Pamela Stevenson
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Distinguish|Pamela Stephenson|Pam Stephenson}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Pamela Stevenson
| image = Pamela Stevenson.jpg
| office = Minority Leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives
| term_start = January 7, 2025
| term_end =
| predecessor = Derrick Graham
| successor =
| state_house1 = Kentucky
| district1 = 43rd
| term_start1 = January 1, 2021
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = Charles Booker
| successor1 =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|4|8}}
| birth_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
| death_date =
| children = 2
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| spouse = Thomas Shannon
| education = Indiana University, Bloomington (BS, JD)
| branch = United States Air Force
| serviceyears = 1984–2011
| rank = Colonel
| unit = United States Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps
}}
Pamela D. Stevenson (born April 8, 1959) is an American politician, attorney, and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel. She is a Democrat and represents District 43 in the Kentucky State House.{{Cite web|title=Legislator-Profile – Legislative Research Commission – Representative Pamela Stevenson (D)|url=https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/Pages/Legislator-Profile.aspx?DistrictNumber=43|access-date=2021-01-22|website=Kentucky General Assembly}} In 2023, she unsuccessfully ran as the Democratic nominee in the 2023 Kentucky Attorney General election losing to Republican nominee Russell Coleman.{{cite web |date=November 7, 2023 |title=Republican Russell Coleman, a former U.S. attorney, is elected KY attorney general|url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article281348118.html |publisher=Lexington Herald Leader}}
Early life and education
Stevenson was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, attending Shawnee High School before transferring to Brown High School. She then served 27 years as a Judge Advocate General with the U.S. Air Force and retired with the rank of colonel.{{cite web |last1=Shanklin |first1=Sherlene |title=Kentucky lawmakers have 'beautiful conversation' after emotional speech during debate |url=https://www.whas11.com/article/news/politics/pamela-stevenson-louisville-rep-air-force-colonel/417-e130961a-eb46-4afc-8074-25cf1583b4a5 |website=WHAS11 |date=April 2021 |access-date=27 April 2023}} Stevenson graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Indiana University Bloomington in 1981, and in 1984 with a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from Indiana University Maurer School of Law.
In 2015, Stevenson founded the Stevenson Law Center, which offers legal representation pro bono to veterans and seniors.{{cite web |last1=Marling |first1=Sierra |title=Colonel Pamela Stevenson meets prospective voters at Berea's Nightjar |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/colonel-pamela-stevenson-meets-prospective-155800026.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAKJzmvo6RQ_SZBCjBp0O8ELHo4R5EgItNWkvJUxuVC1fjlEJVSPRIlad0BZFqAS8XuNQ7LLFJWeF2cOv-1_LNq8pFZc-UtzCY3s-1QRZtMdkhnWgBnmbXBcBdwIB7VfoRegqAUCTh62RyxJQvHmIkoz0WJN8imWeyQFi45W_vEk0 |website=Richmond Register |date=9 February 2023 |access-date=27 April 2023}} Stevenson has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law.{{Cite web|url=https://ky.emergeamerica.org/alumna/col-pamela-stevenson/|title=Col. Pamela Stevenson|website=Emerge Kentucky}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/2019/11/01/veterans-retired-military-colonel-now-serves-her-louisville-community/2502191001/|title=After my military service, I chose to be a catalyst for social change in the community|first=Pamela D.|last=Stevenson|website=Courier Journal|date=November 1, 2019|access-date=August 10, 2022}}
Political activity
Stevenson was elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives in 2020, replacing Charles Booker, who instead ran for the U.S. Senate.
