While much of the nation’s attention is focused on the presidential race ahead of Election Day on Nov. 5, most Kentucky General Assembly seats are on the ballot this year as well.
House representatives are elected every two years and senators serve four-year terms. Senate elections are staggered, and this year seats representing odd-numbered districts will be decided.
House races
All 100 Kentucky House districts are up for election this year, but only 45 districts have a general election race. Of those, 36 races have an incumbent candidate. Races to watch on election night are:
- District 45 - Fayette (part), Jessamine (part): Democrat Adam Moore seeks to flip the district after Republican Thomas Jefferson defeated incumbent Killian Timoney in the primary.
- District 67 - Campbell (part): An open seat after incumbent Democrat Rachel Roberts chose not to run again, this race pits Republican Terry Hatton against Democrat Matthew Lehman who is trying to keep this seat -- which is currently the only Democratic House seat in northern Kentucky -- in the blue.
- District 88 - Fayette (part), Scott (part): Democratic incumbent and minority caucus chair Cherylynn Stevenson is seeking a fourth term against Republican challenger Vanessa Grossl. Stevenson has won two of her three races by fewer than 40 votes.
- District 95 - Floyd, Pike (part): Incumbent Democrat Ashley Tackett Laferty is in a rematch with her 2022 opponent, Republican Brandon Spencer who lost by almost 20 percentage points two years ago. Rep. Tackett Laferty is the only Democratic House member in the East.
Candidates in 55 Kentucky House districts are running unopposed.
Of the 43 Republicans running unopposed, 40 are incumbents. Three new Republican candidates will go into Tuesday unopposed:
- District 2 - Graves, McCracken (part): Kimberly Holloway defeated incumbent Richard Heath in the primary.
- District 11 - Henderson: J.T. Payne will replace Jonathan Dixon who chose not to run for re-election.
- District 94 - Harlan (part), Letcher, Pike (part): Mitch Addison Whitaker will replace Jacob Justice following his retirement.
Twelve Democrats are running unopposed, 10 of whom are incumbents. Two new Democrat candidates will go into Tuesday unopposed:
- District 42 - Jefferson (part): Joshua Watkins will replace Rep. Keturah Herron as she runs for an open state Senate seat.
- District 76 - Fayette (part): Anne Gay Donworth will replace Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo following her retirement.
Two members of House Democratic party leadership are retiring: House Minority Floor Leader Derrick Graham of Frankfort and House Democratic Whip Rachel Roberts from Newport.
Currently Republicans hold a supermajority of 80-20.
Senate races
The 19 odd-numbered Senate districts are up for election this year, however only seven districts have a general election race. Five of those races have an incumbent candidate. Races to watch on election night include:
- District 17 - Scott, Grant, Fayette (part), Kenton (part): Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer announced last year he would not seek re-election after six terms in the Senate. Republican Matt Nunn faces Democrat Kiana Fields. Both reside in Scott County.
- District 27 - Bourbon, Harrison, Nicholas, Fleming, Robertson, Mason, Rowan, Fayette (part): Incumbent Republican Steve West faces challenger Democrat Molly Gene Craig from Lexington. West is in his second full term.
- District 29 - Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Knott, Letcher: Sen. Johnnie Turner passed away last week from injuries sustained in an accident the month prior. There were three days remaining before the deadline passed for a write-in candidate to file. In that timespan, 11 people filed and are assembling campaigns to win the now-vacant seat: Craig Blackburn of Prestonsburg, John Clem of Cranks, Willie Crase of Garrett, Leonard Hendrickson of Pine Top, Tanner Hesterberg of Prestonsburg, Valerie Ison Horn of Whitesburg, Scott Madon of Pineville, Justin Noble of Emmalena, Andrew Saylor of Wallins Creek, Tyler Ward of Whitesburg and Paul Williams of Prestonsburg.
Candidates in 11 districts are running unopposed.
Seven Republicans are running unopposed and five of those are incumbents. Two new Republican candidates will go into Tuesday night unopposed:
- District 3 - Caldwell, Christian, Muhlenberg: Craig Richardson will replace Sen. Whitney Westerfield, who chose not to run for re-election.
- District 11 - Boone (part): Current state Rep. Steve Rawlings will replace John Schickel following his retirement.
Four Democrats are running unopposed and three are incumbents. One new Democrat will go into Tuesday unopposed:
- District 35 - Jefferson (part): Current state Representative Keturah Herron will replace Sen. Denise Harper Angel following her retirement.
Currently Republicans hold a supermajority in the Senate of 31-7.
Constitutional amendments
There are two proposed amendment questions on the ballot that, if passed, would amend Kentucky’s constitution concerning illegal voting and school funding.
Illegal voting: Amendment One would add language to the state constitution that “…no person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be allowed to vote in the state.”
School funding: Amendment Two asks the question: “…are you in favor of enabling the General Assembly to provide financial support for the education costs of students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are outside the system of common (public) schools by amending the Constitution of Kentucky as stated [below]: ‘The General Assembly may provide financial support for the education of students outside the system of common schools. The General Assembly may exercise this authority by law, Sections 59, 60, 171, 183, 184, 186, and 189 of this Constitution notwithstanding.’”
