Notable Kentucky races, 2016

Kentucky 2016 elections

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Notable Kentucky Races

Primary| May 17, 2016
General| November 8, 2016
2016 Notable Races

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Ballotpedia identified 16 notable Kentucky state legislative races in 2016, 12 of which are general election races.

HIGHLIGHTS

* The state House was one of Ballotpedia's 20 battleground chambers, as Republicans made significant gains there in previous elections.

* Democrats, who held a narrow majority, lost four members in the state House since November 2015.

* Five notable state legislative races featured open seats left by outgoing incumbents.

## Contents

* 1 Overview
* 1.1 Control of the state House in the balance
* 1.2 What makes a race notable?
* 2 Notable primary elections
* 2.1 State Senate District 15
* 2.2 State House District 23 (primary)
* 2.3 State House District 94
* 2.4 State House District 99
* 3 General election races to watch
* 3.1 State House District 3
* 3.2 State House District 8
* 3.3 State House District 20
* 3.4 State House District 23 (general)
* 3.5 State House District 38
* 3.6 State House District 46
* 3.7 State House District 50
* 3.8 State House District 70
* 3.9 State House District 78
* 3.10 State House District 91
* 3.11 State House District 94
* 3.12 State House District 99
* 4 Freshman legislators
* 5 Defeated incumbents
* 6 See also
* 7 External links
* 8 Footnotes

## Overview[edit]

### Control of the state House in the balance[edit]

The Democratic Party held the Kentucky House of Representatives since 1921, but the party had lost ground in recent years. Republicans increased their majority in the state Senate in 2014. In 2015, Republican Matt Bevin (R) defeated Democrat Jack Conway (D) by nine points for the governorship. Bevin was only the second Republican governor of Kentucky in four decades. Kentucky also had just one Democratic member of the U.S. House. State Reps. Denny Butler and Rep. Jim Gooch Jr. changed their party affiliation from Democratic to Republican. In a 2015 special election, Republicans flipped District 27 in the Kentucky Senate.

Democrats held just a six-seat majority in the state House.

Partisan breakdown of the Kentucky House

Party  | Republicans  | Democrats
Kentucky House | 47 seats | 53 seats

### What makes a race notable?[edit]

Ballotpedia uses these criteria to identify notable races:

* Incumbents facing more conservative or liberal challengers
* Rematches between candidates
* Races that receive considerable media attention
* Races that could significantly affect the state's partisan balance
* Noteworthy races involving party leaders
* Open, competitive races with Republican and Democratic primaries
* Races that capture money and attention from outside groups, including key endorsements

Know of an interesting race we should include here? Email us!

## Notable primary elections[edit]

### State Senate District 15[edit]

Four conservative candidates competed for an open seat left by the Republican incumbent.

Incumbent state Sen. Chris Girdler (R) declined to run for re-election. Four conservative candidates competed for the open seat: Rick Girdler (R), Michael Keck (R), Don Moss (R), and Joshua Nichols (R). Girdler defeated his rivals in the Republican primary and is the presumptive winner of the general election since no Democrat filed to run.

At an April 2016 candidate forum, the candidates focused on job growth, taxes, and substance abuse problems in the district.[1]

Each candidate opposed raising taxes to make up for lost revenue from the fuel tax as a result of lower gas prices.[1]

Nichols and Keck said that they supported right-to-work legislation as a way to create jobs in the state; Girdler and Moss said that training and education were needed to prepare people for the job market.[1]

To deal with substance abuse problems in the district, Keck said that he would introduce legislation approving stronger penalties for drug sellers and manufacturers and more treatment options for addicts. Nichols said that he supported stronger penalties for drug traffickers and long-term treatment for addicts. Moss stated that it was important to distinguish between drug sellers and people with addiction, while Girdler said that he would focus on helping children born to parents dealing with substance abuse.[1]

### State House District 23 (primary)[edit]

Two Democrats and two Republicans ran for the open seat left by the Democratic incumbent.

