Elisabeth Jensen

Elisabeth Jensen is an education advocate and the Democratic Party nominee for Kentucky's 6th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 2014.

Elisabeth Jensen
Personal details
BornFort Wayne, Indiana
Political partyKentucky Democratic Party
Spouse(s)Marc A. Guilfoil
ChildrenWill
ResidenceLexington, Kentucky
OccupationEducation advocate
WebsiteElisabeth for Kentucky

Early life and career

Elisabeth Jensen was born in Indiana and graduated from Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis after attending Aiglon College. Jensen earned a degree in design and merchandising from the Wood Tobé-Coburn School and attended the Fashion Institute of Technology.[1][2] Jensen was an executive for Disney Consumer Products but, as a lifelong horse enthusiast, decided to move to Kentucky in order to work with Thoroughbreds. In 2000, Jensen became the manager of Tracy Farmer's stables and later managed public relations for WinStar Farm.[2][3] In 2002, Jensen co-founded The Race for Education, an organization that provides services such as scholarships and financial literacy training to students with financial needs. The Race for Education has provided over $5 million in scholarships and education programs and has earned recognition from the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Jensen founded another organization in 2009 called Starting Gate, an after-school organization for middle school students that is currently offered in Fayette and Bourbon counties. She has also been involved in an organization called Unique that provides support for families with children that have unique and chromosome disorders.[4]

Jensen graduated from Emerge Kentucky, a political-training program for women. She has served as a volunteer for several political campaigns, including Gov. Steve Beshear and U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, and was an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2012.[5] In 2011, Gov. Steve Beshear appointed Jensen to the Kentucky Department of Education's State Advisory Panel for Exceptional Children.[6][7]

2014 Congressional campaign
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 2014

In December 2013, Jensen filed to run for the Democratic nomination for Kentucky's 6th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 2014. Jensen was seen as the front-runner for the Democratic nomination and was endorsed by Adam Edelen, Jack Conway, Jerry Abramson, John Yarmuth, Emily's List, Teamsters, UFCW, AFGE, NALC, Pam Miller, Reggie Thomas, Sannie Overly, and Susan Westrom.[3][8][9][10] In March 2014, Jensen received endorsements from the AFL-CIO, United Automobile Workers, and the Kentucky Building and Trades Council.[11] In May 2014, Jensen was endorsed by Governor Steve Beshear and The Lexington Herald-Leader.[12][13] Jensen won the Democratic nomination in the primary with 61% of the vote.[14][15] After the primary, Jensen's campaign received attention from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee which placed her campaign on their "Emerging Races" initiative.[16][17]

Jensen's campaign received national attention due to Jensen's decision to campaign based on the success of Kynect, Kentucky's health insurance marketplace created in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[18][19][20] On May 12, 2014, Jensen appeared on All In with Chris Hayes to discuss Kynect.[21] Barr defeated Jensen in the general election by 60% to 40%.

References
  1. Release, Press (November 17, 2013). "GOOD NEWS FRIDAY: THE RACE FOR EDUCATION". paulickreport.com. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  2. Brammer, Jack (December 17, 2013). "Elisabeth Jensen officially enters 6th Congressional District race". Bluegrass Politics. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  3. Youngman, Sam (January 24, 2014). "Democrat Elisabeth Jensen faces tough battle to unseat U.S. Rep. Andy Barr". Kentucky.com. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  4. Release, Press (December 17, 2013). "KY: JENSEN FILES TO RUN AS DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR 6TH DISTRICT". paulickreport.com. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  5. Musgrave, Beth (June 17, 2013). "Education advocate Elisabeth Jensen to challenge U.S. Rep. Andy Barr". Kentucky.com. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  6. "Beshear makes appointments to education boards, commissions". KentuckyTeacher.org. September 29, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  7. "Governor Beshear makes appointment to Boards and Commissions". migration.kentucky.gov. October 5, 2012. Archived from the original on February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  8. Mitchell, Wendy (January 28, 2014). "Candidates meet filing deadline throughout region". Maysville Online. Archived from the original on January 30, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  9. Democrats, Knowledge (January 19, 2014). "KY-06: Campaign Kickoff Rally for Elisabeth Jensen -Dem Challenger to Rep. Barr- Jan 25 in Lexington". Daily Kos. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  10. "Emerge Kentucky Graduate Files for Congress". Elect Women. December 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  11. "AFL-CIO, UAW, Building Trades Endorse Elisabeth Jensen". Berea Online. March 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  12. "GOV. BESHEAR ENDORSES ELISABETH". Elisabeth for Kentucky. May 7, 2014. Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  13. "Choose Jensen for 6th District". Lexington Herald-Leader. May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  14. Cheves, John (May 20, 2014). "Democrat Elisabeth Jensen to square off against U.S. Rep Andy Barr in the fall". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  15. Politics, Pure (May 20, 2014). "U.S. House primaries: Jensen to face Barr in 6th District; Rematches elsewhere". cn 2. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  16. Youngman, Sam (June 6, 2014). "National Democrats put Elisabeth Jensen on their radar screen". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  17. Livingston, Abby (June 6, 2014). "DCCC Promotes Nine Candidates to 'Red to Blue' Program for 2014". Roll Call. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  18. "Democratic Candidates Grow More Vocal in Supporting Health Law". New York Times. April 24, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  19. Parks, MaryAlice (April 24, 2014). "Three Women (Start to) Run on Obamacare". ABC News. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  20. Miller, Jonathan (April 22, 2014). "Meet the Kentucky Dem Running On, Not From, Obamacare". The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  21. "People more favorable to Kynect vs. Obamacare". MSNBC. May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
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