"Janet Kay Hagan was a prominent American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina (2009-2015). A member of the Democratic Party, she made history by becoming the first woman to defeat a female incumbent in a U.S. Senate election, defeating Elizabeth Dole in 2008. Prior to her Senate tenure, she served in the North Carolina Senate (1999-2009). Hagan's political career ended when she narrowly lost her re-election bid to Republican Thom Tillis in 2014."
May 26, 1953: Birth of Kay Hagan
Kay Hagan was born on May 26, 1953, in Shelby, North Carolina. She would go on to become an American lawyer, banking executive, and politician, serving as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina.
1971: Graduated High School
Kay Hagan graduated from Lakeland Senior High School in 1971. She spent much of her childhood in Lakeland, Florida.
1972: Jesse Helms Wins Senate Seat
In 1972, Jesse Helms won the U.S. Senate seat that would later be held by Elizabeth Dole and then Kay Hagan.
1975: Earned B.A. Degree
Kay Hagan earned her B.A. degree from Florida State University in 1975. During her time at the university, she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority.
1978: Earned J.D. Degree
In 1978, Kay Hagan received her J.D. degree from Wake Forest University School of Law, later pursuing careers as an attorney and banker.
1998: Elected to NC General Assembly
Kay Hagan was first elected to the North Carolina General Assembly as a state Senator for the 32nd district in 1998. She represented Guilford County, including Greensboro, for five terms.
1999: North Carolina Senate Service
In 1999, Kay Hagan commenced her service in the North Carolina Senate, a position she held until 2009 when she was elected to the U.S. Senate.
2003: Elizabeth Dole Takes Senate Seat
Elizabeth Dole took the U.S. Senate seat in 2003, succeeding Jesse Helms. This seat would later be won by Kay Hagan in 2008.
October 26, 2007: Announcement of Senate Run
On October 26, 2007, the Swing State Project reported that Kay Hagan would run for the U.S. Senate against Elizabeth Dole.
October 30, 2007: Official Candidacy for Senate
Kay Hagan officially announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate on October 30, 2007.
May 2008: Won Democratic Primary
In May 2008, Kay Hagan won the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, defeating several opponents including Jim Neal and Howard Staley.
2008: Defeated Elizabeth Dole
Kay Hagan defeated incumbent Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole in the 2008 U.S. Senate election, making her the first woman to defeat an incumbent woman in a Senate race.
2008: Benefited from Obama’s Campaign
Kay Hagan benefited from Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's aggressive campaign in North Carolina during the 2008 elections, aiding her in defeating Elizabeth Dole.
February 13, 2009: Voted for ARRA
On February 13, 2009, Kay Hagan voted in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, a measure aimed at economic recovery.
December 2009: Voted for Affordable Care Act
In December 2009, Kay Hagan voted in favor of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
2009: Became U.S. Senator
In 2009, Kay Hagan began her term as a United States Senator from North Carolina, having been elected in the 2008 elections by defeating incumbent Elizabeth Dole.
2009: Voted for Children's Health Insurance
In 2009, Kay Hagan voted for the Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act, which expanded health coverage for children and increased the cigarette tax.
December 2010: Voted Against Tax Cuts Extension
In December 2010, Kay Hagan voted against a bill that extended the Bush tax cuts and unemployment benefits, a measure that passed the Senate despite opposition from both conservatives and progressives.
December 18, 2010: Voted Against DREAM Act
On December 18, 2010, Kay Hagan was one of five Democrats to vote against the DREAM Act, which failed in the Senate.
2010: Supported Health Care Reconciliation
In 2010, Kay Hagan voted for the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, which made amendments to the Affordable Care Act.
January 2012: PROTECT IP Act Co-Sponsorship
Kay Hagan co-sponsored the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in January 2012, which aimed to combat online copyright infringement but faced opposition and was eventually tabled.
