Ryan Dotson
Ryan Dotson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 73rd district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Les Yates |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 22, 1972 Pikeville, Kentucky |
| Political party | Republican (after 2012) Democratic (before 2012) |
| Residence | Winchester, Kentucky |
| Committees | Health Services (Vice Chair) Natural Resources & Energy Small Business & Information Technology Tourism & Outdoor Recreation |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
D. Ryan Dotson (born November 22, 1972) is an American politician serving as a Republican member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from Kentucky's 73rd House district. His district includes Clark County and part of Fayette County.[1]
Background
[edit]Dotson was born on November 22, 1972, in Pikeville, Kentucky. He graduated from Phelps High School before attending community college in West Virginia. Dotson then enlisted in the United States Army, where he served as a radiologist. After leaving the army, he worked for a short time at the University of Kentucky's Albert B. Chandler Hospital before moving to Winchester, Kentucky.[2]
While briefly involved in real estate, Dotson currently owns a daycare as well as numerous restaurants located in Winchester, Mount Sterling, Lexington, and Somerset.[2]
Dotson identifies as a Pentecostal, and serves as senior pastor of Lighthouse World Outreach Center.[1]
Vanderpump rules
[edit]In 2019, Dotson was scheduled to appear on an episode of Vanderpump Rules, a spin-off of the reality TV series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, to officiate the wedding of stars Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright. Dotson was later removed from the position after tweets resurfaced that were characterized as anti-LGBT and transphobic. While still invited as a guest, Dotson chose not to attend.[3]
Political career
[edit]Party switch
[edit]According to Dotson, he was raised in an environment surrounded by ancestral Democrats, where belonging to the party of Andrew Jackson and Harry S. Truman was "natural." However, Dotson switched his registration to the Republican party in 2012, citing Ronald Reagan in that the party had left him and "drifted too far left."[2]
Legislative activities
[edit]On June 11, 2021, Dotson authored legislation that would ban transgender women from playing on women's sports teams in Kentucky.[4]
Elections
[edit]- 2010 Dotson was defeated in the 2010 Democratic primary for Kentucky's 28th Senate district, garnering 6,705 votes (31.5%) against incumbent Senator and Minority Leader RJ Palmer.[5]
- 2014 Dotson was defeated in the 2014 Kentucky general election for Clark County Judge Executive, garnering 5,343 votes (43.7%) against Democratic incumbent Henry Branham.[6]
- 2020 Dotson won the 2020 Republican primary for Kentucky's 73rd House district with 2,356 votes (51.4%), unseating incumbent Les Yates.[7] Dotson won the 2020 Kentucky House of Representatives election with 11,923 (56.9%) votes against Democratic candidate Kenneth Blair and write-in candidate Jada Brady.[8]
- 2022 Dotson was unopposed in the 2022 Republican primary[9] and won the 2022 Kentucky House of Representatives election with 8,704 votes (56.6%) against Democratic candidate Thomas Adams.[10]
- 2024 Dotson was unopposed in the 2024 Republican primary and will face Democratic candidate Rory Houlihan in the 2024 Kentucky House of Representatives election on November 5.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Legislator-Profile - Legislative Research Commission". legislature.ky.gov. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ a b c Patrick, Randy (2020-09-21). "Christian values drive Dotson's campaign". Winchester Sun. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ Parker, Lara. "This Pastor Who Has Made Transphobic And Homophobic Remarks Is Set To Make An Appearance On "Vanderpump Rules"". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
- ^ Clark, Jess. "Kentucky Lawmaker Wants To Keep Transgender Athletes Off Women's Sports Teams". www.wkyufm.org. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
- ^ "Commonwealth of Kentucky May 18, 2010 Official Primary Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. p. 18. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Full Central Kentucky election results". Lexington Herald-Leader. November 5, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Commonwealth of Kentucky June 23, 2020 Official Primary Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. p. 36. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Commonwealth of Kentucky November 3, 2020 Official General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. p. 58. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ a b "Ryan Dotson". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ "Commonwealth of Kentucky November 8, 2022 Official General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. p. 61. Retrieved August 12, 2024.