
The Republican Party had a comfortable hold on the Kentucky State Senate and positioned itself for a fight for the State House. The Republicans were down eight seats, so they would have needed to take five new ones to obtain a majority. Kentucky was one of two instances, along with New Hampshire, where Republicans could have taken the legislature in a state with a Democratic governor.[1]
Redistricting completed in 2013 presented a challenge to this outcome. Two incumbent Republicans, Bart Rowland and Russell Webber, faced opponents in the general election because of redistricting. On the other hand, two incumbent Democrats were vulnerable; Richard Henderson because of controversy surrounding illegal cockfighting, and Jim Glenn because his past two elections were very close.[2] Only one of these four, Henderson, lost his seat.
There was a historical hurdle to overcome as well; Republicans had not held the Kentucky House since 1921.[3]
In 51 of the 100 districts up for election in 2014, there was more than one major party candidate running for election. Twenty-five Democrats and 24 Republicans were guaranteed election barring unforeseen circumstances.
The Kentucky House of Representatives was one of 20 state legislative chambers noted by Ballotpedia staff as being a battleground chamber. The Kentucky House had a difference in partisan balance between Democrats and Republicans of eight seats, which amounted to 8 percent of the chamber. In 2012, a total of 12 districts were competitive or mildly competitive. There were four districts where the margin of victory was 5 percent or less in the 2012 elections. Another 10 districts had a margin of victory between 5 and 10 percent.
Elections for the Kentucky House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 28, 2014.
Following the general election, there was no change to the majority control of the Kentucky House of Representatives. There was no change to the chamber's composition, where the Democratic Party maintained its control of the chamber with 54 seats. The Republican Party maintained control of 46 seats.
Incumbents retiring[edit]
A total of seven incumbents did not run for re-election in 2014. Those incumbents were:
Majority control[edit]
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 4 election, the Democratic Party held the majority in the Kentucky House of Representatives:
Qualifications[edit]
To be eligible to serve in the Kentucky House of Representatives, a candidate must be:[4]
- At least 24 years of age at the time of the election
- A citizen of Kentucky
- Resided in the state 2 years preceding the election
- Resided in the district for the last year
Competitiveness[edit]
Candidates unopposed by a major party[edit]
In 49 of the 100 districts up for election in 2014, there was only one major party candidate running for election. A total of 25 Democrats and 24 Republicans were guaranteed election barring unforeseen circumstances.
Two major party candidates faced off in the general election in 51 of the 100 districts up for election. Four of those seats held competitive elections in 2012 with a margin of victory ranging from 0 to 5 percent. Three other elections were mildly competitive, with a margin of victory between 5 and 10 percent. Those districts were:
Competitive
- District 7: Incumbent Suzanne Miles (R) defeated John Warren (D) in the general election. Miles won election in a 2013 special election after former incumbent John Arnold, Jr. (D) left office. Arnold won by a margin of victory of 0.03 percent in 2012.
- District 13: Incumbent James Glenn, Jr. (D) defeated challenger Jeremy Warfield in the Democratic primary. Glenn defeated Alan Braden (R) in the general election. Glenn won by a margin of victory of 2 percent in 2012.
- District 27: Incumbent Jeff Greer (D) defeated challenger Rachelle Frazier (R) in the general election. Greer won by a margin of victory of 2 percent in 2012.
- District 91: Incumbent Hubert Collins (D) defeated challenger Sid Allen (D) in the Democratic primary. Bobby W. McCool defeated Dewie Ison and William Scott Wells in the Republican primary. Collins won by a margin of victory of 1 percent in 2012.
Mildly competitive
- District 49: This seat was open, as incumbent Russell Webber (R) ran for re-election in District 26. Linda Howlett Belcher defeated Jonathan Cacciatore in the Democratic primary, while Michael J. Nemes was unopposed in the Republican primary. Webber won by a margin of victory of 6 percent in 2012.
- District 50: Incumbent David Floyd (R) defeated challenger Audrey Haydon (D) in the general election. Floyd won by a margin of victory of 7 percent in 2012.
