Ward started her political involvement during the 1994 US Senate Campaign of former Senator Rick Santorum, when she served as the County Chair for his Westmoreland County campaign. In 1999, she ran the successful election of a County Commissioner in Westmoreland County. She served as the Southwest Regional Director for Santorum's 2000 re-election bid. From 2000 until 2002 Ward owned and operated a consulting and government outreach firm called Commonwealth Political Associates. In 2001, Ward won election as a Hempfield Township Supervisor. In 2002, Ward joined the administration of Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker. Following her time with Schweiker's administration, Ward returned to her political consulting, running 84 Lumber founder Joe Hardy's successful election as Commissioner in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. In 2004 Ward served as the Southwest Political Director for the re-election campaign of President George W Bush. She would reprise this role for former Senator Rick Santorum's 2006 re-election campaign.
Westmoreland County Commissioner
In late 2006, Ward announced that she would run for Westmoreland County Commissioner in the 2007 election. Ward would form a partnership with Penn Township Commissioner George Dunbar, who was endorsed by the Westmoreland Republican Committee in a concerted effort to win a majority in the County Courthousefor the first time in over 50 years. While Dunbar fell short, Ward became the first woman elected as County Commissioner in over three decades.
2008 State Senate election
In 2008, Ward was called upon to fill the vacancy on the ballot created by State Senator Bob Regola's withdrawal from consideration. Ward entered the race in August and engaged one of the most expensive campaigns in the district's history against the Democratic nominee, Tony Bompiani. The campaign centered around Bompiani's time as a Hempfield Area School Board member and Ward's time as a Hempfield Township Supervisor Ward won the election with 54% of the vote.
2009–2010 legislative session
Senator Ward was sworn into her first term on January 6, 2009. She was appointed as Vice Chair of the Banking and Insurance Committee as well as being a member of the Communications and Technology, Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Public Health & Welfare and the Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committees. Ward's first year in the Senate was marked by a long budget process which lasted into October, well past the June 30th deadline. She was critical of Governor Ed Rendell's leadership and his call for tax increases during the impasse. On October 27 of 2010, Ward saw her first piece of legislation signed into law: Senate Bill 1181. The bill made amendments to insurance law in Pennsylvania. During this legislative session, Ward began her efforts to reform Methadone treatment practices in Pennsylvania. Ward sponsored SR 348, which mandated an audit of Pennsylvania's methadone treatment programs. The Senate passed SR 348 in June 2010. Ward further called for reforms in the oversight of the program in a letter to the Department of Public Welfare.
2011–2012 legislative session
In the 2011–2012 Legislative Session, Ward renewed her push to reform methadone treatment practices in Pennsylvania. Governor Tom Corbett signed Ward's Senate Bill 638 into law, which mandated that those who were treated for addiction with methadone and used state funded transportation had to use their nearest methadone clinic. Ward also led the effort to institute E-Verify in Pennsylvania. Ward introduced Senate Bill 637, which was passed, and mandates that all contractors within the state verify that their employees are documented as eligible employees. Ward also passed bills providing benefits for Volunteer Fire Companies, giving certain municipalities the ability to require police officers to live in the municipality, and restricting insurance companies from mandating prices on dental procedures that they don’t cover Following the Penn State Child Abuse Scandal, Ward, as the Chair of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee, introduced Senate Resolution 250 which created the Task Force on Child Protection. The Task Force would issue a report in November 2012 which would lead to legislation in the 2013–2014 legislative session.
2012 election
In 2012 Kim Ward was courted to run against US Senator Bob Casey. She opted to run for re-election to her state senate seat, which she did by winning both Republican and Democratic nominations.
2013–2014 legislative session
State Senator Kim Ward was appointed chair of the Economic, Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Aging and Youth Committee and as a member of the Banking & Insurance, Environmental Resources & Energy, Public Health & Welfare and Rules & Executive Nominations committees. Ward, along with a bipartisan group of State Senators, introduced legislation recommended by the Child Protection Task Force. Ward's bills would alter who is a mandated reporter of child abuse and increase penalties for failing to report suspected child abuse.
2019–2020 legislative session
Ward was the sponsor of SB 1166, a proposed constitutional amendment which would require the General Assembly to vote to approve extending an emergency declaration beyond 21 days.
Personal life
Kim Ward was born in Meadowlands, Pennsylvania which lies in Washington County. Kim Ward lives in Hempfield Township in Westmoreland County. She has three grown sons, Tom, Matthew and Michael
