Derrick Graham (politician)
American politician (born 1958)
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Derrick Wayne Graham (born June 9, 1958) is an American politician and a former Democratic member of the Kentucky House of Representatives who represented the 57th district, which includes the Kentucky capital city of Frankfort, since January 2003.[1] In 2023, Graham became the first African American to lead a legislative caucus in the Kentucky House of Representatives.[2]
Derrick Graham | |
|---|---|
| |
| Minority Leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – January 1, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Joni Jenkins |
| Succeeded by | Pamela Stevenson |
| Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 57th district | |
| In office January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Gippy Graham |
| Succeeded by | Erika Hancock |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Derrick Wayne Graham June 9, 1958 Frankfort, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | Kentucky State University (BA) Ohio State University (MA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Graham did not seek reelection in 2024.[3]
Background
Graham earned his Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from Kentucky State University and his Master of Arts in political science from Ohio State University.[4]
For the majority of his career, Graham taught social studies at Frankfort High School. During the 1990s, Graham was elected as a Frankfort city commissioner.[2]
Elections
- 1994 When the District 57 seat was open, Graham ran in the seven-way 1994 Democratic Primary but lost to Gippy Graham, who was unopposed for the November 8, 1994 General election.
- 2002 When Representative Gippy Graham left the Legislature and left the seat open, Derrick Graham won the four-way 2002 Democratic Primary with 5,023 votes (44.7%)[5] and won the November 5, 2002 General election with 8,209 votes (61.9%) against Republican nominee Joel Schrader.[6]
- 2004 Graham was unopposed for both the 2004 Democratic Primary[7] and the November 2, 2004 General election, winning with 14,432 votes.[8]
- 2006 Graham was unopposed for both the 2006 Democratic Primary[9] and the November 7, 2006 General election, winning with 11,938 votes.[10]
- 2008 Graham was unopposed for the 2008 Democratic Primary[11] and won the November 4, 2008 General election with 14,015 votes (74.7%) against Republican nominee Frank Haynes.[12]
- 2010 Graham was unopposed for the May 18, 2010 Democratic Primary[13] and won the November 2, 2010 General election with 11,282 votes (67.0%) against Republican nominee Paul Estep.[14]
- 2012 Graham was unopposed for the May 22, 2012 Democratic Primary[15] and won the November 6, 2012 General election with 11,639 votes (63.9%) against Republican nominee Donald Stosberg,[16] who had run for the seat in 2000 and 2002.
- 2014 Graham was unopposed for both the May 20, 2014 Democratic Primary[17] and the 2014 Kentucky House of Representatives election, winning with 13,384 votes.[18]
- 2016 Graham was unopposed for both the May 17, 2016 Democratic Primary[17] and the 2016 Kentucky House of Representatives election, winning with 15,747 votes.[19]
- 2018 Graham was unopposed for the May 22, 2018 Democratic Primary[17] and won the 2018 Kentucky House of Representatives election with 11,726 votes (64.8%) against Republican candidate Calen Studler.[20]
- 2020 Graham was unopposed in the 2020 Democratic Primary[17] and won the 2020 Kentucky House of Representatives election with 13,202 votes (61.4%) against Republican candidate Gary Stratton.[21]
- 2022 Graham was unopposed in the 2022 Democratic Primary[17] and won the 2022 Kentucky House of Representatives election with 10,066 votes (62.4%) against Republican candidate Gary Stratton.[22]