Wrapping Up the Legislative Races & Other Election Tidbits

November 6, 2024

The 2024 Kentucky General Election is largely in the books, as the few races that were too-close-to-call Tuesday evening finally have a conclusion. In addition, there were more than 100 local initiatives to opt-in to Kentucky’s burgeoning medical marijuana construct (spoiler alert: they all passed), a non-partisan race in Central Kentucky for an eight-year term on the state supreme court, and a major shift in the composition of the local legislative body in Louisville. Senate President Robert Stivers held press availability this morning to talk about the future of national and state GOP politics, the impact of the elections on Kentucky, hints about what to expect in the upcoming session, and his own future as an elected official.  

Legislative Wrap-Up

In the 11-way write-in race to replace the deceased state Sen. Johnnie Turner, Pineville Mayor Scott Madon handily won. Madon was the preferred choice of the Turner family, state and local GOP operatives, and the Republican Senate Majority. Madon effectively fleshes out a 31-7 Republican supermajority. Although the circumstances that led to his election were unusual, Madon will serve the full, four-year Senate term. 

Democrats and Republicans swapped House seats around in Fayette County, with Democrats picking up the 45th District against a GOP primary winner, while losing their House Minority Caucus Chair Cherlynn Stevenson to a Republican challenger. In the 45th District, Democrat Adam Moore will succeed Republican state Rep. Killian Timoney. Timoney was defeated by Republican Thomas Jefferson during the May primary. In the neighboring district, Stevenson was bested by GOP challenger Vanessa Grossi, of Georgetown. Stevenson’s defeat, combined with the retirements of Democrat Representatives Derrick Graham and Rachel Roberts, mean House Democrats must replace their full Leadership roster. In his Wednesday morning remarks, Senate President Robert Stivers noted that Stevenson’s loss is evidence that Gov. Andy Beshear has little ability to impact legislative races. Beshear campaigned and provided financial support for Stevenson and a Democrat write-in for the open Senate seat. 

In an interesting example of how voters in one county, Franklin, home to the Capitol and State government split their ticket, Democrat newcomer Erica Hancock handily won a vacant House seat over Republican city councilman Kyle Thompson. Although previously a Democrat stronghold, her win is notable considering Trump and 1st Congressional District Republican James Comer both won Franklin County (by 5 and 7 points, respectively).   

In Louisville, Republican state Rep. Susan Witten narrowly defended her 31st District seat, winning by a mere 340 votes, as did Democrat Rachel Roarx, notching a 249-vote win over her GOP challenger in the Southwest Louisville seat.  

The House of Representatives will feature an 80-20 House Republican supermajority. 

Leadership Races Upcoming

With the roster of members set, both the House and Senate Republican Majority Caucuses will waste no time in selecting their leaders for the next two years. The legislative majorities have five leadership slots available, and in both cases will convene privately to make those determinations, perhaps as early as within the next 10 days. Voting will be open to all returning members and members-elect  

The Republican House is expected to vote on their leadership on November 12. No member of leadership retired or was defeated, and the conventional wisdom is that the team will remain largely intact. Still, with many new faces and a consistent undercurrent of “Liberty” Republicans, chamber-of-commerce Republicans, populists, and preachers, there is always the opportunity for turnover among the ranks.  

The State Senate Republican Leadership will certainly offer some intrigue when it is expected to vote on November 15. The retirement of Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer opens that coveted spot. Current Majority Caucus Chair Julie Raque Adams has expressed interest in the position, and she is expected to face competition from state Sen. Max Wise. In pursuing the role Floor Leader, Adams relinquishes the Caucus Chairmanship. Senators Robbie Mills and Mike Nemes have declared their candidacy for that slot. Like the House, the Senate GOP Caucus is so large and ideologically diverse that other challenges may materialize. 

Both the House and Senate Majorities will have their leadership teams in place for their December caucus retreats, where the caucuses will put form around their 2025 legislative agendas.  

Goodwine Vote Overwhelms State Supreme Court District 5

Voters in eight Central Kentucky counties took to the polls to decide the justice for state Supreme Court District 5. Court of Appeals Judge Pamela Goodwine ran away with the vote – garnering a 60-point margin of victory in this nominally non-partisan race. Goodwine was the preferred candidate of Governor Beshear and scads of other prominent Democrats. She replaces the retiring Chief Justice Lawrence Vanmeter as the Justice for the 5th District, and Deputy Chief Justice Debra Lambert will assume the role of Chief Justice.  

