Linda H. Belcher
American educator and politician
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Linda Howlett Belcher (born September 28, 1948) is an American educator and politician. She is a three-time member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, representing the 49th district, which covers parts of Bullitt County.
Linda Belcher | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 49th district | |
| In office February 27, 2018 – January 1, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Dan Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Huff |
| In office January 1, 2015 – January 1, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Russell Webber (redistricting) |
| Succeeded by | Dan Johnson |
| In office January 1, 2009 – January 1, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Larry Belcher |
| Succeeded by | Russell Webber |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Linda Howlett Belcher September 28, 1948 Shepherdsville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Larry Belcher |
| Education | Eastern Kentucky University (BA) Western Kentucky University (MA) |
Early life and education
Belcher was born in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from Eastern Kentucky University and a Master of Arts in elementary education from Western Kentucky University.
Career
Outside of politics, Belcher worked as an elementary teacher and was a member of the Little Flock Christian Academy School Board. Belcher served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 2009 to 2013 and from 2015 to 2017 as a Democrat. She succeeded her husband Larry Belcher in the Kentucky General Assembly after he was killed in an auto accident.[1][2]
In 2016, Belcher was defeated for re-election by Republican Dan Johnson.[3] Johnson committed suicide in December 2017, two days after elements of his criminal past had been exposed. Belcher ran again for the open seat in a district which president Donald Trump had won with 72% of the vote. Dan's widow, Rebecca, was chosen by Republican officials as their replacement nominee, to oppose Belcher in a special election. Belcher recaptured her old seat with 68% of the vote.[4][5] She lost to Republican Thomas Huff in the general election of November 2018.[6]
Election results
| Date | Election | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky House of Representatives, 49th district | ||||||
| Nov 4, 2008[7] | General | Linda Belcher | Democratic | 10,954 | 53.96 | |
| Trina Summers | Republican | 9,347 | 46.04 | |||
| Larry Belcher died in office; seat stayed Democratic | ||||||
| Nov 2, 2010[8] | General | Linda Belcher | Democratic | 7,878 | 50.32 | |
| Russell Webber | Republican | 7,777 | 49.68 | |||
| Nov 6, 2012[9] | General | Russell Webber | Republican | 11,329 | 52.81 | |
| Linda Belcher | Democratic | 10,124 | 47.19 | |||
| Nov 4, 2014[10] | General | Linda Belcher | Democratic | 6,675 | 52.92 | |
| Michael Nemes | Republican | 5,938 | 47.08 | |||
| Nov 8, 2016[11] | General | Dan Johnson | Republican | 9,342 | 50.42 | |
| Linda Belcher | Democratic | 9,186 | 49.58 | |||
| Feb 20, 2018[12] | Special | Linda Belcher | Democratic | 3,386 | 68.45 | |
| Rebecca Johnson | Republican | 1,561 | 31.55 | |||
| Nov 6, 2018[13] | General | Thomas Huff | Republican | 8,680 | 59.41 | |
| Linda Belcher | Democratic | 5,930 | 40.59 | |||