Kelly Lynn Loeffler, an American businesswoman and politician, served as a U.S. Senator from Georgia from 2020 to 2021. She was the CEO of Bakkt, part of Intercontinental Exchange, where her husband, Jeffrey Sprecher, is CEO. Loeffler co-owned the Atlanta Dream, a WNBA team, and is a Republican.
Appointed by Georgia’s Republican Governor Brian Kemp in December 2019 following Senator Johnny Isakson’s resignation, Loeffler ran in the 2020 Georgia U.S. Senate special election. She reached the runoff against Democrat Raphael Warnock but lost. Loeffler supported President Trump, aligning with his policies and boasting a “100 percent Trump voting record.” She contested the 2020 U.S. presidential election results and initially planned to object to the Electoral College certification but withdrew her objection after the U.S. Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.
Born in Bloomington, Illinois, Loeffler was raised on a family farm and participated in sports and marching band in high school. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Illinois and an MBA from DePaul University. Her career began at Toyota, followed by roles at Citibank, William Blair & Company, and the Crossroads Group, before joining Intercontinental Exchange.
Loeffler purchased a stake in the Atlanta Dream in 2010, later co-owning it with Mary Brock. She sold her share in February 2021. Upon joining the Senate, she left financial assets from Intercontinental Exchange valued over $9 million.
Politically, Loeffler and her husband have donated primarily to Republican causes, including substantial contributions to Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign and a Trump 2020 super PAC.
In the Senate, Loeffler identified as a staunch conservative, aligning closely with Trump’s positions. She sponsored 57 bills and cosponsored 210, opposing the Affordable Care Act and supporting anti-abortion legislation. A supporter of gun rights and border wall construction, she introduced a bill barring transgender girls from girls’ and women’s sports. On COVID-19, Loeffler endorsed the Trump administration’s handling and criticized Democrats’ approach.
After the Capitol riot, Loeffler voted to certify the Electoral College results, reversing her initial opposition.