- District 56: Incumbent James Kay (D) defeated challenger Ryan Schwartz (R) in the general election. Kay won election in a 2013 special election after former incumbent Carl Rollins, II (D) left office. Rollins won by a margin of victory of 7 percent in 2012.
Primary challenges[edit]
A total of 11 incumbents faced primary competition on May 20. Seven incumbents did not seek re-election in 2014 and another 82 incumbents advanced past the primary without opposition. One incumbent, W. Keith Hall (D), was defeated in his primary. The state representatives that faced competition included:
Retiring incumbents[edit]
Seven incumbent representatives did not run for re-election, while 93 (93.0%) ran for re-election. A list of those incumbents, three Democrats and four Republicans, can be found above.
Context[edit]
A Ballotpedia analysis of partisan balance between 1992 and 2013 showed that Democrats held the House for the entire period. Furthermore, Republicans had not controlled the House since 1921;[3] Kentucky and West Virginia were the last two "Solid South" states to still have Democratic control of the state House.[5] Kentucky was one of three states with split control of the state legislature; Iowa and New Hampshire were the other two.[6]
With redistricting having been completed in 2013 to the benefit of Democrats, five Republican incumbents were forced to run in new districts, though only two, Bart Rowland and Russell Webber, faced opposition in the general election. Their moves set the stage for two-challenger general election contests in Districts 49 and 53.[2][7]
House Minority Leader Jeff Hoover (R), who had expressed interest in the role of Speaker should his party gain control, had noted that Republicans were targeting western districts, naming Democratic incumbents Jim Glenn, Gerald Watkins and Jim Gooch explicitly.[8]
In addition to maintaining four seats left by outgoing incumbents, Republicans required five new seats in order to take over the chamber. The implications of the State House race were not lost on outside groups, as a Republican PAC, AmeriGOP, hired a former aide to Mitt Romney to direct its fundraising efforts, and the Democratic group Kentucky Family Values set forth to counter an influx of money from out-of state donors.[5][9] Rand Paul (R), one of the state's two U.S. Senators, was active in fundraising for candidates and groups including AmeriGOP, which pursues the passage of right-to-work legislation and the repeal of prevailing wage.[10] Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a 2012 presidential candidate, was also booked to appear at an October 25 fundraiser for the Kentucky Rise PAC.[11]
Republicans did not need to win all nine seats to gain control before the Kentucky General Assembly reconvened. Scott Lasley, a political science professor who chairs the Warren County Republican Party, suggested that conservative Democrats may have switched party affiliation to the GOP after the election if Republicans reduced their deficit by enough members.[12] An example of party defection can be found in Louisiana, where a number of conservative Democrats responded to their party's midterm defeat in 2010 by leaving for the GOP, giving it the majority in the state House for the first time since Reconstruction despite legislative elections not being held there that year.[13] In 2012, Democrats won control of the New York State Senate in the elections, but lost it again after several Democrats joined with Republicans to form a new majority caucus while maintaining their party affiliation.[14]
Races to Watch[edit]
The following table details the key races in the November 4 general election for the Kentucky House of Representatives and the 2012 margin of victory for the district.
Bold=Incumbent
- District 7: Republican incumbent Suzanne Miles ran for her first full term in the House, having narrowly won a special election to replace John Arnold (D), who resigned in September 2013 after ethics complaints of sexually harassing members of House staff. Arnold's 2012 margin of victory was a mere five votes (0.03 percent), and although Republicans cast Miles' special election victory as a harbinger of a partisan shift in 2014, her margin of victory over Kim Humphrey (D) was slim at 112 votes (1.6 percent).[16][3] Miles defeated John Warren (D) in the general election.
- District 10: An open seat left by Dwight Butler (R), Democrats heavily targeted the district, which leaned in their favor after redistricting. Both businessmen, Dean Schamore (D) outraised Alan Claypool (R) about six-and-a-half times by the primary.[17] Schamore defeated Claypool in the general election.