Although state Supreme Court races are non-partisan, self-styled conservatives have recently efforted to outwardly display their right-of-center credentials in the hopes of changing the ideological balance of the bench. In each case, they have been handily defeated.  

Medical Marijuana & Alcohol Sweeps Local Initiatives

“It’s an issue Kentucky believes in,” so says GOP Senate President Robert Stivers Wednesday morning when asked about the 106 clean sweep votes in support of medical marijuana in cities and counties across the Commonwealth. Kentucky’s medical marijuana statutes are set to go in effect January 1, 2025. The legislation that enabled it allows local governments to self-determine whether or not they want dispensary sales in their communities, either through local ordinance or a vote. They do, apparently. All 106 jurisdictions that put the matter up to a vote, voted Yes overwhelmingly.  

And, yes, Kentucky still has a handful of dry counties leftover from Prohibition. There were 16 wet/dry elections in nine counties Tuesday, and they all passed. The counties of Washington, Clinton, Menifee and Morgan went wet countywide, while the other 12 wet/dry votes were designated in specific precincts. 

Red Wave Permeates Louisville with Metro Council Republicans Netting Three Seats

The legislative body of the merged, city-county Louisville Metro Government is a 26-member Metro Council, elected in staggered, four-year terms. The GOP Caucus had largely floundered as a minority party nearly twenty years ago. Now, following a sweep of the seven contested seats and netting three new members, the legislative body of the Democratic stronghold of Louisville has a near symmetrical 14-12 split in favor of the Democrats.  

Democrats Rick Blackwell and Cindy Fowler were defeated by Republican challengers Jonathan “JJ” Joseph and Crystal Bast, respectively. Republican Ginny Mulvy-Woolridge won an open seat made so by the retirement of Democrat Madonna Flood.  

Two state lawmakers will shorten their commute and serve in the next Metro Council. Kevin Bratcher, the dean of the Louisville GOP delegation in Louisville, easily won an open Council seat. Democrat Josie Raymond was unopposed in her effort.  

This may be as close as the Republicans can ever come to securing a majority. The 2024 General Assembly changed the law to make Council and mayoral races non-partisan beginning in the 2026 cycle.  

Senate President Stivers Holds Media Availability

On Wednesday morning, Senate President Robert Stivers made himself available to local media. Media members asked him to reflect on the national and statewide results and their implications for the Commonwealth. Stivers cited energy policy as a specific area where Kentucky will thrive under the new Trump Administration, noting coal and natural gas specifically. Stivers suggested the overwhelming support across the state for GOP candidates shows that US Senator Mitch McConnell would certainly win if he chooses to run again in 2026, and extended that prediction to any GOP candidate seeking statewide office.  

The Senate President was asked what the failure of the school choice amendment (Constitutional Amendment 2) means for the future of school choice policy in the legislature. Stivers prefaced his response noting that the consistent underperformance of Jefferson County Public Schools – particularly those in the African-American populated West End – was a motivating factor in exploring all pathways to increase performance. According to him, the voters have spoken about this particular pathway, but the General Assembly will not give up its efforts to turnaround chronically underachieving districts.  

President Stivers noted he had spoken with Speaker of the House David Osborne earlier Wednesday morning, and they discussed their goal of continuing to achieve higher credit ratings and a sound fiscal approach. While he did not give a fully fleshed out legislative preview, he suggested when members return to Frankfort in January, further lowering of the state individual income tax would be a priority.  

Lastly, the media asked President Stivers if he has aspirations for a different political office. Stivers quickly left the door open for a future run, but tempered that by noting if an opportunity arises, he would seek it only with the counsel of friends and the Republican Party.  

Results of Contested State Senate Races 

District 5 - Senate Health Services Chairman Stephen Meredith of Leitchfield defeated Democrat Jamie Skudlarek. 

District 7 - (OPEN) Republican newcomer Aaron Reed of Shelbyville, a former Navy SEAL who established his bona fides as a “Liberty” candidate defeated Democrat Rhonda Davis. Reed defeated Sen. Adrienne Southworth in the primary. 

