Amy Mcgrath Could Take Down Mitch Mcconnell But Their Race Is More Complicated Than It Seems
Earlier this month in what will likely be their only official face-off before Election Day Democratic Senate candidate Amy McGrath and Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell debated key issues impacting Kentucky voters, like racial injustice and police violence, lack of federal coronavirus relief, and McConnells enduring time in office. At one point during the debate, McConnell quipped that McGraths campaign could be summarized in a single sentence: She was a marine, a mom, and hes been there too long. Shortly after the debate, the phrase popped up on stickers in McGraths merch store.
The debate marked a sort of denouement for Kentuckians: The culmination of several years’ worth of McGrath’s campaign ads, and even more years of a McConnell reign.
Democrats are working tirelessly to get Mitch McConnell out of office, but for some Kentucky voters, his Democratic opponent feels like someone selected for Kentucky and not Kentucky, given the fundraising, national endorsements, and momentum behind her campaign even before the state got a say in its own race. And now, with just weeks until voters will decide the high stakes race that will have an impact at both the national and state levels, some worry that McGrath, while better than McConnell, is still not the best choice for progressive Kentuckians.
Return To The United States
In 2011, McGrath returned to the United States and was assigned as a congressional fellow for Representative Susan Davis‘s office in Washington, D.C., as a defense and foreign affairs advisor for a year. Davis was chair and ranking member on the Subcommittee on Military Personnel of the House Armed Services Committee.
From 2012 to 2014, McGrath worked at the Headquarters Marine Corps in The Pentagon, as a Marine Corps liaison to the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development.
From 2014 to 2017, McGrath taught as a senior political science instructor at the United States Naval Academy.
After reaching her 20-year service mark, McGrath retired from the armed forces on June 1, 2017, at the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Global War On Terrorism
Following the , President announced the . The stated objective of the Global War on Terror is “the defeat of , other terrorist groups and any nation that supports or harbors terrorists”. Since then, the Marine Corps, alongside the other military services, has engaged in global operations around the world in support of that mission.
In spring 2009, President ‘s goal of reducing spending in the Defense Department was led by Secretary in a series of budget cuts that did not significantly change the Corps’ budget and programs, cutting only the and resetting the program. However, the singled the Corps out for the brunt of a series of recommended cuts in late 2010. In light of , General set a goal of a force of 174,000 Marines. He testified that this was the minimum number that would allow for an effective response to even a single contingency operation, but it would reduce the peacetime ratio of time at home bases to time deployed down to a historical low level.
Afghanistan Campaign
Marines and other American forces began staging in Pakistan and Uzbekistan on the border of Afghanistan as early as October 2001 in preparation for . The and were some of the first conventional forces into Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in November 2001.
Operations in Africa
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Amy And Erik Raise Their Three Children Teddy George And Eleanor In Kentucky
Amy and Erik welcomed their three children, Teddy, George, and Eleanor, when the couple lived in Washington. The couple moved to Kentucky after they retired from their jobs in the military because Amy wanted her kids to grow up in the state where she grew up. The family currently lives in Georgetown, Kentucky.
Amy, Erik, and the kids form a tight-knit unit. McGrath uses a photo of her family having a good time as her header on and .
Relationship With Other Services
In general, the Marine Corps shares many resources with the other branches of the . However, the Corps has consistently sought to maintain its own identity with regard to mission, funding, and assets, while utilizing support available from the larger branches. While the Marine Corps has far fewer installations both in the U.S. and worldwide than the other branches, many , , and have a Marine presence. They also cross-train with other countries.
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Kentucky: Gop Senate Leader Mcconnell Handily Wins 7th Term
LOUISVILLE, Ky. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the chief congressional ally of President Donald Trump, defeated his Democratic challenger to capture a seventh term Tuesday and build on his legacy as Kentuckys longest-serving U.S. senator.
The 78-year-old McConnell won handily against Democrat Amy McGrath, a retired Marine combat pilot. McConnell played up his decades in the Senate as an asset for Kentucky while McGrath portrayed the veteran politician as personifying everything thats wrong with Washington.
McConnell declared victory with his wife, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, at his side.
The people of Kentucky had a clear choice and they sent a clear message, McConnell said. Tonight, Kentuckians said that challenging times need proven leadership.
Kentucky kept its front-row seat in the Senate with his victory, McConnell said. But what remained in doubt was whether hell spend the next two years as Senate majority or minority leader. Democrats made a strong push to reclaim the Senate in Tuesdays election.
As Trumps top ally on Capitol Hill, McConnell led efforts to defend Trump during his impeachment acquittal in the Senate and worked with the president on a tax overhaul.
Erik Henderson Earned An Mba While Serving In The Navy & Now Works For A Home
To my amazing husband, Erik. I got lucky when our paths crossed 15 years ago. You are so loved. Happy Birthday!
Amy McGrath
Erik Henderson studied economics at Clemson University. He earned his bachelors degree in 1995, according to his profile.
