Kathy Barnette facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kathy Barnette
Barnette in 2024
Personal details
Born	Kathy Jean Barnette (1971-09-06) September 6, 1971 (age 54) Alabama, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Carl
Children	2
Education	Troy State University (BS) Fontbonne University (MBA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Rank	Specialist
Unit	United States Army Reserve National Guard

Kathy Jean Barnette, born on September 6, 1971, is an American politician. She is also a political commentator. She belongs to the Republican Party. In 2020, she ran for the United States House of Representatives in Pennsylvania. She also sought her party's nomination for the 2022 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania.

Early Life and Education

Kathy Barnette was born in Alabama on September 6, 1971. She was raised by her mother on a pig farm. Their home in South Alabama had a special history. It was where her great-great-great-grandmother, who was born into slavery, once lived.

She earned a bachelor's degree in finance. This was from Troy State University. Later, she received an M.B.A. from Fontbonne University. Barnette also served in the military. She spent seven years in the United States Army Reserve and the United States National Guard.

Professional Career

Before entering politics, Kathy Barnette worked as a financial analyst. She helped companies understand their money. Her journey into political commentary began online. She started by making political videos on Facebook.

These videos led to new opportunities. She became a guest on Fox & Friends. She also became a regular voice on conservative radio in Philadelphia. Barnette has also appeared frequently on One America News Network and Newsmax.

Political Journey

Kathy Barnette first entered politics in 2020. She ran for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district. She was the only Republican candidate in the primary election. She lost the main election to Madeleine Dean. Barnette initially questioned the election results. However, she later said she accepted them. She continued to express doubts about the 2020 presidential election.

Barnette in 2019

On Election Day in 2020, Barnette filed a lawsuit. She claimed election officials broke state laws. Her lawyers later withdrew the lawsuit.

For a time, Barnette had a close connection with My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell. Lindell praised her in June 2021. He called her "an amazing person." He also noted her strong determination.

Barnette announced her Senate campaign in April 2021. She aimed to fill Senator Pat Toomey's retiring seat. She received support from Michael Flynn and Sebastian Gorka. By June 2021, she had raised about $600,000. This was more than other candidates at the time. Her support grew significantly in early 2022. News outlets began to pay more attention to her campaign.

Barnette faced questions about past social media posts. Some of her old tweets caused discussion. These included comments about former President Barack Obama. Other comments were seen as controversial. In a 2015 video, she discussed different worldviews. She also made comments on her radio show that caused debate. In one post, she described a transgender person in a way that caused controversy.

In May 2022, images showed Barnette at the "Stop the Steal" rally. This rally happened before the January 6 United States Capitol attack. Her campaign stated she did not participate in any violence. She said she brought buses of people to the rally.

Barnette finished third in the 2022 primary election. She was behind Mehmet Oz and David McCormick. She blamed her loss on comments from a TV host. In October 2022, she said she would vote for Oz. However, she did not officially support him.

Barnette announced in 2023 that she would not run for Senate again in 2024. As of 2023, she was involved in Vivek Ramaswamy's presidential campaign.

Political Views

According to The Tennessee Star, Barnette's 2022 campaign focused on several key ideas. These included health care based on free markets. She also supported border security and school choice. Other priorities were domestic energy production and tax reform. She also emphasized protecting unborn lives.

..... This includes cases resulting from difficult circumstances. She has shared that her own life began under such circumstances.

Electoral History

Personal Life

Kathy Barnette is married to Carl. They have two children together. She has stated that she has been a Christian since she was about 19 years old.

Published Work

• (2020). Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain: Being Black and Conservative in America. Center Street. ISBN: 978-1546085751