District 9 - Republican President Pro Tempore Sen. David Givens of Greensburg defeated Democrat Karen Pennington.  

District 17 - (OPEN) Republican Matt Nunn, the Vice President of Toyota Tsusho America from Sadieville, defeated Democrat Kiana Fields. This seat fills the vacancy created by Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer’s retirement. 

District 23 - Senate Appropriations & Revenue Chairman Chris McDaniel of Northern Kentucky defeated Democrat Jennifer Sierra.  

District 27 - Senate Education Chairman Steve West from Bourbon County defeated Democrat Molly Gene Crain.  

District 29 – Scott Madon, the Mayor of Pineville, secured 44% of the vote in a write-in campaign to succeed Republican Johnnie Turner, who passed away shortly before the election. Madon will fulfill the four-year term.  

District 37 - Senate Minority Whip David Yates of Louisville defeated Republican Calvin Leach. 

There were 11 seats without a general election contest. These races were determined either during the candidate filing deadline in January or following the May primary election:    

District 1 - Agriculture Committee Chairman Jason Howell, Murray 

District 3 - Craig Richardson, an attorney from Hopkinsville (Sen. Westerfield retired) 

District 11 – Rep. Steve Rawlings of Northern Kentucky (Sen. Schickel retired) 

District 13 - Reggie Thomas of Lexington 

District 15 - Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection Chairman Rick Girdler, Somerset 

District 19 - Cassie Chambers Armstrong, Louisville 

District 21 - Brandon Storm, London. 

District 25 - President Robert Stivers, Manchester 

District 31 - Phillip Wheeler, Pikeville 

District 33 - Minority Floor Leader Gerald Neal, Louisville 

District 35 - Rep. Keturah Herron, Louisville (Sen. Harper-Angel retired) 

Results of Contested State House Races 

District 1 - Majority Floor Leader Steven Rudy from Paducah defeated Democrat Fredrick Fountain. 

District 3 - Local Government Chairman Rep. Randy Bridges from Paducah defeated Democrat Carrie Singler.  

District 4 - Republican incumbent Rep. Wade Williams from Murray defeated Madisonville Democrat Lloyd Smith. 

District 5 – Republican incumbent Rep. Mary-Beth Imes of North Murray defeated Murray Democrat Lauren Hines. 

District 6 – Republican incumbent Chris Freeland from Benton defeated Benton Democrat Linda Edwards. 

District 9- Republican incumbent Rep. Myron Dossett from Pembroke defeated Hopkinsville Democrat Twyla Dillard. 

District 10 – Republican incumbent Rep. Josh Calloway from Irvington defeated Webster Democrat John Whipple.  

District 12 - Natural Resources & Energy Chairman Rep. Jim Gooch of Providence defeated Democratic challenger Alton Ayer.  

District 14 - Republican incumbent Rep. Scott Lewis from Beaver Dam defeated Democrat Chanda Garner. 

District 21 – Republican incumbent Rep. Amy Neighbors defeated Colombia Democrat Jeffery Humble. 

District 24 – Republican Ryan Bivens, a farmer from Hodgenville defeated Democrat Johnny Pennington. Ryan will replace Courtney Gilbert, who did not seek re-election. 

District 25 – Republican incumbent Rep. Steve Bratcher from Elizabethtown defeated Democratic newcomer Cherlyn Smith.  

District 27 – Republican incumbent Rep. Nancy Tate from Brandenburg defeated Democrat Tyler Chapman. 

District 28 - Republican incumbent Rep. Jared Bauman from Louisville defeated Democrat Almaria Baker, winning his first re-election in Louisville’s urban core. 

District 29 - (OPEN) Republican Metro Council legislative assistant Chris Lewis defeated Democrat Timothy Findley to fill the seat vacated by GOP State Rep. Kevin Bratcher. 

District 31 - Republican incumbent Rep. Susan Witten narrowly defeated Democrat Colleen Davis in one of the most closely decided elections in Louisville. During the last round of redistricting, District 31 was one of the only true “toss-up” districts drawn by the GOP Majority. Although Witten won in this relatively affluent district in 2022, her re-elect hadn’t been tested with Trump at the top of the ticket.  

District 33 - Majority Whip Republican Jason Nemes from Louisville defeated Louisville Democrat Taylor Jolly. 