In November 2022, Stevenson announced her candidacy for Attorney General of Kentucky in 2023. She became the presumptive Democratic nominee after no other candidates filed for the Primary, becoming the first African-American woman nominated for the office in Kentucky.{{cite web|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2022/11/28/kentucky-rep-pamela-stevenson-makes-2023-bid-for-attorney-general/69682520007/|title=Louisville Rep. Pamela Stevenson launches 2023 bid for Kentucky attorney general|last=Watkins|first=Morgan|date=November 28, 2022|website=Courier Journal|access-date=April 3, 2023}}
While in the state house, Stevenson became known for her impassioned speeches. In March 2023, a speech she gave in opposition to the passing of Kentucky House Bill 470, which prohibits gender-affirming care for transgender youth and restricts school instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity, went viral online.{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/black-kentucky-lawmaker-gives-passionate-182216339.html|title=Black Kentucky Lawmaker Gives Passionate Speech Against Anti-Trans Bill|last=Rhodes|first=Christopher|date=March 14, 2023|website=Yahoo! News|access-date=April 3, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.advocate.com/politics/gender-affirming-care-ban-kentucky|title=Kentucky Passes One of Nation's Worst Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws by Veto Override|last=Ring|first=Trudy|date=March 30, 2023|website=The Advocate|access-date=April 3, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wkyt.com/2023/03/30/protesters-escorted-house-chamber-controversial-anti-trans-bill-becomes-law/|title=Protesters escorted from House Chamber as controversial 'anti-trans' bill becomes law|last=Hedrick|first=Chad|date=March 29, 2023|website=WKYT|access-date=April 3, 2023}}
Stevenson made another speech on March 29, 2023, regarding Senate Bill 150 which, like Kentucky House Bill 470, would prohibit all gender-affirming healthcare for transgender people under 18 years of age.{{Cite web |last=Morava |first=Maria |date=2023-04-01 |title=Lawmaker delivers incredible speech as trans rights protesters storm hearing |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/04/01/kentucky-trans-rights-speech-protest/ |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=PinkNews |language=en-US}}
{{Blockquote|text=“We have created an environment of hate and then we look at them like there’s something wrong with them, First you hated Black people, then you hated Jews, now you’re hating everybody. So the question is, when it’s the only people left … will you hate yourself?”}}On February 20, 2025, following Senator Mitch McConnell's decision not to seek an eighth term, Stevenson announced her intention to run for United States Senator representing the Commonwealth of Kentucky via a post on X.
Personal life
Stevenson is a Christian, and was ordained as a minister in 2023. She serves as an Associate Pastor at the Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church, in Louisville.
She is married to Thomas Shannon, a professional photographer. They have two children together.
Electoral history
= 2018 =
{{Election box begin no change |title=Democratic primary results}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Charles Booker
|votes = 1,481
|percentage = 29.5
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Pamela Stevenson
|votes = 1,104
|percentage = 22.0
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Phillip "Phil" Baker
|votes = 929
|percentage = 18.5
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark D. Mitchell
|votes = 581
|percentage = 11.6
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Kathleen Parks
|votes = 507
|percentage = 10.1
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Jackson Andrews
|votes = 295
|percentage = 5.9
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Dre Dawson
|votes = 116
|percentage = 2.3
}}{{Election box total no change
|votes = 5,013
|percentage = 100.0
}}{{Election box end}}
= 2020 =
{{Election box begin no change |title=Democratic primary results}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Pamela D. Stevenson
|votes = 6,320
|percentage = 74.1
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = David L. Snardon
|votes = 2,214
|percentage = 25.9
}}{{Election box total no change
|votes = 8,534
|percentage = 100.0
}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title =2020 Kentucky House of Representatives 43rd district election
}}
{{Election box candidate unopposed with party link
| candidate = Pamela D. Stevenson
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 14,825
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Election box end}}
= 2022 =
{{Election box begin no change |title=Democratic primary results}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Pamela D. Stevenson (incumbent)
|votes = 2,622
|percentage = 53.8
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Robert LeVertis Bell
|votes = 2,255
|percentage = 46.2
}}{{Election box total no change
|votes = 4,877
|percentage = 100.0
}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title =2022 Kentucky House of Representatives 43rd district election
}}
{{Election box candidate unopposed with party link
| candidate = Pamela D. Stevenson (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 9,045
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Election box end}}
= 2023 =
{{Election box begin no change | title=2023 Kentucky Attorney General election}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Russell Coleman
|votes = 752,692
|percentage = 58.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Pamela Stevenson
|votes = 544,748
|percentage = 42.0
}}
{{Election box total no change|
|votes = 1,297,440
|percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Republican Party (US)
}}
{{Election box end}}
= 2024 =
{{Election box begin no change
| title =2024 Kentucky House of Representatives 43rd district election
}}
{{Election box candidate unopposed with party link
| candidate = Pamela Stevenson (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 12,088
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://pamforag.com/ Pamela Stevenson for Attorney General] campaign website
{{CongLinks|votesmart=177964}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Greg Stumbo}}
{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Kentucky|years=2023}}
{{s-inc|recent}}
|-
{{s-par|us-ky-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Derrick Graham}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minority Leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives|years=2025–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Current Kentucky statewide political officials}}
{{U.S. State House Floor Leaders}}
{{Kentucky House of Representatives |state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevenson, Pamela}}
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:21st-century African-American women politicians
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:21st-century members of the Kentucky General Assembly
Category:African-American state legislators in Kentucky
Category:Candidates in the 2023 United States elections
Category:Democratic Party members of the Kentucky House of Representatives
Category:Indiana University Bloomington alumni
Category:Kelley School of Business alumni
Category:J. Graham Brown School alumni
Category:Politicians from Louisville, Kentucky