Jenean M. Hampton is the 57th and current Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky since December 8, 2015 after having won office as Republican gubernatorial nominee Matt Bevin"s running-mate, in the 2015 gubernatorial election.
Background
Hampton was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and one of four daughters born to Donald and Marie Hampton on May 12, 1958. Her parents divorced when she was seven years old in 1965, with her mother alone having to take care of the family. Her mother tried to work in order to take care of the family, but she struggled greatly as she lacked a high school diploma.
Education
Hampton graduated high school, and worked for five years in the automotive industry in order to help pay off college.
Career
She is the first African-American to hold any statewide office in Kentucky history. Her family lacked many luxuries, including a car. During her military service Hampton was stationed in San Antonio, Texas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and was deployed to Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia.
While stationed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Captain
Hampton was responsible for critical radar software used in both search and rescue missions and tracking enemy planes. After serving in the Air Force, she spent nineteen years working in the corrugated packaging industry, starting as a crew supervisor on the production floor, working her way up to quality and sales, and finally reaching the position of plant manager.
At the same time, she earned her Master of Business Administration at the University of Rochester, with concentrations in marketing, entrepreneurship and electronic commerce. Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
Hampton was selected by Matt Bevin as his running mate for Governor of Kentucky.
On November 3, 2015 Matt Bevin and Jenean Hampton defeated the Democratic ticket of Attorney General Jack Conway and State Representative Sannie Overly in the 2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election.
Politics
Hampton"s first run for a political office was in 2014, when she unsuccessfully challenged State Representative Jody Richards in Bowling Green. Hampton has been active in her local party and in the Tea Party Movement.