Kay Ivey facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Kay Ivey
Ivey in 2017

54th Governor of Alabama
Incumbent
Assumed office April 10, 2017
Lieutenant	Vacant (2017–2019) Will Ainsworth (2019–present)
Preceded by	Robert J. Bentley
30th Lieutenant Governor of Alabama
In office January 17, 2011 – April 10, 2017
Governor	Robert J. Bentley
Preceded by	Jim Folsom Jr.
Succeeded by	Will Ainsworth
38th Treasurer of Alabama
In office January 20, 2003 – January 17, 2011
Governor	Bob Riley
Preceded by	Lucy Baxley
Succeeded by	Young Boozer

Personal details
Born	Kay Ellen Ivey (1944-10-15) October 15, 1944 (age 80) Camden, Alabama, U.S.
Political party	Republican (2002–present)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (before 2002)
Spouses	Ben LaRavia (m. 1967; div. 1969) Tom Clement (m. 1991; div. 1993)
Residence	Governor's Mansion
Education	Auburn University (BA)
Signature

Kay Ellen Ivey was born on October 15, 1944. She is an American politician who serves as the 54th Governor of Alabama. She has been in this role since 2017.

Before becoming governor, Ivey was a member of the Democratic Party. In 2002, she joined the Republican Party. She served as the 38th State Treasurer of Alabama from 2003 to 2011. After that, she was the 30th Lieutenant Governor of Alabama from 2011 to 2017.

Ivey became Alabama's second female governor. She was also the first female Republican governor. She took office after the previous governor, Robert J. Bentley, resigned. She won a full term in 2018 and was reelected in 2022. Kay Ivey is currently the oldest serving governor in the United States.

Early Life and Education

Kay Ivey was born on October 15, 1944, in Camden, Alabama. She was the only child of Boadman Nettles and Barbara Elizabeth Ivey. Her father was an officer in the U.S. Army during World War II. He also worked with the Gees Bend community.

Growing up, Ivey helped on her father's farm. She went to Auburn University. There, she was part of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. She was also involved in the Student Government Association. In 2021, she received an honorary degree from Jacksonville State University.

In 1967, Ivey moved to California and worked as a high school teacher. Later, she returned to Alabama. She worked at Merchants National Bank, where she started a program to teach financial skills. Ivey has been divorced twice and does not have children.

Starting a Career in Politics

Kay Ivey becoming State Treasurer in 2003

In 1979, Governor Fob James appointed Kay Ivey to work in the state government. From 1980 to 1982, she was the reading clerk for the Alabama House of Representatives. She also served as Assistant Director of the Alabama Development Office from 1982 to 1985.

In 1982, Ivey ran for State Auditor as a Democrat but did not win. From 1985 to 1998, she was the Director of Government Affairs and Communications for the Alabama Commission on Higher Education.

Serving as State Treasurer (2003–2011)

Kay Ivey being sworn in for her second term as State Treasurer by Jeff Sessions in 2007

Kay Ivey became the State Treasurer in 2003. She won against Stephen Black in the 2002 election. In 2006, she was re-elected. She was the first Republican to be elected state treasurer since the Reconstruction era.

As Treasurer, Ivey oversaw the Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (PACT) program. This program promised families that their investment would cover college tuition. However, college costs increased a lot, making the program difficult to manage. The Alabama state legislature later helped to support the program financially.

Serving as Lieutenant Governor (2011–2017)

Kay Ivey with Martha Roby, Robert J. Bentley, and Terri Sewell in 2014

The Alabama Constitution limits how many terms a person can serve as State Treasurer. So, Ivey could not run for a third term in 2010. She decided to run for lieutenant governor instead.

In the June 2010 primary election, Ivey won the Republican nomination. In November 2010, she defeated the Democratic incumbent, Jim Folsom Jr.. This was part of a big win for Republicans in statewide offices.

In 2014, Ivey was reelected as lieutenant governor. She won against Stan Cooke in the Republican primary. Then, she defeated Democratic candidate James C. Fields in the general election. This was the first time a Republican was reelected lieutenant governor in Alabama's history.

Governor of Alabama (2017–Present)

Kay Ivey with Vice President Mike Pence during his visit to Alabama, October 2018

Becoming Governor and First Actions

Kay Ivey speaking in 2017

Kay Ivey became governor on April 10, 2017, after Robert J. Bentley resigned. She is the second woman to serve as governor of Alabama. The first was Lurleen Wallace, who was governor from 1967 to 1968.

In April 2017, Ivey signed a law about the death penalty. This law stopped judges from changing a jury's recommendation for the death penalty. Before this, Alabama was the only state where a judge could overrule a jury's decision.

In May 2017, Ivey signed several other bills into law:

A bill to speed up death penalty appeals.
A bill to protect old monuments, streets, or buildings from being removed or renamed. This included Confederate monuments.
A bill to ban "crossover voting" in primary elections.
A bill allowing religious adoption agencies to refuse placing children with gay couples.

