It wasn’t a move the 26-year-old Curtis planned on making that long ago, but with the passing of Rep. Lamin Swann – whom she considered a friend and mentor – Curtis says people on Swann’s campaign team reached out to her with the idea of running.
"What I learned from him was, when you have the opportunity to do good, you take it," she tells WUKY. "And right now, I have the opportunity to do a lot of tangible good."
That includes, according to the political newcomer, advocating for affordable housing, reproductive health care, and public education — with an emphasis on addressing the teacher shortage.
Curtis’ status as a trailblazer isn’t lost on her.
The activist became a familiar face in Frankfort this year during a highly-charged legislative session, where a focus on bills viewed as hostile to LGBTQ youth emerged as a focal point. Curtis says she hopes her candidacy sends a message to trans and queer young people that “Kentucky is for them too.” But she stresses she's not running a single-issue campaign to become a token lawmaker.
"I want to make one thing very clear right off the bat. I am not running to be the transgender state representative. I am running to be the representative from the 93rd District," Curtis says.
The special election to fill the seat will be held on November 7, the same day as the general election.
