Kay Floyd Explained

Kay Floyd
Office:Minority Leader of the Oklahoma Senate
Term Start:November 16, 2018
Predecessor:John Sparks
State Senate1:Oklahoma
District1:46th
Term Start1:November 16, 2014
Predecessor1:Al McAffrey
State House2:Oklahoma
District2:88th
Term Start2:November 14, 2012
Term End2:November 16, 2014
Predecessor2:Al McAffrey
Successor2:Jason Dunnington
Party:Democratic
Education:Oklahoma State University, Stillwater (BA)
University of Oklahoma (JD)

P. Kay Floyd (born 1958/1959) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who has represented the 46th district in the Oklahoma Senate since 2014. She has served as the Minority Leader of the Oklahoma Senate since succeeding John Sparks in 2018. She previously served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives representing the 88th district between 2012 and 2014.

Early life, education, and legal career

Floyd was born in 1958 or 1959.[1] She received a B.S. in Psychology from Oklahoma State University in 1980, followed by a J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1983.[2] Floyd previously served as a municipal court judge in Oklahoma City, administrative law judge, assistant attorney general, and on the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission.

Oklahoma legislature

Floyd is the first openly lesbian representative elected to the Oklahoma legislature, and the second LGBT person following Sen. Al McAffrey, who she succeeded in both the House and the Senate.[3]

Oklahoma House

She was first elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in the 2012 state election and took office on November 15, 2012.[4]

Oklahoma Senate

In 2014, Floyd was elected to the Oklahoma Senate representing the 46th district after defeating Wilfredo Santos Rivera in the Democratic primary. No non-Democratic candidates filed in the race.[5]

In 2018, she was elected Minority Leader of the Oklahoma Senate. Julia Kirt was elected to succeed her in November 2024.[6]

In 2023, she took part in a ceremony to honor the National Guard.[7] She was term limited in 2024, triggering a special election.[8]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Candidate filings as of Thursday, April 12 . 3 June 2024 . . April 12, 2018.
  2. Web site: Representative Kay Floyd's Biography. Project Vote Smart. 16 December 2012.
  3. News: Weston . Shawn . Kay Floyd wins runoff, set to become Oklahoma's 1st lesbian legislator . June 2, 2024 . . 29 August 2012.
  4. News: McNutt . Michael . Oklahoma House members take oath of office. . November 15, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150117000736/http://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/2012/11/15/oklahoma-house-members-take-oath-of-office-%5bthe-oklahoman-oklahoma-city%5d-a-364244.html#.VLmnzXbP32c . January 17, 2015.
  5. News: Paul . Pam . Rep. Lankford wins, Sen. Johnson continues her fight, Floyd elected, other races continue into the fall . 2 June 2024 . Oklahoma City Sentinel . 4 July 2014 . en.
  6. News: Forman . Carmen . Oklahoma Senate Democrats select Julia Kirt as new minority leader . 2 June 2024 . . December 14, 2023.
  7. Web site: In joint session, Oklahoma Legislature recognizes National Guard . 2023-04-13 . Oklahoma City Sentinel . 11 April 2023 . en.
  8. News: Savage . Tres . Oklahoma State Senate races outlined as filing ends . 2 June 2024 . NonDoc . 5 April 2024.