[2] Kearney cofounded Sesh Communications, one of the largest African American–owned publishing companies in the area, which produces The Cincinnati Herald, The Dayton Defender, and Our Week.

When incumbent Mark Mallory resigned from the Senate, Kearney as well as Catherine Barrett, Tyrone Yates, Steve Driehaus, David Pepper and Alicia Reece all were in the running to replace him.

[5] For the 127th General Assembly, Kearney was appointed by Minority Leader Teresa Fedor to the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee.

In his first full term, Kearney also began his annual walk from Cincinnati to the Ohio Statehouse to underscore their commitment to fighting childhood obesity and supporting physical education.

[9][10] On December 10, Kearney stepped down from the ticket due to increasing controversy surrounding back taxes owed by himself and his wife,[11] for which they blamed financial difficulties at the Herald.