Megan Hunt (politician)

Megan Hunt
Hunt smiling
Member of the Nebraska Legislature
from the 8th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Preceded byBurke Harr
Personal details
Born
Megan Catherine Hunt

(1986-05-09) May 9, 1986 (age 38)
Blair, Nebraska, U.S.
Political partyIndependent-Democratic (2023–present)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic (formerly)
Republican (formerly)
Libertarian (formerly)
Children1
EducationDana College (BA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Megan Catherine Hunt (born May 9, 1986) is an American entrepreneur and politician serving as a member of the Nebraska Legislature.[1] Hunt represents the 8th legislative district in Omaha, consisting of the midtown neighborhoods of Dundee, Benson, and Keystone. She succeeded term-limited Nebraska State Senator Burke Harr.[2] She identifies as bisexual,[1] and was the first openly LGBT person elected to the state legislature of Nebraska,[3] as well as the first woman to represent the 8th district.[4]

Hunt was strongly critical of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol.[5] Hunt has been critical of Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts for not wearing a mask while gathered close to others during the COVID-19 pandemic, his administration's response to the pandemic,[6] and Ricketts's choices and actions surrounding a 2020 contract with an out-of-state company for the provision of COVID-19 testing kits.[7][8] Hunt also introduced an amendment to let Douglas County, Nebraska, impose a local mask mandate, but later withdrew it.[9]

On May 5, 2023, Hunt announced that she had changed her party registration from Democratic to Independent. She said "the political dysfunction is extreme and at the national level, the parties are ideologically bankrupt."[10] Hunt is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.[11]

  1. ^ a b Buhrman, Daniel (November 8, 2018). "Blair native wins Nebraska Legislature District 8". Pilot-Tribune & Enterprise. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  2. ^ Staff, Gateway (October 15, 2018). "Q&A with Legislative candidate Megan Hunt". Gateway. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "Megan Hunt becomes first openly LGBTQ person elected to legislature". KMTV. November 8, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  4. ^ Kipper, Jon (May 11, 2018). "Record number of women running for office in Nebraska". KMTV. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  5. ^ Ozaki, Andrew (January 8, 2021). "Nebraska lawmakers call assault on US Capitol shameful". KETV. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  6. ^ Bella, Timothy (November 19, 2020). "A server filmed a viral video of Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts maskless. Then she was fired". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  7. ^ Dunker, Chris (April 27, 2020). "Ricketts promises Test Nebraska data won't be sold". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  8. ^ Dunker, Chris (May 11, 2020). "Senators call on governor to end Test Nebraska contracts". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  9. ^ Hammel, Paul (August 4, 2020). "Nebraska lawmaker offers amendment to let Douglas County health director mandate masks". Omaha.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  10. ^ Dunker, Chris (May 5, 2023). "Nebraska Sen. Megan Hunt ditches Democratic label, registers as nonpartisan". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  11. ^ Megan Hunt [@NebraskaMegan] (March 24, 2023). "I am a member <3" (Tweet) – via Twitter.