Kenneth Paschal

Kenneth Paschal
Member of the Alabama House of Representatives
from the 73rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 14, 2021
Preceded byMatt Fridy
Personal details
Born
Kenneth Lavoyd Paschal[1]

(1966-12-09) December 9, 1966 (age 58)
Political partyRepublican
Residence(s)Pelham, Alabama, U.S.
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1985–2006
RankFirst Sergeant

Kenneth Paschal (born December 9, 1966) is an American politician from the state of Alabama. A member of the Republican Party, Paschal was elected to represent District 73 in the Alabama House of Representatives in a July 2021 special election.[2] He is the first black Republican elected to the Alabama Legislature in almost 140 years,[3] and the first to serve in the state legislature since W. P. Williams of Madison County served a two-year term from 1882 to 1884.[4]

Career

Paschal served 21 years in the United States Army, retiring in 2006 as a first sergeant.[5][6][7]

Paschal worked with the Alabama Family Rights Association.[7] He also served on the Shelby County Republican Executive Committee and was a commander of the American Legion.[5][6]

Paschal ran for state representative following Matt Fridy's resignation in order to join the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.[6][7] Among his other positions, Paschal campaigned against critical race theory.[6] He won the special election on July 13, 2021, becoming the first black Republican elected to the Alabama Legislature since the Reconstruction era.[6][7] Paschal was sworn in the following day.[8]

Personal life

Paschal lives in Pelham, Alabama.[5] He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Pelham.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Kenneth Paschal". KennethPaschal.com. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  2. ^ "Kenneth Paschal". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  3. ^ Koplowitz, Howard (July 13, 2021). "Kenneth Paschal wins Alabama House seat; becomes Legislature's only Black Republican". Alabama Live. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Bailey, Richard, "Neither Carpetbaggers not Scalawags", published 1991.
  5. ^ a b c "Republican Kenneth Paschal wins Alabama House District 73 in historic campaign". WVTM-TV. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e Moseley, Brandon (July 14, 2021). "Kenneth Paschal wins House District 73 special election". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e Chandler, Kim (July 14, 2021). "Alabama elects first Black Republican to House in 140 years". Associated Press. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  8. ^ Reeves, Jay; Chandler, Kim (July 14, 2021). "1st elected Alabama Black Republican: GOP 'open to everyone'". Associated Press. Retrieved July 14, 2021.


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