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Quick facts for kids Kay Hagan


United States Senator from North Carolina
In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Elizabeth Dole
Succeeded by	Thom Tillis
Member of the North Carolina Senate
In office January 27, 1999 – January 3, 2009
Preceded by	John Blust
Succeeded by	Don Vaughan
Constituency	32nd District (1999–2003) 27th District (2003–2009)

Personal details
Born	Janet Kay Ruthven (1953-05-26)May 26, 1953 Shelby, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	October 28, 2019(2019-10-28) (aged 66) Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Resting place	First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Charles T. Hagan III
Relatives	Lawton Chiles (uncle)
Education	Florida State University (BA) Wake Forest University (JD)

Kay Hagan (born Janet Kay Ruthven; May 26, 1953 – October 28, 2019) was an important American politician. She was a U.S. Senator for North Carolina from 2009 to 2015. Before that, she was a state senator in North Carolina from 1999 to 2009. Kay Hagan was a member of the Democratic Party.

In 2008, she made history by being the first woman to beat another woman who was already a U.S. Senator. That senator was Elizabeth Dole. Hagan tried to be re-elected in 2014 but lost to Thom Tillis.

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Kay Hagan's Early Life and Education

Kay Hagan was born Janet Kay Ruthven in Shelby, North Carolina. Her mother, Jeanette, was a homemaker. Her father, Josie Perry "Joe" Ruthven, was a tire salesman. Kay's uncle, Lawton Chiles, was also a U.S. Senator and later the Governor of Florida.

Both her father and brother served in the U.S. Navy. Kay spent most of her childhood in Lakeland, Florida. She graduated from Lakeland Senior High School in 1971.

Her father later started a real estate business. He focused on industrial warehouses in the Lakeland area. He also became the mayor of Lakeland.

Kay spent her summers on her grandparents' farm in Chesterfield, South Carolina. There, she helped with tobacco and watermelon harvesting. In the 1970s, she worked as an intern at the United States Capitol. She operated an elevator for senators, including her uncle Lawton.

She earned a bachelor's degree from Florida State University in 1975. In 1978, she earned a law degree (J.D.) from the Wake Forest University School of Law. After her studies, she worked as both a lawyer and a banker. She became a vice president at NCNB, a large bank in North Carolina. This bank is now part of Bank of America. Before starting her political career, Hagan also managed a county campaign for Governor Jim Hunt.

Serving in the North Carolina Legislature

Kay Hagan was first elected to the North Carolina General Assembly in 1998. She became a state Senator for the 32nd district. Later, due to new district maps, her area became the 27th district.

Her uncle, Lawton Chiles, even walked with her during her 1998 campaign. She represented Guilford County, which includes Greensboro, for five terms.

Kay Hagan's Time in the U.S. Senate

The 2008 Election Campaign

Kay Hagan first decided not to run against Elizabeth Dole for the U.S. Senate. However, she changed her mind and announced her candidacy on October 30, 2007. She won the Democratic primary election in May 2008.

Hagan at a Barack Obama rally in 2008

Hagan was asked to run after other well-known North Carolina Democrats chose not to. Most polls from September 2008 showed Hagan slightly ahead of Dole. She was helped by Barack Obama's strong campaign for president in North Carolina. Groups that support Democrats also spent a lot of money to help her.

In late October, Dole's campaign released a TV ad. It claimed that a group called the "Godless Americans PAC" held a secret fundraiser for Hagan. The ad showed parts of interviews with group members. It ended with a photo of Hagan and a voice saying, "There is no God."

Hagan, who was a Sunday school teacher and a member of First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro, said the ad was "fabricated and pathetic." She sued Dole for defamation. After Hagan won the election, the lawsuit was dropped. Many news outlets criticized the ad.

In the November election, Hagan won with 53% of the votes. Dole received 44%. News reports said that both campaigns used negative ads. Hagan's victory was partly because people were upset about the "Godless" ad. Her win brought the Senate seat back to the Democrats. This seat had been held by Jesse Helms and then by Dole.

The 2014 Re-election Campaign

Hagan ran for re-election in 2014. Her seat was considered difficult to win. Some thought she benefited from the higher voter turnout in the 2008 presidential election. Without a presidential election in 2014, the race was very close.

Hagan chose not to attend events for President Barack Obama's visit to North Carolina in January 2014. She stayed in Washington for Senate votes. Some wondered if she was trying to distance herself from the President. His popularity in North Carolina had decreased since 2008.

