Pamela Pugh

Pamela Pugh
President of the Michigan State Board of Education
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 10, 2023
Preceded byCasandra Ulbrich
Personal details
Born
Pamela Louise Pugh

(1970-12-20) December 20, 1970 (age 54)
Newton, Mississippi, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationFlorida A&M University (BS)
University of Michigan (MS, DPH)

Pamela Louise Pugh (born December 20, 1970) is an American public health scientist, politician, and the current president of the Michigan State Board of Education. She first won election to the board in 2014 and was reelected in 2022.[1][2] She was a Democratic candidate for Michigan's 8th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024.

Biography

Pamela Pugh was born on December 20, 1970, in Newton, Mississippi. Her father, John Pugh, is a civil rights activist, professor, and administrator at Delta College and her mother was a paraprofessional.[3][4] She attended Florida A&M earning a Bachelor of Science and the University of Michigan graduating with a Master of Science and Doctorate of Public Health.[5] Pugh serves on multiple boards including the Healthy Schools Network Board of Directors and the National Association of State Boards of Education Board of Directors.[6] She also served as the Chief Public Health Advisor to the city of Flint during its water crisis.[7]

Pugh is the first Black woman to serve as the President of the Michigan State Board of Education. She was voted president in a 6–0 vote with two Republican members voting present.[4]

2024 elections

On May 23, 2023, Pugh announced her candidacy as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate in 2024.[8] Pugh withdrew from the race on November 27 to instead run for the 8th district in the U.S. House of Representatives, 11 days after incumbent Dan Kildee announced that he was not seeking re-election.[9][10]

Electoral history

2014 Michigan State Board of Education Election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Pamela Pugh Smith 1,368,790 24.5%
Democratic Casandra E. Ulbrich (incumbent) 1,309,760 23.4%
Republican Maria Carl 1,279,122 22.9%
Republican Jonathan Tade Williams 1,206,419 21.6%
Libertarian Kimberly Moore 114,666 2.1%
Constitution John Adams 82,511 1.5%
Libertarian Gregory Scott Stempfle 75,702 1.4%
Constitution Karen Adams 65,828 1.2%
Green Sherry A. Wells 60,516 1.1%
Natural Law Nikki Mattson 30,099 0.5%
Turnout 5,593,413 36.5%
Democratic hold
2022 Michigan State Board of Education Election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Pamela Pugh (incumbent) 2,068,706 25.2% +0.7%
Democratic Mitchell Robinson 1,989,022 24.2%
Republican Tami Carlone 1,914,330 23.3%
Republican Linda Lee Tarver 1,873,715 22.8%
Working Class Mary Anne Hering 135,789 1.7%
Libertarian Donna Gundle-Krieg 87,353 1.1%
Libertarian Bill Hall 87,316 1.1%
Constitution Ethan Hobson 48,248 0.6%
Turnout 8,204,479 51.7%
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ Johnson, Bob (November 6, 2014). "Saginaw's Pamela Pugh Smith elected to State of Michigan Board of Education". MLive.
  2. ^ "Democrats win election for pair of Michigan Board of Education seats". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  3. ^ "Pamela Pugh becomes president of Michigan's state school board". Chalkbeat Detroit. January 11, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "First Black woman sworn in as president of the Michigan State Board of Education". FOX 47 News Lansing - Jackson (WSYM). January 13, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  5. ^ "Pamela Pugh". Michigan.gov. Department of Education.
  6. ^ "State board of education president Pamela Pugh launches U.S. Senate bid". The Detroit News. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  7. ^ KMoore (October 6, 2016). "Flint's New Chief Public Health Advisor Officially Onboard". City of Flint. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  8. ^ "Michigan Board of Education president launches campaign for U.S. Senate". AP News. May 23, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  9. ^ Fonger, Paul (November 27, 2023). "Pugh becomes first Democrat to confirm she's running for Kildee congressional seat". MLive. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  10. ^ Coleman, Ken (November 27, 2023). "Pugh leaves U.S. Senate race to run for congressional seat left open by Kildee". Michigan Advance. Retrieved July 25, 2024.