Kentucky Senate

Upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly

Kentucky Senate

Kentucky General Assembly
Type

Term limits

| None
History

New session started

| January 7, 2025
Leadership

President

Robert Stivers (R)
since January 8, 2013

President pro tempore

David P. Givens (R)
since January 8, 2019

Majority Leader

Max Wise (R)
since January 7, 2025

Minority Leader

Gerald Neal (D)
since January 3, 2023

Structure
Seats| 38

Political groups

| Majority

* Republican (31)

Minority

* Democratic (7)

Length of term

| 4 years
Authority| The Legislative Department, Section 29, Kentucky Constitution
Salary| $188.22/day + per diem (elected before January 1, 2023)
$203.28/day + per diem (elected after January 1, 2023)[1]
Elections

Last election

| November 5, 2024
(19 seats)

Next election

| November 3, 2026
(19 seats)
Redistricting| Legislative Control
Meeting place
Senate Chamber
Kentucky State Capitol
Frankfort, Kentucky
Website
Legislative Research Commission

The Kentucky Senate is the upper house of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Kentucky Senate is composed of 38 members elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. There are no term limits for Kentucky senators. The Kentucky Senate meets at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort annually beginning in January. Sessions last for 60 legislative days in even-numbered years and 30 legislative days in odd-numbered years.[2]

Republicans have had control of the Senate since 1999. They currently hold 31 seats to Democrats' 7.

## Terms and qualifications

[edit]

According to Section 32 of the Kentucky Constitution, a senator must:

* be at least 30 years old;
* be a citizen of Kentucky;
* have resided in the state at least six years and the district at least one year prior to election.

Per section 30 of the Kentucky Constitution, senators are elected to four year staggered terms, with half the Senate elected every two years.

## Leadership

[edit]

Prior to a 1992 constitutional amendment, the Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky presided over the Senate; the 1992 amendment created a new office of President of the Senate to be held by one of the 38 senators.

### Leaders

[edit]

* President (elected by full body): Robert Stivers (R-25)
* President pro tempore (elected by full body): David P. Givens (R-9)

Additionally, each political party elects a floor leader, whip, and caucus chairman.

Current party leadership of the Kentucky Senate:

* Republican Party
* Leader: Max Wise (R-16)
* Whip: Mike Wilson (R-32)
* Caucus chair: Robby Mills (R-4)
* Democratic Party
* Leader: Gerald Neal (D-33)
* Whip: David Yates (D-37)
* Caucus chair: Reggie Thomas (D-13)

## Members

[edit]

Senate composition by district

Held by Democrats

Held by Republicans

Session  | Party

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

| Total  |

|
|
|

|  |
Republican | Democratic | Vacant
2015 session  | 26  | 11  | 37  | 1
2016 session  | 27  | 11  | 38  | 0
2017–2018 sessions  | 27  | 11  | 38  | 0
2019 session  | 28  | 9  | 37  | 1
2020 session  | 29  | 9  | 38  | 0
2021–2022 sessions  | 30  | 8  | 38  | 0
2023 session | 30  | 6  | 36  | 2
2024 session | 31  | 7  | 38  | 0
Begin 2025 session | 31  | 7  | 38  | 0
Latest voting share  | 82%  | 18%  |  |

### List of current senators

[edit]

