Kirk Hatcher
{{Short description|American politician of Alabama}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Kirk Hatcher
| state_senate = Alabama
| district = 26th
| term_start = March 3, 2021
| term_end =
| predecessor = David Burkette
| successor =
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|55|2020|12|11}}
| birth_place = Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| education = Morehouse College (BA)
Emory University (MDiv)
| state_house2 = Alabama
| district2 = 78th
| predecessor2 = Alvin Holmes
| successor2 = Kenyatté Hassell
| termstart2 = November 6, 2018
| termend2 = March 2, 2021
}}
Kirk Hatcher (born 1964/1965){{cite web | url=https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/11/senate-district-26-profile-kirk-hatcher-emphasizes-education-economic-development/6488802002/ | title=Senate District 26 profile: Kirk Hatcher emphasizes education, economic development }} is an American politician from the state of Alabama. He currently represents Alabama's 26th District in the Alabama State Senate. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Education
Hatcher graduated from Morehouse College in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature. He later enrolled in Emory University, where he earned a Masters of Divinity degree in Theology in 1997.{{Cite web|title=Kirk Hatcher Linkedin|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirk-hatcher-135385114/}}
Career
After graduating from Emory, Hatcher moved to Rye, New York, where he worked as an English teacher at Rye County Day School.{{Cite web|title=About 1|url=https://www.kirkhatcher.com/meet-kirk|access-date=2021-07-25|website=Kirk Hatcher for Senate|language=en-US}} After resigning his position in 2015, he moved back to his hometown, Montgomery, Alabama, where he worked in community organization. In 2018, he ran for a position in the Alabama House of Representatives in District 78, which covers downtown Montgomery.{{Cite web|title=Kirk Hatcher|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Kirk_Hatcher|access-date=2021-07-25|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}} He came in 2nd place in the initial Democratic primary election held on June 5, 2018, winning 37.6% of the vote and causing a runoff.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-19|title=2018 Alabama State House District 78 Election Results|url=https://www.bamapolitics.com/alabama/alabama-elections/2018-alabama-elections-results/2018-alabama-state-house-district-78-election/|access-date=2021-07-25|website=Bama Politics|language=en-US}} In the runoff held 2 months later, Hatcher defeated incumbent Representative Alvin Holmes by 17.4%.{{Cite web|title=Alabama House of Representatives District 78|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Alabama_House_of_Representatives_District_78|access-date=2021-07-25|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}} Hatcher decisively defeated his independent opponent, Tijuanna Adetunji, in the November general election with 83.4% to her 16.3%.{{Cite web|title=Tijuanna Adetunji|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Tijuanna_Adetunji|access-date=2021-07-25|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}} Hatcher's success was backed by several lobbying groups, including the Alabama Education Association, Medical Association of the State of Alabama, Alabama Bankers Association, Alabama Forestry Association, and Alabama Rural Electricity Association.{{Cite web|title=The Voter's Self Defense System - Kirk Hatcher|url=http://votesmart.org/|access-date=2021-07-25|website=Vote Smart}} After the resignation of Senator David Burkette, Hatcher ran for the empty seat in the Alabama Senate's District 26.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-03|title=Democratic Rep. Kirk Hatcher wins Montgomery seat in Alabama Senate|url=https://www.al.com/news/2021/03/democratic-rep-kirk-hatcher-wins-montgomery-seat-in-alabama-senate.html|access-date=2021-07-25|website=al|language=en}} He won the initial open primary with 47.9% of votes, although because he did not win a majority of the vote, there had to be a runoff election. In the runoff, Hatcher triumphed over his opponent, John Knight, winning with 74.2% of the vote.{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=WSFA 12 News|title=Hatcher wins Democratic primary runoff in Senate District 26 race|url=https://www.wsfa.com/2020/12/15/hatcher-wins-democratic-primary-runoff-senate-district-race/|access-date=2021-07-25|website=www.wsfa.com|date=2 March 2021 |language=en}} In the general election, Hatcher defeated Republican William Green with over 78% of votes cast.{{Cite web|last=Lyman|first=Brian|title=Kirk Hatcher wins special election for Senate District 26|url=https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/2021/03/02/kirk-hatcher-wins-special-election-senate-district-26/6867348002/|access-date=2021-07-25|website=The Montgomery Advertiser|language=en-US}}
