| Steven Rudy | |
| Office: | Majority Leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives |
| Term Start: | January 5, 2021 |
| Predecessor: | Bam Carney |
| State House1: | Kentucky |
| District1: | 1st |
| Term Start1: | January 1, 2005 |
| Predecessor1: | Charles Geveden |
| Birth Name: | Steven Jack Rudy |
| Birth Date: | 9 August 1978 |
| Party: | Republican |
| Residence: | Paducah, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Education: | West Kentucky Community and Technical College Murray State University (BA) |
| Committees: | Committee on CommitteesRules EnrollmentBanking and Insurance |
Steven Jack Rudy (born August 9, 1978) is a Kentucky politician and agribusiness owner, serving as a Republican member of the Kentucky House of Representatives since defeating longtime Representative Charles Geveden in 2004.[1] He has served as the House Majority Leader since 2021.
Steven Jack Rudy was born to Methodists, parents Jack and Jeanette Rudy of Ballard County on August 9, 1978. Rudy was educated in the Ballard County School system, and graduated from Ballard Memorial High School in 1996. Rudy attended college at the former Paducah Community College (now West Kentucky Community and Technical College) and graduated from Murray State University in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in Agriculture Education. While at Murray he was a member of the Future Farmers of America.[2]
In the 2008 session of the Kentucky General Assembly, Rudy introduced legislation that would allow for nuclear plants to be built in Kentucky without having a permanent waste disposal facility, in an attempt to end the state's moratorium on nuclear power plants.[3] The legislation did not pass.
In the 2009 regular session of the Kentucky General Assembly Rudy refiled legislation to lift the moratorium on nuclear power plants. The General Assembly adjourned sine die that year without the matter passing the house. However, the moratorium was lifted during the 2017 regular session with the passage of the Robert J. Lepper Act; Rudy voted in favor of the bill's passage.[4]
In late 2003, Rudy declared his candidacy for the 2004 election for State Representative in Kentucky's 1st Legislative House District. Running against Representative Charles Geveden of Wickliffe a former prosecutor and Chair of the House State Government Committee with 17 years of service. Rudy launched a campaign against Geveden, sending out mailers before the election stating that Geveden was in favor of many liberal social positions.
During the 2004 Kentucky House of Representatives election, Rudy was buoyed by strong returns from McCracken County and defeated Geveden by around 1500 votes to be the first ever Republican elected to the seat.
Rudy won re-election in 2006, defeating retired Coast Guard veteran Thomas French by over 2000 votes.
Rudy was challenged in 2008 by McCracken County Circuit Clerk Mike Lawrence, a Vietnam War veteran who has won two Bronze Stars and served as a reservist for 24 years. Rudy won the re-election bid by over 1200 votes.[5]
Rudy was unopposed for the 2010 republican primary, and won the 2010 Kentucky House of Representatives election by 2,690 votes against Democratic candidate Mike Lawrence.
Rudy was unopposed for the 2012 republican primary and 2012 Kentucky House of Representatives election.
Rudy was unopposed for the 2014 republican primary and 2014 Kentucky House of Representatives election.
Rudy was unopposed for the 2016 republican primary, and won the 2016 Kentucky House of Representatives election by 8,083 votes against Democratic candidate Michael Murphy.
Rudy was unopposed for the 2018 republican primary, and won the 2018 Kentucky House of Representatives election by 5,605 votes against Democratic candidate Desiree Owen.
Rudy won the 2020 republican primary by 2,715 votes against challenger Carroll Hubbard, and was unopposed in the 2020 Kentucky House of Representatives election.
Rudy won the 2022 republican primary by 782 votes against challenger Christopher Tucker, and was unopposed in the 2022 Kentucky House of Representatives election.
Rudy was unopposed for the 2024 republican primary, and will face Democratic candidate Frederick Fountain during the 2024 Kentucky House of Representatives election on November 5.