District | Name | Party | First elected | Residence | Counties represented

|
|
|
|
|

1 | Jason Howell | Republican  | 2020 | Murray | Calloway, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Lyon, Trigg
2 | Danny Carroll | Republican  | 2014 | Benton | Ballard, Carlisle, Livingston, Marshall, McCracken
3 | Craig Richardson | Republican  | 2024 | Hopkinsville | Caldwell, Christian, Muhlenberg
4 | Robby Mills | Republican  | 2018 | Henderson | Henderson, Hopkins, Union, Webster
5 | Stephen Meredith | Republican  | 2016 | Leitchfield | Breckinridge, Butler, Grayson, Meade, Ohio
6 | Lindsey Tichenor | Republican  | 2022 | Smithfield | Jefferson (Part), Oldham, Trimble
7 | Aaron Reed | Republican  | 2024 | Shelbyville | Anderson, Henry, Jefferson (Part), Shelby
8 | Gary Boswell | Republican  | 2022 | Owensboro | Daviess, Hancock, McLean
9 | David P. Givens | Republican  | 2008  | Greensburg | Barren, Edmondson, Green, Hart, Warren (Part)
10 | Matthew Deneen | Republican  | 2022 | Elizabethtown | Hardin, Jefferson (Part)
11 | Steve Rawlings | Republican  | 2024 | Burlington | Boone (Part)
12 | Amanda Mays Bledsoe | Republican  | 2022 | Lexington | Boyle, Fayette (Part), Mercer, Woodford
13 | Reginald Thomas | Democratic  | 2013[nb 1] | Lexington | Fayette (Part)
14 | Jimmy Higdon | Republican  | 2009[nb 1] | Lebanon | Larue, Marion, Nelson, Spencer, Washington
15 | Rick Girdler | Republican  | 2016 | Somerset | Clinton, Cumberland, Pulaski, Russell, Wayne
16 | Max Wise | Republican  | 2014 | Campbellsville | Adair, Allen, Metcalfe, Monroe, Taylor, Warren (Part)
17 | Matt Nunn | Republican  | 2024 | Sadieville | Fayette (Part), Grant, Kenton (Part), Scott
18 | Robin L. Webb | Democratic  | 2009[nb 1] | Grayson | Boyd, Carter, Greenup, Lewis
19 | Cassie Chambers Armstrong | Democratic  | 2023[nb 1] | Louisville | Jefferson (Part)
20 | Gex Williams | Republican  | 2022[nb 2] | Verona | Boone (Part), Carroll, Franklin, Gallatin, Kenton (Part), Owen
21 | Brandon J. Storm | Republican  | 2020 | London | Casey, Laurel, Lincoln, Rockcastle
22 | Donald Douglas | Republican  | 2021[nb 1] | Nicholasville | Fayette (Part), Garrard, Jessamine
23 | Christian McDaniel | Republican  | 2012  | Ryland Heights | Kenton (Part)
24 | Shelley Funke Frommeyer | Republican  | 2022 | Alexandria | Bracken, Campbell, Kenton (Part), Pendleton
25 | Robert Stivers | Republican  | 1996 | Manchester | Clay, Jackson, Knox, McCreary, Owsley, Whitley
26 | Karen Berg | Democratic  | 2020[nb 1] | Louisville | Jefferson (Part)
27 | Stephen West | Republican  | 2015[nb 1] | Paris | Bourbon, Fayette (Part), Fleming, Harrison, Mason, Nicholas, Robertson, Rowan
28 | Greg Elkins | Republican  | 2023[nb 1] | Winchester | Bath, Clark, Fayette (Part), Menifee, Montgomery
29 | Scott Madon | Republican  | 2024 | Pineville | Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Knott, Letcher
30 | Brandon Smith | Republican  | 2008[nb 1] | Hazard | Breathitt, Estill, Lee, Leslie, Magoffin, Morgan, Perry, Powell, Wolfe
31 | Phillip Wheeler | Republican  | 2019[nb 1] | Pikeville | Elliott, Johnson, Lawrence, Martin, Pike
32 | Mike Wilson | Republican  | 2010 | Bowling Green | Logan, Simpson, Todd, Warren (Part)
33 | Gerald A. Neal | Democratic  | 1988  | Louisville | Jefferson (Part)
34 | Jared Carpenter | Republican  | 2010 | Berea | Fayette (Part), Madison
35 | Keturah Herron | Democratic  | 2024 | Louisville | Jefferson (Part)
36 | Julie Raque Adams | Republican  | 2014 | Louisville | Jefferson (Part)
37 | David Yates | Democratic  | 2020 | Louisville | Jefferson (Part)
38 | Michael J. Nemes | Republican  | 2020[nb 1] | Shepherdsville | Bullitt, Jefferson (Part)

### Seating chart

[edit]

| Meredith | Nemes | Smith |  | Schickel | Carpenter | Girdler |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Howell | Douglas | Boswell | Westerfield |  | Deneen | Elkins | West | Williams
Mills | Wheeler | Carroll | Raque Adams |  | Mays Bledsoe | Storm | Tichenor | Vacant
Higdon | McDaniel | Wilson | Thayer |  | Neal | Yates | Thomas | Harper Angel
Stivers | Givens | Wise | Funke Frommeyer |  | Webb | Berg | Chambers Armstrong | Southworth
|  |  | President
Stivers |  |  |

## 2023 special elections

[edit]

* On February 21, 2023, a special election was held to fill the vacant 19th district Senate seat left by Morgan McGarvey.[3] The seat opened up after McGarvey ran and won the U.S. House seat in Kentucky's 3rd congressional district. Democratic candidate Cassie Chambers Armstrong defeated Republican candidate Misty Glin to become Senator.
* On May 16, 2023, a special election was held to fill the vacant 28th district Senate seat left by Ralph Alvarado. The seat opened up after Alvarado was appointed the 15th Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health.[4] The candidates were Greg Elkins (R) of Winchester, Robert Sainte (D) of Winchester, and former Kentucky State Representative Richard Henderson (I) of Mt. Sterling. Republican candidate Greg Elkins defeated Sainte and Henderson to become Senator.

