Kat Cammack
Rep. Kat Cammack official photo, 117th Congress.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 3rd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2021
Preceded byTed Yoho
Personal details
Born
Kathryn Christine Cammack[1]

(1988-02-16) February 16, 1988 (age 34)
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Matthew Harrison
​
(m. 2017)​
EducationMetropolitan State University of Denver (BA)
Naval War College (MS)
WebsiteHouse website

Kathryn Christine Cammack (/ˈkæmæk/ KAM-mack; born February 16, 1988)[2] is an American politician and political advisor serving as the U.S. representative for Florida's 3rd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, Cammack previously served as deputy chief of staff to her predecessor, Representative Ted Yoho, who retired in 2020.[3] She is the second-youngest woman elected to Congress in the 2020 election cycle, behind Democrat Sara Jacobs.[4]

Early life and education

Cammack was born in Denver, Colorado, and raised on a 55-acre cattle ranch.[5][6][7][8][9] In 2006, she graduated from Douglas County High School in Castle Rock, Colorado.[10] Cammack earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations from the Metropolitan State University of Denver and a Master of Science in national defense and strategic studies from the Naval War College.[11][12] She has said she lived with her mother in an extended-stay motel for four months.[5][13][14]

Career

Cammack has said that her family's experience with the federal Home Affordable Modification Program in 2011 inspired her interest in politics.[15] In 2009, she interned with U.S. Representative Mike Coffman.[16] She later joined Ted Yoho's congressional campaign.[17][18][19] After Yoho was elected, Cammack served as his deputy chief of staff from 2013 to 2019.[20][21] In 2019, she left Yoho's office in Washington, D.C. and returned to Florida. Yoho did not seek reelection in 2020, fulfilling his pledge to serve only four terms.[22] Cammack announced her candidacy for Yoho's seat in December 2019.[23]

Cammack also operates an independent political consulting firm.[24] She was heavily favored to win the November general election,[25][26][27][28] in part due to political gerrymandering by Republicans after 2010.[29] In September 2020, Donald Trump endorsed her.[30] After her primary win, Cammack established a leadership PAC.[31][32]

Cammack ran for chair of the Republican Study Committee but later withdrew her bid for the position and endorsed Kevin Hern.[33][34]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2020

Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida § District 3
Cammack speaking at a Turning Point USA event in 2020
Cammack speaking at a Turning Point USA event in 2020

Cammack defeated Democratic nominee Adam Christensen. She assumed office on January 3, 2021.[35]

2022

Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Florida § District 3

Cammack is running for reelection though the district lines have changed.[36]

Caucus memberships

Political positions

Abortion

Cammack is pro-life.[39] She believes states should determine their abortion laws,[40] and abortion should be allowed only in extreme cases in the first trimester.[39] In 2022, she cosponsored a bill to ban abortions past 15 weeks.[41] During her campaign, she released an advertisement in which she said that, when her mother was pregnant with her, she was advised by doctors to have an abortion, but chose not to.[42]

Congressional term limits

In March 2020, Cammack signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge. She said that a "limit on the time an individual can serve brings new ideas to Capitol Hill."[43]

Economy

Cammack cosponsored a bill to expand federal home loans for first responders and educators.[44] The bill, introduced in May 2021, has not passed out of committee.[45]

Electoral College vote count and storming of the United States Capitol

Cammack was one of the 139 representatives to vote to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election on January 7, 2021.[46] On the House floor, she said the January 6, 2021, attacks "furthermore resolved" her objection to the certification process and as that as representatives of the people, members of Congress must stand for a free and fair election for all Americans.[47] There was no evidence that the election was not free or fair to an extent that would change the outcome, despite numerous inquiries.[48][49]

Law Enforcement

Cammack said it is reassuring that the Capitol Police are expanding into Florida and will work with local law enforcement.[50]

Energy and environment

Cammack cosponsored the PROTECT Florida Act to prohibit oil and gas drilling off the coast of Florida until 2032.[51] The bill, introduced in October 2021, has not passed out of committee.[52] On March 14, 2022, Cammack said the U.S. needs to produce more oil.[53]

Firearms

Cammack is a board member of the Alachua County Friends of the National Rifle Association.[54][non-primary source needed] In 2020, the NRA endorsed her.[55][non-primary source needed] In 2021, she voted for the National Defense Authorization Act, which contained anti-gun provisions.[56][57][58]