In 2024, Hatcher strongly considered running for United States Representative in the 2nd congressional district (which was redrawn after the Supreme Court case Allen v. Milligan), although he eventually decided not to.{{Cite web |last=Moon |first=Josh |date=2023-10-30 |title=Reed out, Hatcher in for 2nd Congressional District race |url=https://www.alreporter.com/2023/10/30/reed-out-hatcher-in-for-2nd-congressional-district-race/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Alabama Political Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Lyman |first=Brian |date=2023-11-10 |title=Sen. Kirk Hatcher won't run for 2nd Congressional District • Alabama Reflector |url=https://alabamareflector.com/2023/11/10/sen-kirk-hatcher-wont-run-for-2nd-congressional-district/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Alabama Reflector |language=en-US}}
= Committee Positions =
Hatcher is a member of the Banking and Insurance,{{Cite web|title=Banking and Insurance Committee|url=http://www.legislature.state.al.us/aliswww/ISD/SenCommittee.aspx?OID_ORGANIZATION=3264&COMMITTEE=Banking%20and%20Insurance}} Education Policy,{{Cite web|title=Senate Education Policy Committee|url=http://www.legislature.state.al.us/aliswww/ISD/SenCommittee.aspx?OID_ORGANIZATION=3262&COMMITTEE=Education%20Policy}} Tourism,{{Cite web|title=Senate Tourism Committee|url=http://www.legislature.state.al.us/aliswww/ISD/SenCommittee.aspx?OID_ORGANIZATION=3269&COMMITTEE=Tourism}} and Transportation and Energy Committees.{{Cite web|title=Senate Transportation and Energy Committee|url=http://www.legislature.state.al.us/aliswww/ISD/SenCommittee.aspx?OID_ORGANIZATION=3266&COMMITTEE=Transportation%20and%20Energy}}
Elections
= Alabama House of Representatives District 78 =
== 2018 Democratic Primary ==
{{Election box begin no change|title=2018 Democratic Primary}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Alvin Holmes|votes=2,116|percentage=45.9%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Kirk Hatcher|votes=1,736|percentage=37.6%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Terrance Dawson|votes=759|percentage=16.5%}}{{Election box total no change|votes=4,611|percentage=100.0%}}
{{Election box end}}
== 2018 Democratic Runoff ==
{{Election box begin no change|title=2018 Democratic Runoff}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Kirk Hatcher|votes=1,704|percentage=58.7%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Alvin Holmes|votes=1,200|percentage=41.3%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=2,904|percentage=100.0%}}
{{Election box end}}
== 2018 General Election ==
{{Election box begin no change|title=2018 General Election}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Kirk Hatcher|votes=9,506|percentage=83.4%}}
{{Election box candidate no party link no change|candidate=Tijuanna Adetunji|votes=1,860|percentage=16.3%|party=Independent (politician)}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=30|percentage=0.3%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=11,396|percentage=100.0%}}{{Election box end}}
= Alabama State Senate District 26 =
== 2020 Democratic Primary ==
{{Election box begin no change|title=2018 Democratic Primary}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Kirk Hatcher|votes=2,513|percentage=47.9%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=John Knight|votes=1,091|percentage=20.8%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Linda Douglas Burkette|votes=541|percentage=10.3%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=TaShina Morris|votes=496|percentage=9.5%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Janet May|votes=400|percentage=7.6%}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Deborah Anthony|votes=202|percentage=3.9%}}{{Election box total no change|votes=5,243|percentage=100.0%}}
{{Election box end}}
== 2020 Democratic Runoff ==
{{Election box begin no change|title=2020 Democratic Runoff}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Kirk Hatcher|votes=3,961|percentage=74.2%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=John Knight|votes=1,374|percentage=25,8%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=5,335|percentage=100.0%}}
{{Election box end}}
== 2020 General Election ==
{{Election box begin no change|title=2020 General Election}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Kirk Hatcher|votes=4,565|percentage=78.3%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=William Green|votes=1,254|percentage=21.5%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=8|percentage=0.1%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=5,827|percentage=100.0%}}{{Election box end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Alabama State Senate}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hatcher, Kirk}}
Category:Democratic Party Alabama state senators
Category:Emory University alumni
Category:Morehouse College alumni