Cherlynn Stevenson is a native and lifelong Kentuckian
Cherlynn Watley Stevenson has devoted her life to the well-being and service of those in her immediate community, her heritage of Eastern Kentucky, and throughout the great Commonwealth of Kentucky. She proudly represented Kentucky’s 88th House district from January 2019 to 2024, and served as the House Minority Caucus Chair.
A Family Rooted in Kentucky Values
Cherlynn Watley Stevenson was born and raised in Hindman, Kentucky, a small town in Knott County nestled in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Her mother, Shirley, was a public school teacher for nearly three decades, and her father, Harold, was a proud Army veteran and coal miner. From them and from the community that raised her, Cherlynn saw firsthand how hard folks were working to make ends meet and the challenges rural families face every day. To this day, she has never forgotten it.
After earning her degree in Behavioral Sciences from Morehead State University, Cherlynn worked in healthcare, manufacturing, and running her own small business. Eventually, she found her calling working to make Kentucky communities stronger and healthier. As an active leader in organizations like the Rotary Club of Lexington, Habitat for Humanity, CASA, Surgery on Sunday, the Toy Chest, Black Yarn, and the American Cancer Society, she has helped to raise millions, including over $2 million for cancer research. Throughout her career, she has consistently focused on supporting the people and communities of Kentucky, to give everyone a fair shot and reward hard work.
In 2018, Cherylnn and her husband faced a medical emergency that nearly ended in unimaginable tragedy. After feeling ill one morning, Cherylnn rushed her husband to the hospital with symptoms of a blood clot. He arrived with minutes to spare, going immediately into surgery and 3 days in the ICU. Thankfully, the amazing doctors and medical staff at the University of Kentucky saved his life. However, their challenges had only just begun. Cherylnn and her husband were both starting new jobs at the time, and were without health insurance coverage during each of their employers’ mandatory waiting period for coverage. Their family faced tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills that they spent years paying off. Once in the legislature, Cherlynn pushed for legislation so that no family could be taken advantage of by insurance companies like this ever again.
Later that year, after knocking more doors than any other state house candidate in Kentucky, she was elected to her first term of three in Kentucky’s most competitive legislative seat.
In the General Assembly, Cherlynn boldly advocated for working families, teachers, veterans, healthcare, and children. She successfully worked across the aisle to bring new jobs and industry to Kentucky, protect access to health care, pass medical cannabis, legalize sports betting, and defeat a harmful school voucher proposal while increasing funding for public schools.
Now, Cherlynn wants to bring that same fight and focus on working Kentuckians to Washington. Working people are under attack right now. Tariffs are driving prices higher and damaging our economy. More than one million Kentuckians on Medicaid are seeing their health care threatened. The Department of Education is being dismantled and costing Kentucky schools and students billions. It’s against Kentucky values, and it’s not what Cherlynn learned growing up in Hindman. That’s why she’s running for Congress.
Cherlynn lives in Lexington with her husband of 24 years, Chris, and their three cats: Peanut, Butter, and Jelly.
