-victories-for-ri-general-assembly|title = With final results, progressives score a series of primary victories for RI General Assembly|date = September 10, 2020}} She was subsequently defeated in the 2022 primary by McKenney once again.{{Cite web|url=https://www.governing.com/now/progressives-fall-short-in-final-primaries|title = Progressives Fall Short in Final Primaries|date = September 16, 2022}}
Personal life
Calkin and her husband, Daniel, have lived in Warwick, Rhode Island, since 2012. Her right leg was amputated in April 2021 after a life-threatening infection due to blood clots.{{Cite web|date=April 26, 2021|title=Doctors Amputate Sen. Jeanine Calkin's Leg to Save Her Life|url=https://patch.com/rhode-island/warwick/doctors-amputate-sen-jeanine-calkins-leg-save-her-life}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{CongLinks|votesmart=173721}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Calkin, Jeanine}}
Category:Democratic Party Rhode Island state senators
Category:People from Johnston, Rhode Island
Category:Politicians from Providence County, Rhode Island
Category:People from Warwick, Rhode Island
Category:Johnson & Wales University alumni
Category:Bryant University alumni
Category:Women state legislators in Rhode Island
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century members of the Rhode Island General Assembly