District 36 – Republican incumbent Rep. John Hodgson from Louisville defeated Democrat William Zorn, also from Louisville. 

District 37 – Republican incumbent Rep. Emily Callaway from Louisville defeated Democrat President of Teamsters Local 783, John Stovall in a hard fought race to win her first re-election. 

District 38 - Democratic incumbent Rep. Rachel Roarx defeated Republican challenger Carrie McKeehan in one of the closest races this cycle. Roarx is a freshman, defending a Southwestern Louisville seat in a formerly reliable Democratic district. 

District 39 – Republican incumbent Rep. Matt Lockett from Nicholasville defeated Democratic challenger Ryan Stranford.   

District 41 - (OPEN) Former Democratic State Rep. Mary Lou Marzian defeated Republican Sara-Elizabeth Cottrell to fill the open seat created by the departure of Democrat Josie Raymond. 

District 45 – Lexington Democrat Adam Moore appears to have beaten Republican Thomas Jefferson in this open seat that was created by the primary loss of incumbent Rep. Killian Timoney.  

District 46 – Incumbent Louisville Democrat Rep. Al Gentry defeated Republican challenger Bob DeVore.  

District 47 - Republican incumbent Rep. Felicia Rabourn of Pendleton defeated Democrat Robb Adams, the retired Mayor of Carrollton.

District 48 – Republican incumbent Ken Fleming bested Democratic challenger Kate Farrow by a near ten-point margin. This was on most ‘races to watch’ lists by virtue of the nature of the district – a suburban one that straddles wealthy Eastern Jefferson County and the bedroom county of Oldham.  

District 55 - Incumbent Republican and Tourism & Outdoor Recreation Chairwoman Kim King from Harrodsburg defeated Democratic challenger Katrina Sexton. 

District 56 – Republican incumbent Rep. Daniel Fister of Versailles defeated Versailles Democrat Chantel Bingham. 

District 57 - (OPEN) Democrat Erika Hancock – a Frankfort State Farm agent – defeated Republican and Frankfort City Commissioner Kyle Thompson to fill the vacant seat created be the retirement of Minority Floor Leader Derrick Graham. 

District 60 - Freshman Republican Rep. Marianne Proctor of Union defeated Democratic candidate Deborah Flowers. 

District 62 - (OPEN) Republican and Scott County Sheriff Tony Hampton of Georgetown defeated Democrat Kevin Kidwell to fill the seat vacated by retiring Small Business & Information Technology Chairman Phillip Pratt. 

District 64 - House Health Services Chairwoman Kimberly Moser of Taylor Mill in Northern Kentucky easily defeated Democrat Heather Crabbe in this heavily Republican district. 

District 65 – Republican Rep. Stephanie Dietz of Edgewood in Northern Kentucky easily defeated Democrat Attorney and professor Aaron Currin after a hard fought race. Dietz narrowly won against a popular Democratic incumbent in 2022. 

District 66 - (OPEN) Republican T.J. Roberts, a consultant from Burlington, defeated Democrat Peggy Houston-Neinaber to fill the seat of Steve Rawlings, who left the seat in a successful State Senate bid. 

District 67 - (OPEN) Democrat Matthew Lehman of Newport defeated Republican candidate Terry Hatton in this race to replace the retiring House Minority Whip Rachel Roberts. Lehman is a biotech research and design worker.  

District 68 – Republican incumbent Rep. Mike Clines of Alexandria, defeated Democratic challenger Brandon Long. 

District 69 - Freshman Republican Rep. Steven Doan of Erlanger defeated Democratic challenger Wilanne Stangel.  

District 71 – Republican incumbent Josh Bray defeated Democrat Rachelle Riddle.  

District 73 – Republican incumbent Rep. Ryan Dotson from Winchester defeated Democrat Rory Houlihan. 

District 77 - Incumbent Democrat Rep. George Brown from Lexington defeated Republican challenger Jason Griffith. 

District 78 – Republican incumbent Rep. Mark Hart of Falmouth defeated Independent candidate Timothy Johnson. 

District 84 – Republican incumbent Chris Fugate defeated Democratic challenger Zackary Hall. 

