Kathy Barnette Explained

Kathy Barnette
Birth Name:Kathy Jean Barnette
Birth Date:6 September 1971
Birth Place:Alabama, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Carl[1]
Children:2
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Army
Rank:Specialist
Unit:United States Army Reserve
National Guard

Kathy Jean Barnette (born September 6, 1971) is an American politician and political commentator. A member of the Republican Party, she ran for the United States House of Representatives in Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district in 2020, and unsuccessfully sought the party's nomination in the 2022 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania.[2] She has espoused homophobic and Islamophobic views, and has promoted conspiracy theories.[1] [3] [4] [5]

Early life

Barnette's mother was raped at the age of 11 by a 21-year-old man. Her mother became pregnant as a result of the rape, which led to Barnette's birth on September 6, 1971, in Alabama.[6] She was raised by her mother on a pig farm in the south of the state, in a house where her great-great-great-grandmother, who was born a slave, formerly lived.[7]

She received an undergraduate degree in finance from Troy State University, and an M.B.A. from Fontbonne University.[8] Barnette served seven years in the United States Army Reserve and United States National Guard.

Professional career

Barnette worked as a corporate financial analyst.[9] [10] [11] Barnette's entry into political commentary began with political videos on Facebook. The videos led her to becoming an occasional guest on Fox & Friends. She also became a regular commentator on Philadelphia conservative radio. Barnette has made frequent appearances on One America News Network and Newsmax as well.

Political career

Barnette entered politics by running for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district in the 2020 election. She was unopposed in the Republican primary. She lost the general election to incumbent Madeleine Dean and initially refused to concede. While later saying she had accepted the results of the election, Barnette continued to raise doubts about her own election and the wider 2020 presidential election.[12] [13] [14]

On Election Day, Barnette filed a lawsuit against Montgomery County election officials claiming that the county violated state laws on pre-canvassing ballots prior to the opening of polls by notifying voters of potential problems with their mail-in ballots. Her attorneys then withdrew the lawsuit.[15]

Barnette had a close relationship with My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell for a time. Lindell said of Barnette in June 2021, "She is just an amazing person" and "I never heard of anyone being so tenacious."

Barnette announced she would run to fill retiring Senator Pat Toomey's seat in early April 2021, and received endorsements from Michael Flynn and Sebastian Gorka.[16] [17] She raised about $600,000 by June 30, 2021, more than Sean Parnell or Jeff Bartos, the front runners at the time. She surged in the polls in late March 2022 and started receiving significant attention from news outlets in May.

Barnette began to receive scrutiny over past tweets she had made, including some spreading the conspiracy theory that former President Barack Obama is a Muslim, and others that have been described as homophobic and Islamophobic. In a 2015 YouTube video, Barnette said that it is okay to discriminate against Muslims and compared rejecting Islam to "rejecting Hitler's or Stalin's worldviews." In comments on her radio show, she said that accepting homosexuality would lead to accepting pedophilia and incest. In one post, she called a transgender person "deformed" and "demonic."[18] [19] [20] [21]

On May 15, 2022, images surfaced showing that Barnette had participated in the "Stop the Steal" rally that preceded the 2021 United States Capitol insurrection; though her campaign has denied participating in any acts of violence, she has stated that she "brought" three buses of "pissed off patriots" to the rally.[22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]

Barnette finished third in the 2022 primary, behind Mehmet Oz and David McCormick, a loss she blamed on comments made by Fox News host Sean Hannity.[28] [29] In October 2022, she stated that she would vote for Oz in the election, but declined to endorse him.[30]

Barnette announced she would not run for the Senate again in 2024.[31] [32] [33] As of 2023, she was involved in Vivek Ramaswamy's presidential campaign.[34]

Political positions

According to The Tennessee Star, in 2022 Barnette ran "on a platform emphasizing free-market health care, border security, school choice, domestic energy production, tax reform, and protection of the unborn."[35]

Barnette is opposed to abortion, including in cases of rape and incest, citing her own life as "the product of a rape" as inspiration.

Personal life

Barnette is married to Carl, and has two children. She stated that she has been a Christian since she was about 19 years old.[8]

