John Neely Kennedy (Republican Party) is a member of the U.S. Senate from Louisiana. He assumed office on January 3, 2017. His current term ends on January 3, 2029.
Kennedy (Republican Party) won re-election to the U.S. Senate to represent Louisiana outright in the primary on November 8, 2022, after the general election was canceled.
Kennedy was one of six Republican senators who voted to sustain an objection to Arizona's electoral votes presented by Rep. Paul Gosar (R) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R) during the counting of electoral votes in January 2021. The Senate voted against sustaining the objection to Arizona's electoral votes by a vote of 6-93, and the House voted against sustaining this objection by a vote of 121-303.
Kennedy is the former Louisiana State Treasurer, serving in the position from 2000 to 2017. Kennedy served two of five terms as a Democrat, switching party affiliations in 2007. He was re-elected as a Republican in 2007, 2011, and 2015.
Kennedy was born in Centreville, Mississippi. He graduated with a B.A. from Vanderbilt University in 1973 and went on to earn his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1977. He also holds a B.C.L. from Oxford University.
Kennedy served as special counsel to Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer from 1988-1992, Secretary in the Governor's Cabinet from 1990-1992 and Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue from 1996-1999.
An educator by profession, Kennedy worked as an adjunct professor at LSU Law School in addition to his treasurer duties. He has also worked as a volunteer substitute teacher for East Baton Rouge Parish public schools. Before becoming treasurer, Kennedy served as Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue from 1996-1999.