Despite all of his responsibilities within the U.S. Navy, and raising small children, Henderson also found the time to go back to school for a masters degree. He earned an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland in 2016.
According to the News-Graphic, a local newspaper in Georgetown, Kentucky, Henderson got a job in 2017 working with KRC Homes LLC. The firm designs and builds custom homes.
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Kentuckys Partisan Lean Makes Statewide Races Hard To Win For Democrats
In 2019, Andy Beshear pulled off a major win for Democrats by beating incumbent Matt Bevin for the governors seat. Beshears win, however, involved unique circumstances and likely is not a sign of lasting movement toward Democrats in the state, experts caution.
Bevin, for one, was disliked both by Democrats and some Republicans. A bombastic politician who pushed cuts to teachers pensions and Medicaid, Bevin took actions that provoked widespread protest, including several teachers strikes. Beshear, meanwhile, framed himself as an ally to educators and a moderate alternative to the incumbent. He also benefited from strong name recognition in the state since his father had previously served as governor.
The election of Beshear was somewhat anomalous because he had a Republican incumbent who had annoyed a lot of people, including Republicans, said Murray State University political science professor Jim Clinger.
While McConnell has pretty high disapproval ratings as well, he isnt disliked in quite the same way particularly by Republicans, a segment of whom McGrath would need to win over to flip the Senate seat. And even Republicans who may not be huge fans of McConnell recognize the importance of holding on to the seat to maintain GOP representation in the Senate, not to mention the benefits McConnell brings to the states profile.
Amys Husband Is A Republican Meaning He Did Not Vote For Amy During The Democratic Primaries
Amy and her husband, Erik Henderson, got married on 19th December 2009. Henderson served as a helicopter pilot for the U.S. navy. , he was stationed in Hawaii from 1999 to 2003. He then relocated to bases in Texas and Louisiana before moving to Washington D.C. to serve as an Assistant Operations Officer at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility.
Henderson retired from the force and is currently looking to move into the business sector. Amy and her husband have divergent political views as he is a Republican and she is a Democrat. Kentuckys strict partisan rules mean that a registered member of one political party cant vote in the primaries for another party.
Erik didnt vote for Amy in the party primaries, but he served as the treasurer in her campaign team. Amy and Erik thrive as a couple despite having divergent political views, and Amy hopes that people in America can have harmonious relationships despite their political inclinations. McGrath told the State Journal that one of the reasons why she ran for office was to help bridge the gap between Democrats and Republicans:
I think it was the combination of the 2016 election cycle, the fake news, the divisiveness, the labeling of each other. My husbands a lifelong Republican. Im a Democrat. Thats America. And I was so saddened to see the country so divided. I just felt like we need better leaders, because it does start at the top.
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Why Amy Mcgrath Could Cost Republicans The Us Senate Even If She Loses To Mitch Mcconnell
Kentucky Democrat Amy McGraths long-shot bid to unseat U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell could help undermine Republican efforts to retain their majority in the chamber, even if the former Marine Corps fighter pilot fails to beat McConnell in November.
Political analysts see the chances of Democrats winning enough seats to seize control of the Senate in the Nov. 3 U.S. election rising, with President Donald Trumps sliding poll numbers endangering a growing number of Republican incumbents.
McConnell, a tenacious political survivor, has endured election challenges in the past and is still expected to defeat McGrath, who on Tuesday emerged as her partys nominee to challenge him.
But McGrath has raised more campaign funds than McConnell and poses a threat. That means the Republican Party and Republican-aligned political action committees may be forced to spend more to bolster McConnells re-election bid than they may have planned, potentially limiting resources that could go to help incumbents in eight other states who are seen as vulnerable, analysts and officials from both parties said.
Its a very precarious situation for Republicans. There are multiple paths to a Democratic majority, and those increase with the presidents national polling numbers on the decline, said Jessica Taylor, a political analyst who tracks Senate races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES
Erik Henderson Moved Up The Ranks In The Navy & Became A Lieutenant Commander
Happy Anniversary to my amazing husband, Erik. It’s been an incredible ride so far. Here’s to more years of joy!
Amy McGrath
Erik Henderson moved to the Washington, D.C. area in 2009, the same year he and Amy McGrath got married. He was a C-12B pilot and Assistant Operations Officer at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility, according to his profile.
Henderson continued to receive promotions during his time in the nations capital. His other titles included Department Head for Manpower and Reserve Pay Naval Operational Support Command, Assistant Officer for Plans and Policy in the Office of the Chief of Naval Personnel, and Department Head for Administration.
Henderson has now retired from the service, but his Linkedin profile doesnt reflect that yet. He described himself as a transitioning Naval Aviator with 20 years of flying experience looking to move into the aviation or business sector.