Published works

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Tully . Tracey . In Pennsylvania, a Hard-Right Candidate's Star Rises . 18 May 2022 . . 13 May 2022 . 18 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220518003617/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/13/us/elections/kathy-barnette-pennsylvania-senate.html . live.
  2. Web site: WFMZ-TV . 7 April 2021 . Kathy Barnette enters race for US Senate in Pennsylvania . 16 May 2022 . WFMZ.com . en . 13 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220513193918/https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/pennsylvania/kathy-barnette-enters-race-for-us-senate-in-pennsylvania/article_9192038e-97c0-11eb-a2ae-8f050714a62d.html . live .
  3. Web site: Kaczynski. Andrew. Steck. Em. 13 May 2022. Surging GOP candidate Kathy Barnette has long history of bigoted statements against gays and Muslims. CNN. 17 May 2022. 17 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220517193429/https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/12/politics/kfile-kathy-barnette-bigoted-statements/index.html. live.
  4. Web site: Garcia. Eric. Who is Kathy Barnette, the Black woman running for Pennsylvania Senate?. 17 May 2022. The Independent. 17 May 2022. 17 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220517195432/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/kathy-barnette-republican-senate-pennsylvania-b2081173.html. live.
  5. Web site: The New "Ultra-MAGA" Contender in Pennsylvania's Senate Primary. Jim. Newell. 14 May 2022. Slate. 17 May 2022. 17 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220517195736/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/05/kathy-barnette-is-surging-in-pennsylvanias-republican-primary.html. live.
  6. News: Merica. Dan. Orr. Gabby. 13 May 2022. Barnette's quick rise has Republicans reeling over potential upset and what it could mean for November. 17 May 2022. CNN. 16 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220516235734/https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/13/politics/kathy-barnette-pennsylvania-senate-primary/index.html. live.
  7. Web site: Seidman . Andrew . 26 July 2021 . Inside a hunt for voter fraud on Philly's Main Line and the conspiracy world that embraced it . 19 May 2022 . The Philadelphia Inquirer . en . 26 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210726170915/https://www.inquirer.com/news/a/pennsylvania-voter-fraud-audit-kathy-barnette-20210726.html . live .
  8. News: Kassal. Matthew. Kathy Barnette presents a different side. Jewish Insider. 16 May 2022. 18 May 2022. 18 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220518001948/https://jewishinsider.com/2022/05/kathy-barnette-presents-a-different-side/. live.
  9. Web site: Burnley . Malcolm . 31 October 2020 . The Loneliness of the Black Female Republican . 17 May 2022 . POLITICO . en . 18 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220518021358/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/10/31/kathy-barnette-loneliness-black-female-republican-433344 . live .
  10. Web site: Bio . 16 May 2022 . Kathy Barnette . en-US . 16 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220516022726/https://barnetteforsenate.com/bio/ . live .
  11. Web site: Mayorquin . Orlando . 13 May 2022 . Who is Kathy Barnette? The GOP candidate surging late in Pennsylvania Senate race . 16 May 2022 . USA TODAY . en-US . 16 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220516014307/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/05/13/who-kathy-barnette-senate-candidate-pennsylvania/9766567002/ . live .
  12. Web site: Heinze. Justin. 4 November 2020. Barnette Doesn't Concede To Dean: 'The Enemy Will Be Thwarted'. 16 May 2022. Abington, PA Patch. en. 15 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220515152206/https://patch.com/pennsylvania/abington/barnette-doesnt-concede-dean-enemy-will-be-thwarted. live.
  13. Web site: Doherty . Erin . 12 May 2022 . What to know about the GOP Senate candidate who Trump has warned against . 16 May 2022 . Axios . en . 16 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220516233523/https://www.axios.com/2022/05/12/kathy-barnette-pennsylvania-republican-senate . live .
  14. . April 25, 2022 . Pennsylvania Republican Primary Senate Debate . November 20, 2022 . 26:04-26:43, 33:02-33:39, 34:52-35:16 . . November 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221120135956/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYUPDEw4yY8 . live .
  15. Web site: Ullery . Chris . 5 November 2020 . Barnette withdraws lawsuit against Montgomery County election officials . 19 May 2022 . Bucks County Courier Times . en-US . 30 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220630071932/https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/story/news/2020/11/05/barnette-withdraws-mail-ballot-lawsuit-montgomery-county-election/6176910002/ . live .
  16. Web site: Barnette . Kathy . 5 April 2021 . Kathy Barnette for US Senate - YouTube . 16 May 2022 . www.youtube.com . 16 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220516233523/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U06_u4nZCI&ab_channel=KathyBarnetteforSenate . live .
  17. Web site: Gorka . Sebastian . 6 April 2021 . Sebastian Gorka Tweet . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210406155050/https://twitter.com/SebGorka/status/1379461448204750850 . 6 April 2021 . Twitter.
