Who is Kay Ivey, the First Republican, Second Woman Ever to Serve as Governor of Alabama?

Kay Ivey was sworn in as the first Republican female governor of Alabama, and the second woman ever to occupy the office in Yellowhammer State. Former Lt. Gov. Ivey is taking over for Robert Bentley, who resigned in disgrace on Monday for myriad corruption scandals, including the use of state police to cover up an affair with his political advisor.

Ms. Ivey, 72, grew up in the small town of Camden, Alabama, which only has a current population of 1,930. She went from working on the family farm to being elected lieutenant governor in 2010 and again in 2014. In between, she was a bank officer, a high school teacher and assistant director of the Alabama Development Office. Ms. Ivey spent 13 years as one of the top executives of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education and would go on to serve two terms as state treasurer.

Now, she will be the first female governor of Alabama since Lurleen Wallace, the wife of Gov. George Wallace who stepped into the role for roughly a year in 1967 when state law barred him from running for consecutive terms. Gov. Ivey campaigned for Ms. Wallace as a student in the 1960s.

“I pledge to each of you I will do my very best. The Ivey administration will be open, transparent, and honest,” Gov. Ivey said during her swearing in ceremony in the state senate.