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War Of 1812 And Afterward
HornetPenguin
During the , Marine detachments on Navy ships took part in some of the great frigate duels that characterized the war, which were the first and last engagements of the conflict. Their most significant contribution was holding the center of General ‘s defensive line at the 1815 , the final major battle and one of the most one-sided engagements of the war. With widespread news of the battle and the and , the final engagements between British and U.S. forces, the Marines had gained a reputation as expert , especially in defensive and ship-to-ship actions. They played a large role in the 1813 , New York and , Virginia, also taking part in the 1814 in the during one of the final British offensives along the Canadian-American border. The battle of Bladensburg, fought 24 August 1814, was one of the worst days for American arms, though a few units and individuals performed heroic service. Notable among them were Commodore Joshua Barneys 500 sailors and the 120 marines under Captain Samuel Miller USMC, who inflicted the bulk of British casualties and were the only effective American resistance during the battle. A final desperate Marine counter attack, with the fighting at close quarters, however was not enough Barney and Millers forces were overrun. In all of 114 Marines, 11 were killed and 16 wounded. During the battle Captain Miller’s arm was badly wounded, for his gallant service in action, Miller was brevetted to the rank of Major USMC.
United States Marine Corps
| United States Marine Corps |
|---|
| Emblem of the United States Marine Corps |
| Founded |
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| Part of |
| “Jarheads”, “”, “Teufel Hunden”, “Leathernecks” |
| Motto |
The United States Marine Corps , also referred to as the United States Marines, is the of the responsible for conducting and through , implementing its own , , , and forces. The U.S. Marine Corps is one of the eight .
The Marine Corps has been part of the since 30 June 1834 with its sister service, the . The USMC operates on land and aboard sea-going around the world. Additionally, several of the Marines’ tactical squadrons, primarily Marine Fighter Attack squadrons, are also embedded in Navy and operate from the .
The history of the Marine Corps began when two of were formed on 10 November 1775 in as a service branch of infantry troops capable of fighting both at sea and on shore. In the of the Corps took the lead in a massive campaign of amphibious warfare, . As of 2017, the USMC has around 182,000 active duty members and some 38,500 personnel in .
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On Her Catholic Faith
An Irish Catholic, McGrath grew up attending Catholic schools in Northern Kentucky and told Moody that her faith pushes her to work for âsocial justice.â
âItâs about making sure that we donât forget about the people who are left behind,â she said. âThings like the dignity of work â making sure that if you work, you should be able to have a wage that you could put food on the table and live a good life. Making sure that healthcare is a priority. Making sure that we take care of the environment. Workers rights. Making sure that we try to tackle poverty and take care of the least among us. Thatâs what my faith has taught us.â
Amy Mcgrath Is Airing A Pro
Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate Amy McGrath this week released a new television ad that features a supporter praising President Donald Trump and attacking her opponent, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
The ad is standard fare for McGrath, who needs to court Trump supporters to defeat McConnell in a state the president is likely to win by double-digits.
But it isnt running only in deep-red Kentucky. The ad is also appearing in the Cincinnati, Ohio, media market meaning a Democratic candidate is paying for a television spot praising Trump in a state where former Vice President Joe Bidens campaign is spending millions of dollars to win in November.
I worry about losing my job every day, a man identified as John W. from Paducah, Ky., says in the ad, which the McGrath campaign spent $200,000 to air in the Cincinnati market this week. Im voting for President Trump again, but I cannot vote for Mitch McConnell.
Mitch McConnell voted for 16 trade deals and sent those jobs overseas, and thats crap in my book, he adds. Thats basically stabbing the knife in my back, as well as all the other Kentuckians. Thirty-six years is long enough. If President Trump wants to drain the swamp, lets start with Mitch McConnell.
Im voting for Amy, John W. concludes.
The ad stopped airing in the northern Kentucky area on Thursday, the McGrath campaign said.
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Democrat Mcgrath Assails Mcconnell’s Leadership On Virus
Democrat Amy McGrath is laying the mounting toll of coronavirus cases and deaths in the U.S. at the feet of Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Democratic candidate Amy McGrath laid the mounting toll of coronavirus cases in the U.S. at the feet of Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday while declaring that the country needs people in power who take responsibility again.”
During a campaign event in Georgetown, Kentucky, the retired Marine pilot who is trying to block a seventh term for McConnell zeroed in on the senator’s response to the ongoing health crisis, calling it a dereliction of duty.” McGrath said an improved federal response is needed in testing and contact tracing to combat the virus.
We still dont have a plan to tackle it,” McGrath said. And he is the leader … that drove the train off the tracks. And hes got to go.
McGrath called out McConnell by name but made no mention of Republican President Donald Trump in her stinging critique. Trump remains popular in Kentucky, and McGrath will have to win over some Trump supporters to have a chance of defeating McConnell.
Despite trailing McConnell in the polls, McGraths blistering campaign fundraising pace continued in August, when she raised $8.7 million, her campaign said Tuesday. It was the most she has raised in any single month of the campaign.
