Amy Kennedy

Amy Kennedy (née Savell; born November 20, 1978) is an American educator, mental health advocate, and politician from the state of New Jersey. She was the Democratic Party nominee in the 2020 elections to represent in the United States House of Representatives. Early life and education Amy Savell was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey and raised in Pleasantville and Absecon. Her parents, Leni and Jerry Savell, are both teachers. Jerry also served as a freeholder for Atlantic County, New Jersey, and was a city council member in both Absecon and Pleasantville. She graduated in 1997 from Holy Spirit High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Pennsylvania State University. She later earned a Master of Science in environmental education from Nova Southeastern University. Career Kennedy taught middle-school history at Northfield Community Schools. She later became an education director of the Kennedy Forum, a mental health advocacy group founded by her husband. Politics In the 2020 elections, Kennedy ran for the Democratic Party nomination for . On July 7, 2020, she defeated university professor Brigid Callahan Harrison and former congressional aide Will Cunningham to win the party's nomination. Kennedy's victory was particularly notable as an "upset victory" because Harrison had been supported by George Norcross, a powerful figure in New Jersey politics. As of July 9, 2020, vote totals showed Kennedy winning in all eight counties in the congressional district. She faced Republican incumbent Jeff Van Drew, who was originally elected as a Democrat, in the general election.