2012: Net Worth Reported
In 2012, Kay Hagan's net worth was estimated to be approximately $24 million.
March 23, 2013: Voted Against Senate Budget
On March 23, 2013, Kay Hagan was one of only four Democratic Senators to vote against the Senate's first approved budget in four years.
March 27, 2013: Support for Same-Sex Marriage
Kay Hagan announced her support for same-sex marriage on March 27, 2013, opposing North Carolina's Amendment 1, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman.
April 17, 2013: Voted to Expand Background Checks
On April 17, 2013, Kay Hagan voted to expand background checks for gun purchasers. She also voted against reinstating the Feinstein ban on assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices.
May 2013: Voted for Marketplace Fairness Act
In May 2013, Kay Hagan voted in favor of the Marketplace Fairness Act, which mandates online stores to collect state sales tax similarly to brick-and-mortar stores.
June 2013: Vote Against Fence Amendment
In June 2013, Kay Hagan voted against an amendment that would have required the completion of a fence along the US-Mexico border before granting certain immigration statuses.
September 27, 2013: Voted to Restore ACA Funding
On September 27, 2013, Kay Hagan voted to restore funding for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as part of an amendment to legislation funding government operations.
January 2014: Chose Senate Votes Over Obama Event
In January 2014, Kay Hagan chose to stay in Washington for Senate votes instead of attending ceremonies for President Obama's visit to North Carolina, raising speculation about her distancing from the President.
March 2014: Targeted by Negative Ads
By the end of March 2014, Kay Hagan had been targeted by numerous negative ads funded by Americans for Prosperity, which spent over $7 million on the race.
May 20, 2014: Introduced Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act
On May 20, 2014, Kay Hagan introduced the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2014, aimed at enhancing hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation in the United States.
July 2014: Largest Cash Advantage
In July 2014, Kay Hagan had the largest cash-on-hand advantage of any vulnerable Democratic senator, with significant financial support for her reelection campaign.
August 2014: Protest Against Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
In August 2014, a protest took place outside Kay Hagan's offices, demonstrating support for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which Hagan opposed.
September 2014: Bill Clinton Campaign Support
In September 2014, Bill Clinton announced plans to campaign for Kay Hagan as she faced Republican Thom Tillis and Libertarian Sean Haugh in the general election.
2014: Lost Reelection Bid
In 2014, Kay Hagan ran for reelection but was defeated by Republican Thom Tillis, the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, in a closely contested race.
June 24, 2015: Announced No Senate Run
On June 24, 2015, Kay Hagan announced on Facebook that she would not run for the U.S. Senate in 2016, despite being considered a strong potential challenger.
2015: End of Senate Term
Kay Hagan's term as a United States Senator from North Carolina ended in 2015, following her loss in the 2014 reelection campaign.
January 2016: Joins Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
Kay Hagan joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, a prominent lobbying firm, in January 2016 after her time in the Senate.
December 2016: Hospitalization for Encephalitis
Kay Hagan was admitted to a hospital in December 2016 after contracting encephalitis from the Powassan virus, believed to have been from a tick bite.
2016: Opted Out of Senate Race
In 2016, Kay Hagan chose not to run for the U.S. Senate, ending speculation about a potential bid against incumbent Senator Richard Burr.
June 2019: Update on Health Condition
In June 2019, Kay Hagan's husband provided an update on her health, sharing that her speech was limited but her comprehension remained good.
October 28, 2019: Death of Kay Hagan
Kay Hagan passed away on October 28, 2019. She had a distinguished career as a lawyer, banking executive, and politician, including serving as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina.
November 3, 2019: Funeral Held in Greensboro
Kay Hagan's funeral took place on November 3, 2019, at the First Presbyterian Church of Greensboro, with attendees including former colleagues, fellow politicians, and dignitaries.
2024: Last Democrat to Represent NC in Senate
As of 2024, Kay Hagan remains the last Democrat to have represented North Carolina in the U.S. Senate.