Foreign affairs

In June 2021, Cammack was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the AUMF against Iraq.[59][60] She voted for the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022.[61]

Immigration and border security

Cammack has supported the construction of a border wall along the Mexico–United States border.[62]

During the 2022 United States infant formula shortage, Cammack criticized the Biden administration for sending baby formula to detention facilities on the U.S.-Mexico border.[63] White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that under the Flores Settlement Agreement, the U.S. is required to provide adequate and age-appropriate food, "hence formula for kids under the age of 1."[64] During an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Cammack showed pictures of baby formula she said she had received from a CBP agent. Tommy Christopher wrote that some of the images used in Cammack’s interview with Hannity were not of baby formula but of powdered milk for children older than one. Hannity later acknowledged on Twitter that two of the pictures he aired during Cammack’s appearance were milk products for children over one.[65][66]

LGBT rights

On July 19, 2022, Cammack and 46 other Republican Representatives voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and codify the right to same-sex marriage in federal law.[67] Cammack wrote that she supported the bill because under the Fourteenth Amendment, the law cannot treat one group of citizens differently from another.[68]

Personal life

Cammack's husband, Matt Harrison, is a firefighter.[20] Cammack is a Protestant.[69]

See also

References

  1. ^ Kat, Team (July 13, 2020). "Mayor of Belleview Endorses Kat Cammack". Kat for Congress.
  2. ^ Rep.-elect Kat Cammack (R-Fla.-03), The Hill, November 30, 2020.
  3. ^ Conradis, Brandon (August 18, 2020). "Kat Cammack wins Florida GOP primary in bid for Ted Yoho's seat". TheHill. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  4. ^ Stabile, Angelica (November 9, 2020). "13 GOP women join the House, dominating congressional elections, making history". FOX News. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Ted Yoho, the Least Experienced House Freshman, Has a Secret Weapon: His 24-Year-Old Chief of Staff". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  6. ^ Martinez, Aurora; Richardson, Micayla. "Adam Christensen and Kat Cammack win the nominations to run for Florida's 3rd Congressional District seat". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  7. ^ "Republican Magazine Interviews Kat Cammack for Congress". gopmag.com. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  8. ^ Martinez, Aurora. "Who are Florida's 3rd Congressional District Republican candidates?". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  9. ^ Cook, Suzette (March 3, 2020). "Cammack hoping to succeed Yoho in District 3 House bid". Mainstreet Daily News. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  10. ^ "Cammack, Kat". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 7, 2022. Cammack, Kat, a Representative from Florida; born in Denver, Denver County, Colo., February 16, 1988; graduated from Douglas County High School, Castle Rock, Colo., 2006; attended the Semester at Sea program, University of Virginia in 2009; B.A., Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, Colo., 2011; M.S., Naval War College, Newport, R.I., 2018; small business owner; staff, United States Representative Ted Yoho of Florida, 2012–2020; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress (January 3, 2021–present).
  11. ^ "Kat Cammack". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  12. ^ "Florida's 3rd Congressional District - Republicans". WJXT. July 22, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  13. ^ Kirkl, Jordan (October 2, 2020). "Kat Cammack releases first TV ad of the general election". The Capitolist. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  14. ^ Cammack, Kat. "Championing timeless values in the millennial era". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  15. ^ Olson, Laura (November 22, 2020). "Newly elected Kat Cammack of FL will become youngest GOP woman in U.S. House of Representatives in 2021". Florida Phoenix. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  16. ^ Cammack, Kat. "Kat Cammack LinkedIn". LinkedIn. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  17. ^ Nocera, Kate. "Upset winner isn't horsing around". Politico. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  18. ^ Wilson, Drew (July 19, 2020). "CD 3 Republican Kat Cammack tells her story in new digital ad". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  19. ^ Derby, Kevin (August 19, 2020). "Kat Cammack Wins GOP Primary to Replace Ted Yoho | Florida Daily". Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  20. ^ a b Elwood, Karina (December 13, 2019). "Ted Yoho's Former Deputy Chief Of Staff Kat Cammack To Run For Congress". WUFT News. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  21. ^ "114th Congress Office Listings" (PDF).