- District 13: Incumbent Jim Glenn (D) ran for his fifth term, but his prior two victories came at slim margins of 251 and 206 votes, respectively. (The 2010 campaign was a rematch of the 2008 election, in which Glenn defeated Ben Boarman (R) by a much greater margin of nearly 4,100 votes, and the 2012 campaign saw a strong challenge from an independent, Bill Barron.) After handily defeating Jeremy Warfield in the May 20 primary, Glenn defeated Alan Braden (R) in the general election.[2]
- District 32: Ashley Miller, a nurse practitioner and former Ms. Kentucky United States, had support from Emerge America, a progressive group that trains women to run for office; she was defeated by 2011 gubernatorial candidate Phil Moffett (R) for the open seat, which had been held by a Republican for over a decade.[18][19] In July, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R) threw his support behind Moffett, who did not have the financial benefit of running unopposed in the primary.[20]
- District 49: Two former state representatives faced off for an open seat deemed crucial to Republican efforts to take control of the chamber. While the district was considered conservative, Linda Belcher (D) outraised Mike Nemes (R) by nearly two times by early July.[15] Belcher defeated Nemes in the general election.
- District 50: Audrey Haydon, an Emerge candidate, had outraised incumbent David Floyd (R) almost five times over early on in the election.[18] However, Floyd lent $35,000 to his campaign after the primary, and he had defeated well-funded opponents in previous years.[15] Haydon was no exception, and Floyd pulled through the general election.
- District 55: Jacqueline Coleman (D) had doubled the funds of incumbent Kim King (R) early on;[17] by early July, the gap had closed slightly to $36,000 over King's $22,000. Coleman, a teacher, is the daughter of former state Rep. Jack Coleman.[15] This race was only one of two House contests featuring two women; the General Assembly was 16 percent female heading into the elections.[21] King dispatched Coleman in the general election.
- District 74: While incumbent Richard Henderson (D) won re-election entirely unopposed in 2012, a video from a pro-cockfighting rally showing him admitting to attending and betting on cockfights, which are illegal in Kentucky, proved a contentious issue in his race against David Hale (R). The video was seen as contributing to the primary defeat of U.S. Senate challenger Matt Bevin (R), who also spoke at the rally.[22][2] Henderson was defeated by Hale in the general election.
List of candidates[edit]
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Steven Jack Rudy 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- Richard Heath
a - Incumbent Heath was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Jesse Wright: 6,258
Richard Heath: 9,181 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Gerald Watkins
a - Incumbent Watkins was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Gerald Watkins: 7,153 
Randy Bridges: 6,188
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- Lynn Bechler
a - Incumbent Bechler was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Jarrod H. Jackson: 6,748
Lynn Bechler: 8,328 
May 20 Democratic primary:
Note: David L. Harrington withdrew from the primary.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Kenny Imes
a - Incumbent Imes was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Kenny Imes 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Will R. Coursey
a - Incumbent Courey was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Will R. Coursey: 10,041 
Keith Travis: 7,745
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- Suzanne Miles
a - Incumbent Miles was first elected to the chamber in 2013.
November 4 General election candidates:
John Warren: 7,241
Suzanne Miles: 8,343 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- John Tilley
a - Incumbent Tilley was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
John Tilley 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- Myron B. Dossett
a - Incumbent Dossett was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
November 4 General election candidates:
Myron B. Dossett 
Note: Seiber withdrew before the general election.
Note: Incumbent Ben Waide (R) did not run for re-election.
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Dean Schamore: 8,099 
Alan Claypool: 7,002
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
David A. Watkins: 8,435 
Paul A. DeSpain: 4,856
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Jim Gooch, Jr.
a - Incumbent Gooch was first elected to the chamber in 1994.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Jim Gooch, Jr.: 9,465 
Dianne Burns Mackey: 6,320
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Jim Glenn: 6,253 
Alan Braden: 5,708
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Tommy Thompson
a - Incumbent Thompson was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Tommy Thompson: 10,202 
Marian Turley: 6,315
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Brent Yonts
a - Incumbent Yonts was first elected to the chamber in 1996.
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Brent Yonts 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
Independent candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Martha Jane King: 6,804 
Jason Petrie: 4,632
Note: Incumbent C. Embry, Jr. (R) did not run for re-election.