Hagan was the target of many negative ads. These ads were paid for by a group called Americans for Prosperity. They spent over $7 million on the race by March 2014. Another group, the Senate Majority PAC, released ads supporting Hagan. In July 2014, Hagan had more campaign money than any other vulnerable Democratic senator. Vice President Joe Biden supported her. In September 2014, Bill Clinton also planned to campaign for Hagan.

Hagan faced Republican Thom Tillis and Libertarian Sean Haugh in the election. She chose not to participate in a debate scheduled for October 21. She spoke at the state AFL–CIO convention. After a very close race, Kay Hagan lost her re-election bid. She lost by about 45,000 votes, or 1.5%.

Considering the 2016 Senate Race

Some Democrats asked Hagan to run for the Senate again in 2016. She said she was seriously thinking about it. Many believed she would be the strongest challenger against the current senator, Richard Burr. However, on June 24, 2015, Hagan announced on Facebook that she would not run for the Senate in 2016.

Committees Kay Hagan Served On

During her time as a U.S. Senator, Kay Hagan served on several important committees:

Committee on Armed Services
- Subcommittee on Airland
- Subcommittee on Personnel
- Subcommittee on Seapower
- Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities (Chair)
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
- Subcommittee on Economic Policy
- Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection
- Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Subcommittee on Children and Families (Chair)
- Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Kay Hagan's Political Views

Economic Issues

On February 13, 2009, Hagan voted to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This law aimed to help the economy.

In December 2010, Hagan voted against a bill that would extend tax cuts and unemployment benefits. The bill passed the Senate.

On March 23, 2013, Hagan was one of only four Democratic Senators to vote against the Senate's first approved budget in four years.

In May 2013, Hagan voted for the Marketplace Fairness Act. This law would require online stores to collect state sales tax. This would be similar to how regular stores collect sales tax.

Outdoor Recreation

On May 20, 2014, Hagan introduced the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2014 (S. 2363; 113th Congress). This bill was about hunting, fishing, and outdoor activities in the United States. Its goal was to make it easier for people to enjoy the outdoors.

Gun Rights

On April 17, 2013, Hagan voted to expand background checks for people buying guns. She also voted against bringing back a ban on certain types of firearms. She also voted against banning large ammunition magazines.

Healthcare

In December 2009, Hagan voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. She later voted for the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. These laws aimed to change healthcare in the U.S.

On September 27, 2013, Hagan voted to restore funding for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This was part of a bill to fund government operations.

In 2009, Hagan voted for the Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2009. This law provided $32.8 billion for children's health coverage. It also raised the cigarette tax. Hagan opposed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which became law in 2009.

Immigration

On December 18, 2010, Hagan was one of only five Democrats to vote against the DREAM Act. This bill would have helped young undocumented immigrants. The bill did not pass in the Senate.

In June 2013, Hagan voted against an amendment. This amendment would have required building more border fence before certain immigration statuses could be granted.

Privacy Issues

Hagan supported the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA). This proposed law aimed to give the U.S. government more tools to stop access to websites that sell fake goods. After online protests, the bill was put aside in January 2012.

LGBT Rights

On December 18, 2010, Hagan voted for the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010. This law allowed gay and lesbian people to serve openly in the military.

Hagan opposed North Carolina's Amendment 1. This measure defined marriage as only between one man and one woman in North Carolina's Constitution. On March 27, 2013, Hagan announced her support for same-sex marriage.

Kay Hagan's Personal Life and Passing

Hagan (center) with her husband (right) and lobbyist Tony Podesta in 2009

Kay Hagan's husband, Charles Tilden "Chip" Hagan III, is a lawyer. The Hagans had three children: Jeanette, Tilden, and Carrie. After her term as a U.S. Senator, Hagan became a fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics.

In December 2016, while in Washington, D.C., Hagan became ill. She had a type of brain inflammation called encephalitis. This was caused by the Powassan virus. Her husband believed she got the virus from a tick bite while hiking in 2016. In June 2019, her husband shared that Kay's ability to speak was limited, but she understood things very well.

Kay Hagan passed away on October 28, 2019, at age 66. She died from complications of the Powassan virus. Her funeral was held on November 3, 2019, at the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro. Many important people attended her funeral. These included former Democratic Senators and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.

Images for kids

Official photo of Kay Hagan