Incumbent state Rep. Johnny Bell (D) declined to run for re-election, leaving the seat open. Danny J. Basil (D) defeated Joe Trigg (D) in the Democratic primary contest. Steve Riley (R) defeated Freddie Joe Wilkerson (R) in the Republican primary contest.

Trigg, a member of the Glasgow City Council, was endorsed by Bell over Basil, a private attorney.[2]

Riley is a retired principal of Barren County High School; Wilkerson is retired from the Kentucky Army National Guard and is an ROTC instructor at Barren County High School.[2]

Ballotpedia also identified the District 23 general election as a notable race. Bell, the outgoing incumbent, defeated his Republican challenger by nine percentage points in 2014. A total of 13,814 votes were cast.[2]

### State House District 94[edit]

Three Democrats and four Republicans are competing for the open seat left by the Democratic incumbent.

Incumbent state Rep. Leslie Combs (D) declined to seek re-election, leaving the seat open. Three Democrats competed in the Democratic primary contest: Ira Branham (D), Angie Hatton (D), and Joe Thornbury (D). Hatton won the Democratic nomination.

Four Republicans faced each other in the Republican primary contest: Wesley Doughman (R), Colin Fultz (R), Frank Justice II (R), and Charles Wheeler (R). Justice won the Republican nomination.

Branham is a former incumbent who represented District 94 between 1998 and 2002. He faced Thornbury, a board member of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, and Hatton, the assistant attorney for Lechter County.[2]

Justice is the former mayor of Pikeville. He faced Wheeler, a Pikeville trial lawyer; Fultz, the co-owner of Kentucky Mist Moonshine; and Doughman.[2]

### State House District 99[edit]

Two first-time candidates competed in the Republican primary contest to face the Democratic incumbent.

Incumbent state Rep. Rocky Adkins (D) is running for re-election and was unopposed in the Democratic primary contest.

Two first-time candidates competed in the Republican primary contest: Wendy Fletcher (R) and Randy Smith (R). Fletcher defeated Smith by a margin of 55 to 44. Fletcher faced Adkins in November.

Fletcher is a nurse practitioner and the president of the Kentucky Coalition of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives. Fletcher focused on healthcare issues throughout her campaign, including her opposition to Obamacare.[2][3]

Smith is a pastor in Rowan County and was the leader of a group supporting Kim Davis, the county clerk who refused marriage licenses to same-sex couples following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. Smith said he was inspired to run for the seat based on his involvement in the Kim Davis situation.[4]

## General election races to watch[edit]

### State House District 3[edit]

The Democratic incumbent defended his seat against a Republican candidate.

Incumbent Gerald Watkins (D) faced Joni Hogancamp (R) in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in their respective primaries. In 2014, Watkins won re-election to the seat by a margin of victory of 7.2 percent.

This district was included in the Republican State Leadership Committee's list of "16 in '16: Races to Watch." Read more »

### State House District 8[edit]

The Democratic incumbent who won in a 2016 special election again faced his 2016 GOP opponent.

Incumbent Jeff Taylor (D) faced Walker Thomas (R) in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in their respective primaries. Taylor was elected to the seat in a special election on March 8, 2016. He defeated Walker Thomas in the special election by 19 percent.

This district was included in the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee's list of "2016 Essential Races." Read more »

### State House District 20[edit]

The Democratic incumbent defended her seat against a Republican candidate.

Incumbent Jody Richards (D) faced Melinda Hill (R) in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in their respective primaries.

This district was included in the Republican State Leadership Committee's list of "16 in '16: Races to Watch." Read more »

### State House District 23 (general)[edit]

Republicans seek to re-capture an open seat left by the Democratic incumbent.

Along with the District 23 primary contest, the district's general election is a race to watch. Danny J. Basil (D) faced Steve Riley (R) in November.