In September 2017, Ivey announced she would run for a full term as governor in the 2018 election.

U.S. Senate Special Election (2017)

When U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions resigned, Governor Bentley appointed Luther Strange to fill the seat temporarily. Governor Ivey then set a special election for December 12, 2017.

After Roy Moore won the Republican nomination for the Senate seat, there were serious accusations against him. Many Republicans stopped supporting him. Ivey stated that she would still vote for Moore to help keep the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate. Moore lost the election to Democrat Doug Jones. Ivey and Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill certified the election results.

Economic and Education Policies

Supporting Alabama's Economy

On April 6, 2018, Ivey signed a bill to help economic development professionals. She said it would help Alabama attract new businesses and create jobs. She also signed a bill to collect sales taxes from online purchases made through companies like Amazon. This helps local stores compete fairly.

Ivey has also supported the auto industry in Alabama. She asked the U.S. Secretary of Commerce not to put extra taxes on cars and car parts. These companies employ many people in Alabama.

Improving Education in Schools

In October 2018, Ivey announced a plan to improve STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education. She formed a council to study how to prepare students for jobs in these fields. STEM jobs are expected to grow fast and pay well.

In March 2024, Ivey signed a bill that affects public education. It prevents teachers from making students agree with "divisive concepts." It also stops public money from being used for DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) efforts. Ivey said she supports diversity but wants to prevent political movements on college campuses that go against what most Alabamians believe.

Ivey also supported the Education Trust Fund budget in May 2024. She said it invests wisely in education and helps projects like the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences.

LGBT Rights and Firearm Policies

Laws on LGBT Rights

In May 2017, Ivey signed a bill that allows religious agencies to refuse to place adopted children with LGBTQ families.

In April 2021, she signed a bill that bans transgender girls from playing on girls' sports teams in Alabama schools.

In April 2022, Ivey signed two more bills about transgender issues. One bill makes it illegal for doctors to provide certain medical care to anyone under 19. Doctors who do so could face prison time and fines. The other law requires students to use bathrooms that match the sex they were assigned at birth. It also limits discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Gun Laws in Alabama

In May 2018, Ivey approved a program called the Alabama Sentry Program. This program allows qualified school administrators to carry guns at schools. They can use lethal force to protect students and staff from armed intruders.

In March 2022, Ivey signed House Bill 272, also known as constitutional carry. This law means people no longer need a permit to carry a handgun hidden from view. Ivey said this law supports the right of law-abiding gun owners.

Health Care and COVID-19 Response

Health Care Access

In March 2018, Ivey announced that Alabama would ask for permission to add work requirements for some Medicaid benefits. She said this would save taxpayer money and help those truly in need.

In October 2018, Ivey announced a new care-management program for Medicaid recipients. This program helps improve long-term care services for about 23,000 Alabamians. Ivey wants all Alabamians to receive good health care, no matter their financial situation.

Ivey has said she does not support expanding Medicaid at this time.

Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic

On March 13, 2020, Ivey declared a state of emergency because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She later issued a stay-at-home order on April 3, 2020.

In May 2021, Ivey made it illegal for businesses and public places in Alabama to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination. In July 2021, she urged Alabamians to get vaccinated, saying it would help stop the spread of the disease. In October 2021, she ordered state agencies not to follow federal vaccine requirements.

Election Security and Reelection

Protecting Elections from AI

In May 2024, Ivey signed a bill into law to prevent the use of fake media created by artificial intelligence (AI) in election campaigns. This law makes it a crime to share AI-generated "deepfakes" that show a person saying or doing something they didn't. This law helps make sure information in elections is truthful.

Running for Reelection

In June 2021, Kay Ivey announced she would run for a second full term as governor. She faced many challengers in the Republican primary.

During her campaign, Ivey released an advertisement that talked about the idea that the 2020 presidential election was "stolen." She won the Republican primary and was reelected in the general election with a large percentage of the votes.

Government Transparency

In January 2023, Ivey signed an executive order to make state government more open. It requires agencies to respond to requests for public records. However, soon after, the Alabama Department of Transportation tried to stop the release of communications between its director and Ivey's office. Ivey supported this effort to keep those records private.

Personal Life

Kay Ivey has been married and divorced twice. She does not have any children. Her first marriage was to Ben LaRavia. She is a member of First Baptist Church in Montgomery.

In 2019, Ivey was diagnosed with lung cancer. She received treatment and was declared cancer-free in January 2020. She said she was confident in "God’s plan and purpose for my life."

Images for kids

Kay Ivey becoming State Treasurer in 2003
Kay Ivey being sworn in for her second term as State Treasurer by Jeff Sessions in 2007
Kay Ivey with Martha Roby, Robert J. Bentley, and Terri Sewell in 2014
Kay Ivey with Vice President Mike Pence during his visit to Alabama, October 2018
Kay Ivey speaking in 2017