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Jim DeCesare
a - Incumbent DeCesare was first elected to the chamber in 2004.
November 4 General election candidates:
Jim DeCesare 
Note: Incumbent Dwight Butler (R) did not run for re-election.
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
Note: Craig Davis withdrew from the primary.
November 4 General election candidates:
Tim Moore 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
John Wayne Smith: 4,914
Michael Lee Meredith: 8,165 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Jody Richards
a - Incumbent Richards was first elected to the chamber in 1976.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Jody Richards: 6,237 
Jenean M. Hampton: 3,610
Note: Incumbent Jim DeCesare (R) won re-election unopposed in District 17.
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- Bart Rowland
a - Incumbent Rowland was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Joe Choate: 6,391
Bart Rowland: 8,613 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Wilson Stone
a - Incumbent Stone was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Wilson Stone 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Johnny W. Bell
a - Incumbent Bell was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Johnny W. Bell: 7,504 
Jeff Jobe: 6,310
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Terry Mills
a - Incumbent Mills was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
May 20 GOP primary:
Note: Amber Rogers Dones withdrew from the primary.
November 4 General election candidates:
Terry Mills: 8,254 
J. Alex LaRue: 6,860
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Jimmie Lee: 6,810
Jim DuPlessis: 7,058 
Note: Incumbent Tim Moore (R) ran for re-election in District 18.
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
J. Scott Wantland: 4,972
Russell Webber: 6,941 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Jeff Greer
a - Incumbent Greer was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Jeff Greer: 7,036 
Rachelle Frazier: 5,346
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
Note: Joseph K. Mouser withdrew from the primary.
November 4 General election candidates:
Charles W. Miller 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Dave Stengel: 8,050
Kevin D. Bratcher: 8,892 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Tom Burch
a - Incumbent Burch was first elected to the chamber in 1978.
May 20 GOP primary:
Note: Krueger was disqualified following the primary; a court ruled that he did not live in the district.[23]
November 4 General election candidates:
Tom Burch 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Steve Riggs
a - Incumbent Riggs was first elected to the chamber in 1990.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Steve Riggs: 9,315 
Nicholas X. Simon: 6,037
Note: Incumbent Julie Adams (R) did not run for re-election.
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Ashley Miller: 7,939
Phil Moffett: 9,078 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Ron Crimm
a - Incumbent Crimm was first elected to the chamber in 1996.
November 4 General election candidates:
Ron Crimm 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Mary Lou Marzian
a - Incumbent Marzian was first elected to the chamber in 1994.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Mary Lou Marzian: 13,830 
Michael McNair: 6,160
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Jim Wayne
a - Incumbent Wayne was first elected to the chamber in 1990.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Jim Wayne: 7,781 
Carl Nett: 5,566
Note: Incumbent Jonathan Shell (R) ran for re-election in District 71.
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Debbie Barber: 5,975
Jerry T. Miller: 13,162 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Jeffery M. Donohue 
Note: Wilson withdrew on October 8, 2014.
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Denver "Denny" Butler 
Note: Incumbent Robert Damron (D) did not run for re-election.
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Russ Meyer: 7,836 
Jonah Mitchell: 6,246
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Dennis L. Horlander: 7,427 
Ronald Seiter: 2,679
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Tom Riner
a - Incumbent Riner was first elected to the chamber in 1982.
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Tom Riner 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Reginald K. Meeks: 11,296 
James F. Howland: 1,558
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Darryl T. Owens
a - Incumbent Owens was first elected to the chamber in 2004.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Darryl T. Owens: 9,864 
Corley Everett: 3,367
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Joni Jenkins
a - Incumbent Jenkins was first elected to the chamber in 1994.
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Joni Jenkins 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Stan Lee
a - Incumbent Lee was first elected to the chamber in 2000.
November 4 General election candidates:
Stan Lee 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Larry Clark
a - Incumbent Clark was first elected to the chamber in 1984.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Larry Clark: 8,288 
David Rainey: 4,454
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Rick W. Rand
a - Incumbent Rand was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Rick W. Rand 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- Bob M. DeWeese
a - Incumbent DeWeese was first elected to the chamber in 1992.