According to CN|2, a Kentucky television station that covers state politics, "The district has become a target for the GOP to flip in recent election cycles." Bell, the outgoing incumbent, defeated his Republican challenger by nine percentage points in 2014. A total of 13,814 votes were cast.[2]

### State House District 38[edit]

An incumbent who switched party affiliation from Democratic to GOP is running for re-election.

Incumbent state Rep. Denver "Denny" Butler (R) ran for re-election and was unopposed in the Republican primary contest.

Butler changed his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican in November 2015. The race is closely watched due to the already slim Democratic majority in the state House after Butler's affiliation switch. Butler faced McKenzie Cantrell (D) in November.

This district was included in the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee's list of "2016 Essential Races." Read more »

### State House District 46[edit]

Democrats defended the seat held by the outgoing Democratic incumbent.

Incumbent Lawrence Clark (D) did not seek re-election. Alan Gentry defeated Allen Schuler in the Democratic primary. Eric Crump defeated Bill Dudley in the Republican primary. Gentry defeated Crump in the general election.

This district was included in the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee's list of "2016 Essential Races." Read more »

### State House District 50[edit]

Republicans defend the seat held by the outgoing Republican incumbent.

Incumbent state Rep. David Floyd (R) declined to run for re-election. James DeWeese (D) faced Chad McCoy (R) in November.

Republicans sought to overtake the narrow Democratic majority in the state House and defend their current seats. Floyd, the outgoing incumbent, won the district in 2014 and 2012 by about seven percentage points in both years.

### State House District 70[edit]

Two Republicans and one Democrat seek the open seat left by the Democratic incumbent.

Incumbent state Rep. Mitchel Denham Jr. (D) declined to run for re-election. John Sims Jr. (D) was unopposed in the Democratic primary contest and faced John VanMeter (R) in November.

The outgoing Democratic incumbent won in 2014, 2012, 2010, and 2008 as an unopposed candidate. The party competition during the general election may have an effect on the race's outcome, as Republicans seek to retake the state House from the narrow Democratic majority.

### State House District 78[edit]

The general election features a rematch between the incumbent and his 2014 Republican challenger.

Incumbent state Rep. Thomas McKee (D) ran for re-election and was unopposed in the Democratic primary. He faced Mark Hart (R), his Republican challenger in 2014, in the November 2016 election.

McKee defeated Hart by a margin of 54 to 46 percent in 2014. A total of 12,069 votes were cast.

### State House District 91[edit]

A Democratic incumbent who won in 2014 by just 14 votes again faces his 2014 GOP opponent.

Incumbent state Rep. Cluster Howard (D) ran for re-election and was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Howard faces Toby Herald (R), the former Republican incumbent and 2014 opponent, in the general election.

The race was a rematch between Howard, the current incumbent, and Herald, the former incumbent. Howard defeated Herald in 2014 by just 14 votes. The general election race in 2016 (a presidential year) was predicted to be as close as it was in 2014 (a midterm election year).

### State House District 94[edit]

An open seat left by the Democratic incumbent features party competition for the first time since 2010.

Outgoing state Rep. Leslie Combs (D), who was unopposed in 2014 and 2012, declined to run for re-election, leaving an open seat. Frank Justice II (R) faces Angie Hatton (D) in November.

Along with the District 94 primary contest, the district's general election was a race to watch as Republicans seek to retake the seat from the Democrats.

### State House District 99[edit]

The Democratic incumbent defended his seat against a Republican candidate.

Incumbent Rocky Adkins (D) faced Wendy Fletcher (R) in the general election. Adkins was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Fletcher defeated Randy Smith in the Republican primary.

This district was included in the Republican State Leadership Committee's list of "16 in '16: Races to Watch." Read more »

## Freshman legislators[edit]

The following is a list of challengers who won election on November 8.

