Laurie Pohutsky

Laurie Pohutsky
Speaker pro tempore of the Michigan House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 11, 2023
Preceded byPamela Hornberger
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2019
Preceded byLaura Cox
Constituency19th district (2019–2022)
17th district (2023–present)
Personal details
Born
Laurie Tennant

(1988-04-28) April 28, 1988 (age 36)
Political partyDemocratic
EducationMichigan State University (BS)
WebsiteCampaign website

Laurie Pohutsky (née Tennant; born April 28, 1988) is an American politician from Michigan. Pohutsky is the Democratic member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 17th district.

Early life and education

Pohutsky was born Laurie Tennant in Livonia, Michigan. She grew up in Redford, Michigan.[1] Between 2006 and 2010 she attended Michigan State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology.[2] Pohutsky then worked as a laboratory technician for several companies in fields involving food safety, toxicology and health care.[3]

Political career

In 2018, Pohutsky successfully ran as a Democrat for the Michigan House of Representatives for District 19, narrowly defeating Republican candidate Brian Meakin.[4][2][3] In the 2020 election Pohutsky was reelected, once again by a narrow margin.[5]

During the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, she endorsed Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren for President of the United States.[6]

During the 2022 Michigan House of Representatives election, Pohutsky ran to represent District 17, defeating opponent Penny Crider in a landslide. She was subsequently appointed speaker pro tempore of the Michigan House.[7]

Personal life

Pohutsky is openly bisexual.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Laura Pohutsky". mihousedems.com. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Laurie Pohutsky's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Veselenak, David (November 8, 2018). "'People are a little tired of business as usual': Pohutsky reflects on winning House seat". hometownlife.com. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  4. ^ "Meet Laurie Pohutsky". housedems.com. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  5. ^ "Livonia Democrat narrowly holds onto to Michigan House seat". mlive. 2020-11-05. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  6. ^ Pohutsky, Laurie (November 8, 2019). "In 2017, I had the privilege of meeting @ewarren. She talked about why she ran for public office and how she spent her political career fighting for the people she represented. As she left, I stopped her and told her that I had just filed to run. "Good. We need you," she said. 1/pic.twitter.com/Oo8oPIYiSJ". @lpohutsky19. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  7. ^ "Laurie Pohutsky". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
  8. ^ "Election Q&A: 19th District House Rep. Laurie Pohutsky Talks Reelection". PrideSource. 29 September 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker pro tempore of the Michigan House of Representatives
2023–present 		Succeeded by
Rachelle Smit
Designate