Ryan Dotson Explained

Ryan Dotson
Birth Date: November 22, 1972
State House:Kentucky
District:73rd
Term Start:January 1, 2021
Predecessor:Les Yates
Party:Republican (after 2012)Democratic (before 2012)
Birth Place:Pikeville, Kentucky
Residence:Winchester, Kentucky
Committees:Health Services (Vice Chair)
Natural Resources & Energy
Small Business & Information Technology
Tourism & Outdoor Recreation

D. Ryan Dotson (born November 22, 1972) is an American politician serving as a Republican member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from Kentucky's 73rd House district. His district includes Clark County and part of Fayette County.[1]

Background

Dotson was born on November 22, 1972, in Pikeville, Kentucky. He graduated from Phelps High School before attending community college in West Virginia. Dotson then enlisted in the United States Army, where he served as a radiologist. After leaving the army, he worked for a short time at the University of Kentucky's Albert B. Chandler Hospital before moving to Winchester, Kentucky.[2]

While briefly involved in real estate, Dotson currently owns a daycare as well as numerous restaurants located in Winchester, Mount Sterling, Lexington, and Somerset.

Dotson identifies as a Pentecostal, and serves as senior pastor of Lighthouse World Outreach Center.

Vanderpump rules

In 2019, Dotson was scheduled to appear on an episode of Vanderpump Rules, a spin-off of the reality TV series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, to officiate the wedding of stars Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright. Dotson was later removed from the position after tweets resurfaced that were characterized as anti-LGBT and transphobic. While still invited as a guest, Dotson chose not to attend.[3]

Political career

Party switch

According to Dotson, he was raised in an environment surrounded by ancestral Democrats, where belonging to the party of Andrew Jackson and Harry S. Truman was "natural." However, Dotson switched his registration to the Republican party in 2012, citing Ronald Reagan in that the party had left him and "drifted too far left."

Legislative activities

On June 11, 2021, Dotson authored legislation that would ban transgender women from playing on women's sports teams in Kentucky.[4]

Elections

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Legislator-Profile - Legislative Research Commission . 2024-08-12 . legislature.ky.gov.
  2. Web site: Patrick . Randy . 2020-09-21 . Christian values drive Dotson’s campaign . 2024-08-12 . Winchester Sun . en.
  3. Web site: Parker . Lara . This Pastor Who Has Made Transphobic And Homophobic Remarks Is Set To Make An Appearance On "Vanderpump Rules" . 2021-07-11 . BuzzFeed . en.
  4. Web site: Clark. Jess. Kentucky Lawmaker Wants To Keep Transgender Athletes Off Women's Sports Teams. 2021-07-11. www.wkyufm.org. en.
  5. Web site: Commonwealth of Kentucky May 18, 2010 Official Primary Election Results . August 12, 2024 . Kentucky State Board of Elections . 18.
  6. Web site: November 5, 2014 . Full Central Kentucky election results . August 12, 2024 . Lexington Herald-Leader.
  7. Web site: Commonwealth of Kentucky June 23, 2020 Official Primary Election Results . August 12, 2024 . Kentucky State Board of Elections . 36.
  8. Web site: Commonwealth of Kentucky November 3, 2020 Official General Election Results . August 12, 2024 . Kentucky State Board of Elections . 58.
  9. Web site: Ryan Dotson . 2024-08-12 . Ballotpedia . en.
  10. Web site: Commonwealth of Kentucky November 8, 2022 Official General Election Results . August 12, 2024 . Kentucky State Board of Elections . 61.