1. Alan Gentry (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 46
2. Angie Hatton (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 94
3. Attica Scott (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 41
4. Brandon Reed (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 24
5. C. Wesley Morgan (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 81
6. Chad McCoy (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 50
7. Chris Fugate (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 84
8. D.J. Johnson (Kentucky) (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 13
9. Dan Johnson (Kentucky State House) (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 49
10. Danny Bentley (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 98
11. Jason Michael Nemes (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 33
12. Jason Petrie (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 16
13. John Blanton (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 92
14. Ken Fleming (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 48
15. Kimberly Poore Moser (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 64
16. Larry Brown (Kentucky) (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 95
17. Mark Hart (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 78
18. Matt Castlen (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 14
19. McKenzie Cantrell (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 38
20. Melinda Gibbons Prunty (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 15
21. Phillip Pratt (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 62
22. Rick Girdler (Republican), .Kentucky State Senate, District 15
23. Rob Rothenburger (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 58
24. Robby Mills (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 11
25. Scott Wells (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 97
26. Stephen Meredith (Republican), .Kentucky State Senate, District 5
27. Steve Riley (Kentucky) (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 23
28. Toby Herald (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 91
29. Walker Thomas (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 8

## Defeated incumbents[edit]

The following is a list of incumbents who were defeated on November 8.

1. Brent Yonts (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 15
2. Chuck Tackett (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 62
3. Cluster Howard (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 91
4. David Watkins (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 11
5. Denver "Denny" Butler (Republican), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 38
6. Fitz Steele (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 84
7. Gregory Stumbo (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 95
8. Hubert Collins (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 97
9. James Glenn, Jr. (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 13
10. Jeff Taylor (Kentucky legislator) (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 8
11. John Short (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 92
12. Lew Nicholls (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 98
13. Linda Belcher (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 49
14. Martha King (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 16
15. Rita Smart (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 81
16. Terry Mills (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 24
17. Thomas McKee (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 78
18. Tommy Thompson (Kentucky) (Democratic), .Kentucky House of Representatives, District 14

## See also[edit]

* Kentucky House of Representatives
* Kentucky State Legislature
* State legislative elections, 2016

## External links[edit]

* Candidate filings

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Central Kentucky News, "State senatorial candidates debate Lincoln County issues," April 22, 2016
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 CN|2, "The first 10: Most interesting (primary) races to watch," February 7, 2016
3. ↑ The Morehead News, "Fletcher running for House," December 22, 2015
4. ↑ The Trail Blazer, "Local preacher hopes to unseat Adkins in Kentucky House," November 7, 2015

[show]

Current members of the Kentucky State Senate

Leadership

Senate President:Robert Stivers

Majority Leader:Damon Thayer

Senators

District 1

Jason Howell (R)

District 2

Danny Carroll (R)

District 3

Whitney Westerfield (R)

District 4

Robby Mills (R)

District 5

Stephen Meredith (R)

District 6

C.B. Embry (R)

District 7

Adrienne Southworth (R)

District 8

Matt Castlen (R)

District 9

David Givens (R)

District 10

Dennis Parrett (D)

District 11

John Schickel (R)

District 12

Alice Kerr (R)

District 13

Reggie Thomas (D)

District 14

Jimmy Higdon (R)

District 15

Rick Girdler (R)

District 16

Max Wise (R)

District 17

Damon Thayer (R)

District 18

Robin Webb (D)

District 19

Morgan McGarvey (D)

District 20

Paul Hornback (R)

District 21

Brandon Storm (R)

District 22

Donald Douglas (R)

District 23

Chris McDaniel (R)

District 24

Wil Schroder (R)

District 25

Robert Stivers (R)

District 26

Karen Berg (D)

District 27

Steve West (R)

District 28

Ralph Alvarado (R)

District 29

Johnnie Turner (R)

District 30

Brandon Smith (R)

District 31

Phillip Wheeler (R)

District 32

Mike Wilson (R)

District 33

Gerald Neal (D)

District 34

Jared Carpenter (R)

District 35

Denise Angel (D)

District 36

Julie Adams (R)

District 37

David Yates (D)

District 38

Mike Nemes (R)

Republican Party (30)

Democratic Party (8)

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