  22. ^ "Rep. Ted Yoho's son says Kat Cammack was fired as Chief of Staff". The Floridian. June 20, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  23. ^ Elwood, Karina (December 13, 2019). "Ted Yoho's Former Deputy Chief Of Staff Kat Cammack To Run For Congress". WUFT News. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  24. ^ Matat, Stephany (August 19, 2020). "Yoho's Former Aide Wins Republican Primary In Florida's 3rd Congressional District". WUFT News. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  25. ^ "Florida primary roundup: Gimenez to face Mucarsel-Powell, Posey survives". Roll Call. August 18, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  26. ^ Peterson, Kristina (August 19, 2020). "Ross Spano Becomes Eighth House Lawmaker Defeated in Primaries". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  27. ^ "The Latest: Wyoming tribe member wins Democratic nomination". AP NEWS. August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  28. ^ Wilson, Drew (August 19, 2020). "Kat Cammack wins Republican nomination in CD 3". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  29. ^ "In 2010, Republicans 'Weaponized' Gerrymandering. Here's How They Did It". BillMoyers.com. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  30. ^ Derby, Kevin (September 11, 2020). "Donald Trump Backs Kat Cammack, Byron Donalds for Open Congressional Seats in Florida | Florida Daily". Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  31. ^ "Primary Winners Form Leadership PACs Before Coming to Congress". Bloomberg Government. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  32. ^ "Campaigning couldn't be more different amid a pandemic". Arc Publishing. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  33. ^ "The battle to become the next Republican Study Committee chair is on -- and it's Kevin Hern versus Kat Cammack right now". www.politico.com. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  34. ^ Brooks, Emily (September 29, 2022). "Field clears in race for Republican Study Committee chair". The Hill. Retrieved October 7, 2022. “This entire process, it’s been really humbling the support that I’ve received. But it’s not my time,” the first-term lawmaker told The Hill, adding that Hern will do “a wonderful job” as chair of the caucus.
  35. ^ "Florida Election Results: Third Congressional District". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  36. ^ "CAMMACK, KAT - Candidate overview". FEC.gov. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  37. ^ "Membership". Republican Study Committee. December 6, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  38. ^ "Two House Republicans create Campus Free Speech Caucus to 'stand up for the First Amendment'".
  39. ^ a b Schultz, Marisa (December 3, 2020). "Florida Rep.-elect Kat Cammack shares personal story about abortion: 'My mom chose life'". Fox News. Retrieved September 7, 2021. Cammack says abortion should only be allowed in extreme cases in the first trimester--such as rape or incest reported to law enforcement, and for the life of the mother.
  40. ^ Chase, Kristin (May 4, 2022). "North Central Florida Congresswoman, Kat Cammack, reacted to the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade". WCJB. Cammack says states should have an absolute role in deciding their path forward with abortion laws.
  41. ^ "House GOP leaders hedge on 15-week abortion ban". The Hill. September 14, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022. A version of Graham’s 15-week abortion ban bill was also introduced in the House on Tuesday with more than 80 co-sponsors, led by House pro-life caucus leaders Reps. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.), Andy Harris (R-Md.) and Kat Cammack (R-Fla.)
  42. ^ Wilson, Drew (July 27, 2020). "Kat Cammack 'will always choose life' if elected in CD 3". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  43. ^ Kirkl, Jordan (March 12, 2020). "Kat Cammack signs term limits pledge". The Capitolist. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  44. ^ Royer, Samuel (February 2, 2022). "Bipartisan effort to help first responders, teachers gets big boost from Rep. Cammack". Gainesville Sun.
  45. ^ "HELPER Act of 2021 (H.R. 3172)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  46. ^ Yourish, Karen; Buchanan, Larry; Lu, Denise (January 7, 2021). "The 147 Republicans Who Voted to Overturn Election Results". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  47. ^ Yourish, Karen; Buchanan, Larry; Lannigan, Lucille (January 13, 2021). "Kat Cammack stands by President Trump, public paints Coup Kat Resign on art wall". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  48. ^ Singman, Brooke (December 1, 2020). "Barr: DOJ yet to find widespread voter fraud that could have changed 2020 election". Fox News. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  49. ^ Lea, Brittany De (June 23, 2021). "Republican-led Michigan panel affirms Biden victory in the state". Fox News. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  50. ^ Schultz, Marisa (July 6, 2021). "Capitol Police opening up new offices in Florida, California to handle threats to Congress". Fox News. Over the last six months, I’ve had the honor of getting to know the dedicated men and women of the United States Capitol Police," Cammack, who represents the Gainsville area, told Fox News. "The hardworking law enforcement officers of the Capitol Hill community work tirelessly to protect Members and staff and I know their work in this capacity will only continue, especially as they expand into field offices in California and Florida. "As we continue serving our districts, it’s reassuring to know they’ll continue working with local police departments and sheriffs to keep lawmakers and our communities as safe as possible.