District 88 – Republican challenger Vanessa Grossl, a business development coordinator from Georgetown, defeated Democrat Minority Caucus Chair Cherlynn Stevenson, of Lexington. Grossl’s victory gives her the distinction of defeating the only incumbent this General Election. Stevenson had been the target of GOP fundraising and GOTV efforts for consecutive cycles. Fayette County (Lexington) is reliably Democratic, but the GOP saw pickup potential in and around GOP-weighted Scott County.  

District 95 - Incumbent Democrat Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty of Martin in Eastern Kentucky defeated a tough challenger in Republican Brandon Spencer in this generally Republican area of Appalachia. 

District 98 - (OPEN) Republican Aaron Thompson, a manager from Ashland, defeated Democrat Tammie Womack in this race to replace the retiring Republican Danny Bentley. 

There were 55 seats without a general election contest. These races were determined either during the candidate filing deadline in January or following the May primary election: 

District 2 - Kimberly Holloway, a small business owner from Mayfield (defeated Rep. Health in primary) 

District 7 - Majority Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles, Owensboro 

District 8 – Veterans, Military Affairs & Public Protection Chairman Walker Thomas, Hopkinsville 

District 11 - J.T. Payne, an agriculture teacher from Henderson. (Rep. Dixon retired) 

District 13 - D.J. Johnson, Owensboro 

District 15 - Rebecca Raymer, Morgantown 

District 16 - Appropriations & Revenue Chairman Jason Petrie, Elkton 

District 17 - Robert Duvall, Bowling Green 

District 18 - Families & Children Chairman Samara Heavrin, Leitchfield 

District 19 - Banking & Insurance Chairman Michael Meredith, Oakland 

District 20 - Kevin Jackson, Bowling Green 

District 22 - Shawn McPherson, Scottsville  

District 23 - Steve Riley, Glasgow 

District 26 - Peyton Griffee, a trial attorney from Mount Washington (Rep. Webber retired) 

District 30 - Daniel Grossberg, Louisville  

District 32 - Tina Bojanowski, Louisville 

District 34 - Sarah Stalker, Louisville 

District 35 - Lisa Willner, Louisville 

District 40 - Nima Kulkarni, Louisville  

District 42 - Joshua Watkins, a government administrator and realtor from Louisville (Rep. Herron moved to the Senate)  

District 43 - Pamela Stevenson, Louisville 

District 44 - Beverly Chester-Burton, Shively  

District 49 – Thomas Huff, Shepherdsville  

District 50 - Candy Massaroni, Bardstown 

District 51 - Sarge Pollock, Campbellsville  

District 52 - Ken Upchurch, Monticello 

District 53 - Education Chairman James Tipton, Taylorsville 

District 54 - Judiciary Chairman Daniel Elliott, Danville 

District 59 - Speaker of the House David Osborne, Prospect 

District 61 - Savannah Maddox, Dry Ridge 

District 63 - Kim Banta, Ft. Mitchell 

District 70 - William Lawrence, Maysville 

District 72 - Licensing & Occupations Chairman Matt Koch, Paris 

District 74 - State Government Chairman David Hale, Wellington 

District 75 - Lindsey Burke, Lexington 

District 76 - Anne Donworth, Director of Development & Communications for the Lexington Public Library (Rep. Palumbo retired)  

District 78 - Mark Hart, Falmouth  

District 79 - Chad Aull, Lexington 

District 80 - Speaker Pro-Tem David Meade, Stanford 

District 81 - Deanna Frazier Gordon, Richmond 

District 82 - Nick Wilson, Williamsburg 

District 83 - House Economic Development & Workforce Investment Chairman Josh Branscum, Russell Springs 

District 85 - Shane Baker, Somerset 

District 86 -Tom O’Dell Smith, Corbin 

District 87 - House Appropriations & Revenue Vice-Chairman Adam Bowling, Middlesboro 

District 89 -Timmy Truett, McKee 

District 90 - Derek Lewis, London 

District 91 - Bill Wesley, Ravenna 

District 92 - House Transportation Chairman John Blanton, Salyersville 

District 93 - Adrielle Camuel, Lexington 

District 94 - Mitchum Whitaker, an attorney from Fleming-Neon (Rep. Justice retired) 

District 96 - Patrick Flannery, Olive Hill 

District 97 - Bobby McCool, Van Lear 

District 99 - Richard White, Morehead 

District 100 - Scott Sharp, Ashland 

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