Amy Kennedy | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | Amy Savell (1978-11-20)November 20, 1978 (age 47) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | Pennsylvania State University (BS) Nova Southeastern University (MS) |
| Website | Official website |
Amy Kennedy (néeSavell; born November 20, 1978)[1] is an American educator, mental health advocate, and former political candidate from thestate ofNew Jersey. She was theDemocratic Party nominee in the2020 elections to representNew Jersey's 2nd congressional district in theUnited States House of Representatives, losing to incumbentJeff Van Drew.
Amy Savell was born inAtlantic City, New Jersey and raised inPleasantville andAbsecon.[2] Her parents, Leni and Jerry Savell, are both teachers. Jerry also served as afreeholder forAtlantic County, New Jersey, and was acity council member in both Absecon and Pleasantville.[3][4] She graduated in 1997 fromHoly Spirit High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education fromPennsylvania State University.[5][6] She later earned a Master of Science in environmental education fromNova Southeastern University.[2]
Kennedy taught middle-school history atNorthfield Community Schools.[4] She later became an education director of the Kennedy Forum, a mental health advocacy group founded by her husband.[7]
In the2020 elections, Kennedy ran for theDemocratic Party nomination forNew Jersey's 2nd congressional district.[8] On July 7, 2020, she defeated university professorBrigid Callahan Harrison and former congressional aide Will Cunningham to win the party's nomination. Kennedy's victory was particularly notable as an "upset victory" because Harrison had been supported byGeorge Norcross, a powerful figure in New Jersey politics.[9][10] As of July 9, 2020, vote totals showed Kennedy winning in all eight counties in the congressional district.[11] She faced Republican incumbentJeff Van Drew, who was originally elected as a Democrat, in the general election.[12][13]
According toThe Washington Post, Kennedy ran as an "anti-establishment insurgent trying to ride the recent energy of grass-roots activists", and was backed byMartin Luther King III, New Jersey governorPhil Murphy, and House Majority LeaderSteny Hoyer.[14] Her campaign focused on mental health issues and education. She is supportive of expanding theAffordable Care Act.[15]
Kennedy raised $1.4 million for her primary campaign, including a $500,000 personal loan.[16] On August 3, 2020, she received the endorsement of former presidentBarack Obama.[17][18] Kennedy lost to Van Drew in the general election.[19]
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Kennedy met Mark Petitgout in college, and they married in 2003. The brother of formerNFL offensive tackleLuke Petitgout, Mark playedfootball for thePenn State Nittany Lions. They lived inLinwood, New Jersey and had one daughter before divorcing in early 2010.[4]
Kennedy met former United States congressmanPatrick J. Kennedy at a mental-health forum in Atlantic City in 2010.[4][11] They married in July 2011 at theKennedy family compound inHyannis Port, Massachusetts, withSupreme Court JusticeStephen Breyer officiating.[20][21] They live inBrigantine, New Jersey,[22] with their five children.[23][24][22]