  51. ^ Derby, Kevin (October 29, 2021). "John Rutherford Introduces Bill Stopping Drilling Off Florida Until 2032". Florida Daily.
  52. ^ "PROTECT Florida Act (H.R. 5707)". GovTrack.us. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  53. ^ "Rep. Kat Cammack talks the war on Ukraine and gas prices". MSN. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  54. ^ Kat, Team (April 30, 2020). "Kat Cammack Announces Second Amendment Coalition". Kat for Congress. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  55. ^ Kat, Team (September 14, 2020). "Kat Cammack Endorsed by NRA". Kat for Congress. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  56. ^ "Delegation for 10.5.21: Red flag — rationing drugs — looking back — end of dementia? — whole milk". Florida Politics. October 5, 2021. But that provision alone didn’t stop many Republicans, including some in the Delegation, from advancing the NDAA, a critical budget bill. Reps. Kat Cammack of Gainesville and Gus Bilirakis of Palm Harbor, both voted in favor of the legislation in committee, drawing anger from staunch gun rights advocates.
  57. ^ Troiano, Joshua (September 26, 2021). "WENDY ROGERS LIGHTS UP 'REPUBLICANS' WHO VOTED FOR RED FLAG LAWS, INCLUDING THE ONES OTHERS ARE AFRAID TO CALL OUT". Media Right News.
  58. ^ Holcomb, Grant (October 10, 2021). "Florida Congressional Republicans Support Gun Confiscation Bill". The Tennessee Star.
  59. ^ "House votes to repeal 2002 Iraq War authorization". NBC News.
  60. ^ "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 172". June 17, 2021.
  61. ^ "Roll Call 141 | Bill Number: S. 3522". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. April 28, 2022.
  62. ^ Kirkl, Jordan (July 29, 2020). "Kat Cammack promises to support border wall in new video". The Capitolist. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  63. ^ "Kat Cammack torches Biden admin. on baby formula shortage: Exactly what 'America last' looks like". Fox News. May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022. Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., slammed the White House on "Fox & Friends" Friday for American families facing a shortage of baby formula while images show the same formula on stocked shelves at U.S. border facilities.
  64. ^ Loe, Megan (May 13, 2022). "Yes, the U.S. government provides formula to migrant babies at the border, as required by law". CBS8. Retrieved May 24, 2022. When asked during a press conference about the photo of baby formula at the U.S.-Mexico border, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also pointed to the Flores Settlement Agreement. "It requires adequate food and elsewhere specifies age appropriateness, hence formula for kids under the age of 1," Psaki said.
  65. ^ Christopher, Tommy (May 14, 2022). "CNN Calls Out Fox News For Falsely Identifying Photos at Border As 'Pallets Of Baby Formula For Illegal Immigrants' (UPDATE)". Mediaite.
  66. ^ Oganesyan, Natalie; Rossi, Rosemary (May 14, 2022). "Sean Hannity Falsely Identifies 'Pallets and Pallets' of Baby Formula at the Border Amid Shortage". The Wrap.
  67. ^ Schnell, Mychael (July 19, 2022). "These are the 47 House Republicans who voted for a bill protecting marriage equality". The Hill. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  68. ^ Hochman, Nate (July 21, 2022). "GOP Rep Claims Colleagues Opposed to Same-Sex Marriage Bill Are 'Horribly Racist'". National Review. Retrieved October 7, 2022. But as the debate continued, the congresswoman doubled down: “I wish this were a truly states right[s] issue,” she wrote. “The states cannot under the 14th amendment apply the law differently to one group of citizens. It is a liberal, anti-federalist position to say that it’s okay to discriminate and promote one group of people over another.”
  69. ^ "Religious affiliation of members 117th Congress" (PDF). January 4, 2021.

External links

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U.S. House of Representatives Preceded byTed Yoho Member of the U.S. House of Representativesfrom Florida's 3rd congressional district 2021–present Incumbent U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) Preceded byCori Bush United States representatives by seniority 369th Succeeded byJerry Carl
Florida's current delegation to the United States Congress
Current members of the United States House of Representatives
Florida's delegation(s) to the 117th–present United States Congresses (ordered by seniority)
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