## History

[edit]

Carolyn Conn Moore became the first woman to serve in the Kentucky Senate when in November 1949 she won a special election to replace her husband, J. Lee Moore, in the legislature after his death.[5] Georgia Davis Powers became the first person of color to be elected to the Kentucky Senate in 1967. Gerald Neal became the first African American ever to be elected to a leadership position in the Kentucky General Assembly in 2014.[6] Ralph Alvarado became the first Hispanic to serve in the Kentucky General Assembly when he was elected in 2014.[7]

## Standing committees

[edit]

Committee  | Chair  | Vice Chair

|
|

Agriculture  | Jason Howell | Gary Boswell
Appropriations and Revenue  | Christian McDaniel | Amanda Mays Bledsoe
Banking and Insurance  | Jared Carpenter | Rick Girdler
Committee on Committees  | Robert Stivers | none
Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor  | Phillip Wheeler | Shelley Funke Frommeyer
Education  | Stephen West | Lindsey Tichenor
Enrollment  | Matt Nunn | none
Families and Children  | Danny Carroll | Amanda Mays Bledsoe
Health and Services  | Stephen Meredith | Craig Richardson
Judiciary  | Brandon J. Storm | Phillip Wheeler
Licensing and Occupations  | Julie Raque Adams | Jason Howell
Natural Resources and Energy  | Brandon Smith | Gex Williams
Rules  | Robert Stivers | none
State and Local Government  | Michael J. Nemes | Greg Elkins
Transportation  | Jimmy Higdon | Donald Douglas
Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection  | Matthew Deneen | Aaron Reed

## Past composition of the Senate

[edit]

Main article: Political party strength in Kentucky

## See also

[edit]

* Kentucky House of Representatives
* List of Kentucky General Assemblies
* Government of Kentucky

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Elected in a special election.
2. ^ Williams previously served in the senate from 1993 to 1999.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "How much do Kentucky's governor and other elected officials make? Here's a list". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
2. ^ "Publications – The Council of State Governments". February 19, 2020.
3. ^ "Ky. 19th Senatorial District special election to be held". www.wave3.com. January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
4. ^ "Alvarado sworn in as health commissioner in Tennessee". The Winchester Sun. January 19, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
5. ^ Oswald, Sharon (January 5, 1977). "From senate to housemother, Mrs. Moore is mother of 110". The Tuscaloosa News. Tuscaloosa. p. 8. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
6. ^ Lawrence Smith (December 2, 2014). "Louisville state senator becomes first African-American elected to leadership in KY legislature". wdrb.com. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
7. ^ "Ralph Alvarado". cof.org. October 28, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Kentucky Legislature Senate Members Archived June 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine official government website
* State Senate of Kentucky at Project Vote Smart
* Kentucky Senate at Ballotpedia

* v
* t
* e

Seats in the Kentucky General Assembly

Senate|

House of Representatives|

100

* v
* t
* e

Members of the Kentucky Senate

President of the Senate
Robert Stivers (R)
President pro tempore
David P. Givens (R)
Majority Leader
Max Wise (R)
Minority Leader
Gerald Neal (D)

1. ▌Jason Howell (R)
2. ▌Danny Carroll (R)
3. ▌Craig Richardson (R)
4. ▌Robby Mills (R)
5. ▌Stephen Meredith (R)
6. ▌Lindsey Tichenor (R)
7. ▌Aaron Reed (R)
8. ▌Gary Boswell (R)
9. ▌David P. Givens (R)
10. ▌Matthew Deneen (R)
11. ▌Steve Rawlings (R)
12. ▌Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R)
13. ▌Reginald Thomas (D)
14. ▌Jimmy Higdon (R)
15. ▌Rick Girdler (R)
16. ▌Max Wise (R)
17. ▌Matt Nunn (R)
18. ▌Robin L. Webb (D)
19. ▌Cassie Chambers Armstrong (D)
20. ▌Gex Williams (R)
21. ▌Brandon J. Storm (R)
22. ▌Donald Douglas (R)
23. ▌Christian McDaniel (R)
24. ▌Shelley Funke Frommeyer (R)
25. ▌Robert Stivers (R)
26. ▌Karen Berg (D)
27. ▌Stephen West (R)
28. ▌Greg Elkins (R)
29. ▌Scott Madon (R)
30. ▌Brandon Smith (R)
31. ▌Phillip Wheeler (R)
32. ▌Mike Wilson (R)
33. ▌Gerald A. Neal (D)
34. ▌Jared Carpenter (R)
35. ▌Keturah Herron (D)
36. ▌Julie Raque Adams (R)
37. ▌David Yates (D)
38. ▌Michael J. Nemes (R)

* ▌Republican (31)
* ▌Democratic (7)

* Kentucky General Assembly
* House
* Senate
* List of past assemblies

* v
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