  18. Web site: Walsh . Sean Collins . 15 May 2022 . Kathy Barnette says tweets under scrutiny in Pa. Senate race were 'not even full thoughts' . 2022-05-16 . The Philadelphia Inquirer . en . 2022-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220515163832/https://www.inquirer.com/politics/republican-kathy-barnette-social-media-islam-us-senate-pennsylvania-20220515.html . live .
  19. News: Paybarah . Azi . 2022-05-15 . Kathy Barnette Says She 'Can't Provide a Lot of Context' for Her Anti-Islamic Tweets . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-05-16 . 0362-4331 . 2022-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220515233340/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/15/us/politics/kathy-barnette-islam-tweets.html . live .
  20. Web site: 13 May 2022 . Kathy Barnette on past Islamophobic tweets: 'I would never have said that' . 16 May 2022 . MSNBC.com . en . 15 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220515100414/https://www.msnbc.com/mtp-daily/watch/kathy-barnette-on-past-islamophobic-tweets-i-would-never-have-said-that-139954757725 . live .
  21. Web site: Joseph . Cameron . 16 May 2022 . Conspiracy Theorists Are on the Cusp of Sweeping Pennsylvania's GOP Primaries . www.vice.com . 17 May 2022 . 17 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220517201812/https://www.vice.com/en/article/pkpjp9/pennsylvania-republican-primaries-doug-mastriano-kathy-barnette . live .
  22. Web site: Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck . 16 May 2022 . Barnette said she was leading buses to DC for 'our 1776 moment' on January 6, 2021 . CNN . 17 May 2022 . 17 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220517210755/https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/16/politics/kathy-barnette-1776-moment-january-6-kfile/index.html . live .
  23. Web site: Wilson . Christopher . 16 May 2022 . Photos show GOP Senate candidate Kathy Barnette marching with Proud Boys on Jan. 6 . 2022-05-16 . news.yahoo.com . en-US . 2022-05-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220516164024/https://news.yahoo.com/photos-show-gop-senate-candidate-kathy-banette-marching-with-proud-boys-on-jan-6-163000524.html . live .
  24. News: Ax . Joseph . 16 May 2022 . Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Barnette marched alongside Proud Boys on Jan. 6, report says . en . Reuters . 16 May 2022 . 16 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220516172304/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/republican-us-senate-hopeful-barnette-marched-alongside-proud-boys-jan-6-report-2022-05-16/ . live .
  25. Alter . Charlotte . Kathy Barnette Is the Trumpiest Candidate Who Wasn't Endorsed by Trump . 18 May 2022 . Time . 16 May 2022 . en . 17 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220517223546/https://time.com/6177232/kathy-barnette-pennsylvania-senate-republican-primary/ . live .
  26. Web site: Metzger . Bryan . 16 May 2022 . GOP congressman who's been subpoenaed by the January 6 committee is backing Kathy Barnette, a PA Senate candidate who marched with Proud Boys in DC . Business Insider . 17 May 2022 . 17 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220517200751/https://www.businessinsider.com/freedom-caucus-scott-perry-kathy-barnette-pennsylvania-senate-january-6-2022-5 . live .
  27. Web site: 15 May 2022 . Kathy Barnette shakes up US Senate race on back of abortion debate . Financial Times . 17 May 2022 . 17 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220517201124/https://www.ft.com/content/995c1d44-dad5-4b6a-afcc-800ba33f79e0 . live .
  28. News: Itkowitz . Colby . Trump urges Oz to 'declare victory' before vote tally complete in Pa. . 19 May 2022 . . 18 May 2022 . 18 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220518153016/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/05/18/oz-mccormick-trump-pennsylvania/ . live .
  29. Web site: Lonas . Lexi . 18 May 2022 . Barnette blames Sean Hannity for loss in Pennsylvania . 24 May 2022 . The Hill . en-US . 24 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220524090239/https://thehill.com/news/campaign/3493158-barnette-blames-sean-hannity-for-loss-in-pennsylvania/ . live .
  30. News: Brennan. Chris. Kathy Barnette slams GOP 'elites,' calls Mehmet Oz 'lesser of two evils,' will vote for him. Inquirer. 14 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221014114337/https://www.inquirer.com/politics/clout/mehmet-oz-john-fetterman-kathy-barnette-senate-josh-shapiro-doug-mastriano-governor-20221014.html. 14 October 2022.
  31. News: Lippman . Daniel . Otterbein . Holly . MAGA favorite Kathy Barnette says she won't run again for Senate . 26 May 2023 . . 15 March 2023 .
  32. News: Stockburger . George . Kathy Barnette not running for Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate seat: Report . 26 May 2023 . abc27 . 15 March 2023 .
  33. News: King . Ryan . Kathy Barnette bows out of 2024 Pennsylvania Senate consideration: 'I am not interested' . 26 May 2023 . . 15 March 2023 .
  34. Web site: Catanese . David . 'We should talk.' How Kathy Barnette came to advise Vivek Ramaswamy's presidential campaign . McClatchy DC. 23 January 2024 . 11 August 2023.
  35. News: Vasoli . Bradley . Pennsylvania Senate Candidate Barnette's Wikipedia Article Pulled . 18 May 2022 . . 12 May 2022 . 12 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220512054822/https://tennesseestar.com/2022/05/12/pennsylvania-senate-candidate-barnettes-wikipedia-article-pulled/ . live .

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