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Nancy Keenan

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Nancy Keenan
14th Montana Superintendent of Public Education
In office
January 2, 1989 – January 1, 2001
Preceded byEd Argenbright
Succeeded byLinda McCulloch
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 66th district
In office
January 7, 1985 – January 2, 1989
Preceded byJim Jensen
Succeeded byRob Blotkamp
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 89th district
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1985
Preceded byJoe Kanduch, Sr.
Succeeded byCal Winslow
Personal details
Born (1952-02-14) February 14, 1952 (age 72)
Anaconda, Montana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materMontana State University,
Bozeman
University of Montana,
Missoula

Nancy Keenan (born February 14, 1952) is an American politician, and was from 2015 until 2019 the executive director of the Montana Democratic Party.[1] Prior to that, she was elected to several terms in the Montana House of Representatives (1983–1989) and as superintendent of the Montana Office of Public Instruction (1989–2001). She also served as president of the abortion rights organization NARAL Pro-Choice America from 2004 to 2013.

Biography

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Keenan was born in Anaconda, Montana to Ann and P. J. Keenan.[2] She earned an undergraduate degree in education from Montana State University and a master's degree from the University of Montana. Keenan began her career as a special-education teacher before winning election to the Montana House of Representatives.[3] In 1988 she won the first of three terms as the statewide elected Superintendent of the Montana Office of Public Instruction. She served until 2000.[4] In 2000, Keenan ran for Montana's at-large congressional district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat. She was defeated by Republican Denny Rehberg.[5] From 2003-2004, Keenan worked as the Education Policy Director of the organization People For the American Way (PFAW).

Keenan became president of NARAL Pro-Choice America in 2004.[6] As president, Keenan advocated for access to abortion, but she has also attempted to change the nature of the debate around abortion rights issues in the United States. For example, in 2006, she said that while abortion rights and anti-abortion people don't agree on abortion "we should be able to agree that we can reduce unintended pregnancies" by (as a NARAL ad stated) "guaranteeing women's access to birth control, including the 'morning-after' pill, making sure our kids receive honest, realistic sex education, and increasing support for family-planning services."[7] In a speech presented on the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Keenan asked supporters to acknowledge "a woman's right to choose is a morally complex issue, and a lot less black and white than it's been made out to be." She discussed the pro-choice position in terms of moral values.[8][9] She reiterated the position that reducing unintended pregnancy is a "core moral value" in her speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.[10] On August 22, 2012, it was announced that she would be a speaker at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.[11] In April 2015, it was announced that Keenan would take over as executive director of the Montana Democratic Party, effective April 20, 2015.[12]

Washingtonian Magazine named Nancy Keenan as one of the 100 most powerful women in Washington, DC in 2006.[13] She has appeared on MSNBC[14] and other news broadcasts, and is frequently quoted by The Washington Post, The New York Times, Associated Press, and other news services.

References

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  1. ^ "Nancy Keenan". Mansfield Center, University of Montana. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  2. ^ Erin P. Billings (22 October 2000). "Keenan's comfortable in her own skin". Helena Independent Record. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  3. ^ "A Featured Profile of Nancy Keenan :: NARAL Pro-Choice America". Archived from the original on 2011-11-02. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
  4. ^ "Nancy Keenan Endorses Denise for Superintendent of Public Instruction | Denise Juneau for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Democrat". Archived from the original on 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  5. ^ "Montana Campaigns". The New York Times.
  6. ^ "NARAL Pro-Choice America Announces Nancy Keenan as New President". Archived from the original on 2009-06-13. Retrieved 2009-06-19.
  7. ^ [1] [dead link]
  8. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-06-15. Retrieved 2009-06-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "Roe V. Wade Turns 35". NPR.org. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  10. ^ Video on YouTube
  11. ^ "Ledbetter, Baldwin, Longoria to address Dem convention". Politico.com. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  12. ^ Johnson, Charles S. (13 April 2015). "Montana Dems name Keenan as party's new executive director". INDEPENDENT-RECORD. Helena. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  13. ^ "June 2006: The List of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women". Washingtonian.com. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  14. ^ Video on YouTube
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