November 4 General election candidates:
Gretchen Hunt: 8,562
Bob M. DeWeese: 11,371 
Note: Incumbent Russell Webber (R) ran for re-election in District 26.
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Linda Howlett Belcher: 6,675 
Michael J. Nemes: 5,938
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- David Floyd
a - Incumbent Floyd was first elected to the chamber in 2004.
November 4 General election candidates:
Audrey Haydon: 6,947
David Floyd: 7,933 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
John "Bam" Carney 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Ken Upchurch 
Note: Incumbent Bart Rowland (R) ran for re-election in District 21.
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Kent Stevens: 7,291
James A. Tipton: 9,836 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Mike Harmon
a - Incumbent Harmon was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
November 4 General election candidates:
Mike Harmon 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- Kim King
a - Incumbent King was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Jacqueline Coleman: 5,927
Kim King: 11,110 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- James Kay
a - Incumbent Kay was first elected to the chamber in 2013.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
James Kay: 9,668 
Ryan Schwartz: 6,498
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Derrick W. Graham 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Brad Montell
a - Incumbent Montell was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
November 4 General election candidates:
Brad Montell 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- David W. Osborne
a - Incumbent Osborne was first elected to the chamber in 2005.
November 4 General election candidates:
James Victor Ewen: 4,447
David W. Osborne: 12,235 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Sal Santoro
a - Incumbent Santoro was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
November 4 General election candidates:
Sal Santoro 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Brian E. Linder
a - Incumbent Linder was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Brian E. Linder 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- Ryan F. Quarles
a - Incumbent Quarles was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Chuck Tackett: 6,439
Ryan F. Quarles: 9,163 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Diane St. Onge
a - Incumbent St. Onge was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Diane St. Onge 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Thomas Robert Kerr 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Arnold R. Simpson 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Addia Kathryn Wuchner 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Dennis Keene
a - Incumbent Keene was first elected to the chamber in 2004.
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Dennis Keene 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Shae Hornback: 4,535
Joseph M. Fischer: 12,606 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Adam Koenig
a - Incumbent Koenig was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
November 4 General election candidates:
Adam Koenig 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Mitchel B. "Mike" Denham 
Note: Incumbent John Stacy (D) did not run for re-election.
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Jonathan Shell
a - Incumbent Shell was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
Jonathan Shell 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Sannie Overly
a - Incumbent Overly was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Sannie Overly: 8,846 
Dwaine Curran: 4,794
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- Donna Mayfield
a - Incumbent Mayfield was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
November 4 General election candidates:
Bonnie R. Hummel: 5,656
Donna Mayfield: 8,590 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Richard Henderson: 7,453
David Hale: 8,346 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Kelly Flood
a - Incumbent Flood was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Kelly Flood 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Ruth Ann Palumbo
a - Incumbent Palumbo was first elected to the chamber in 1990.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Ruth Ann Palumbo: 8,138 
Richard Marrs: 5,622
Note: Incumbent Jesse Crenshaw (D) did not run for re-election.
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
George A. Brown Jr. 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Thomas M. McKee
a - Incumbent McKee was first elected to the chamber in 1996.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Thomas M. McKee: 6,519 
Mark Hart: 5,550
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Susan Westrom
a - Incumbent Westrom was first elected to the chamber in 1998.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Susan Westrom: 8,473 
Ken Kearns II: 5,321
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- David Meade
a - Incumbent Meade was first elected to the chamber in 2012.
November 4 General election candidates:
David Meade 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Rita H. Smart
a - Incumbent Smart was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
May 20 GOP primary:
Note: Bonnie Linnemeier withdrew from the primary.
November 4 General election candidates:
Rita H. Smart: 7,318 
C. Wesley Morgan: 5,167
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Regina Petry Bunch 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Jeff Hoover
a - Incumbent Hoover was first elected to the chamber in 1996.
November 4 General election candidates:
Jeff Hoover 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Fitz Steele 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Tommy Turner
a - Incumbent Turner was first elected to the chamber in 1996.
November 4 General election candidates:
Tommy Turner 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Jim Stewart
a - Incumbent Stewart was first elected to the chamber in 1996.
November 4 General election candidates:
Jim Stewart 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Rick Nelson
a - Incumbent Nelson was first elected to the chamber in 2000.
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Rick Nelson 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Creasa E. Reed: 6,473
Robert J. Benvenuti III: 11,592 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Joey Jayson Taylor II: 4,116
Marie L. Rader: 9,677 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Tim Couch
a - Incumbent Couch was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
Independent candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
Tim Couch: 10,335 
Darrell Mills: 2,024
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Cluster Howard: 6,937 
Gary "Toby" Herald: 6,923
May 20 Democratic primary:
- John W. Short
a - Incumbent Short was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
John W. Short 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Chris Harris 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Leslie A. Combs
a - Incumbent Combs was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Leslie A. Combs 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Gregory D. Stumbo 
May 20 Democratic primary:
Note: Derrick E. Willis withdrew from the primary.
May 20 GOP primary:
- Jill York
a - Incumbent York was first elected to the chamber in 2009.
November 4 General election candidates:
Barry Webb: 5,991
Jill York: 7,541 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
November 4 General election candidates:
Hubert Collins: 8,915 
Bobby W. McCool: 5,199
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Tanya Pullin
a - Incumbent Pullin was first elected to the chamber in 2000.
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Tanya Pullin 
May 20 Democratic primary:
- Rocky Adkins
a - Incumbent Adkins was first elected to the chamber in 1986.
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Rocky Adkins 
May 20 Democratic primary:
May 20 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
Kevin P. Sinnette 
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
- ↑ New York Times, "Midterms give parties chance for sweeping control of states," August 10, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 WFPL, "It's Election Day in Kentucky. Here are state legislature primaries to watch." May 19, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lexington Herald-Leader, "Democrat majority in Kentucky House narrows with GOP win in special election," December 10, 2013
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Becoming a Candidate," accessed August 21, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Courier-Journal, "Republican PAC to "flip" state House hires former Romney aide," June 25, 2014
- ↑ The Washington Times, "GOP seen with an edge in November statehouse wars," accessed June 26, 2014
- ↑ Daily Kos Elections, "Daily Kos Elections releases new interactive legislative maps for Kentucky and Tennessee," June 16, 2014
- ↑ cn|2, "Ky. House races 2014: Hoover lays out strategies; Says he would be 'up to the job' of House Speaker," June 27, 2014
- ↑ Associated Press, "Outside groups battle for state House control," June 25, 2014
- ↑ cincinnati.com, Rand Paul hoping to tilt state House with NKY visit," August 26, 2014
- ↑ Associated Press, "Huckabee to campaign for Kentucky House candidates," October 8, 2014
- ↑ The Courier-Journal, "GOP, Democrats in pitched battle for Ky. House," October 12, 2014
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Conservative Democrats switch to GOP across the Deep South," February 6, 2011
- ↑ The New York Times, "Coalition Is to Control State Senate as Dissident Democrats Join With Republicans," December 4, 2012
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 cn|2, "Top 10 Kentucky state House Races to watch -- July edition," July 6, 2014
- ↑ WFPL, "Republican Suzanne Miles to Replace Democrat John Arnold in Kentucky House," December 10, 2013
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref> tag;
no text was provided for refs named cn2
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 cn|2, "The first 10: The initial batch of races to watch with control of Ky. House at stake," May 24, 2014
- ↑ MSNBC, "The other Kentucky women posing a threat to Republicans," April 21, 2014
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref> tag;
no text was provided for refs named cn
- ↑ cn|2, "Two females vie for recrafted 55th House district seat," October 1, 2014
- ↑ WAVE, "Politicians at cockfighting rally caught on video," April 25, 2014
- ↑ The Courier-Journal, "Rep. Tom Burch's opponent tossed from the ballot," June 5, 2014
Leadership
Speaker of the House:David Osborne
Representatives
Republican Party (73)
Democratic Party (25)
Vacancies (2)