2018 Kentucky Senate election

Last updated

2018 Kentucky Senate election
Flag of Kentucky.svg
  2016 November 6, 2018 2020  

19 out of 38 seats in the Kentucky Senate
20 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority party
  3x4.svg Ray S. Jones.jpg
Leader Robert Stivers Ray Jones
Party Republican Democratic
Leader sinceJanuary 8, 2013January 6, 2015
Leader's seat 25thManchester 31stPikeville
Last election2711
Seats won2810
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 1Decrease2.svg 1
Seats up163
Races won172

2018 Kentucky Senate election.svg
2018 Kentucky Senate election popular vote.svg
Results:
     Republican hold     Republican gain
     Democratic hold     No election
Popular vote:
     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     >90%
     50–60%     >90%

Senate President before election

Robert Stivers
Republican

Elected Senate President

Robert Stivers
Republican

The 2018 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 6, 2018. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 22. Half of the senate (all even-numbered seats) were up for election. Republicans increased their majority in the chamber, gaining one seat.

Contents

A numbered map of the senate districts at the time can be viewed here.

Overview

Kentucky Senate diagram, 2018 election.svg
PartyCandidatesVotes%Seats
OpposedUnopposedBeforeWonAfter+/−
Republican 180468,53057.93271728+1
Democratic 161325,80040.2911210-1
Independent 2010,9461.35000-
Write-in 203,4540.43000-
Total381808,730100.00381938±0
Source: Kentucky Secretary of State

Retiring incumbents

One senator retired, who did not run for another office.

  1. 8th: Joe Bowen (Owensboro): Retired. [1]

Incumbents defeated

One incumbent lost reelection in the general election.

  1. 4th: J. Dorsey Ridley (first elected in 2004) lost to Robert M. "Robby" Mills.

Summary by district

Certified results by the Kentucky Secretary of State are available online for the primary election and general election.

† – Incumbent not seeking re-election

District Incumbent PartyElectedParty
2 Danny Carroll Rep Danny Carroll Rep
4 J. Dorsey Ridley Dem Robert M. "Robby" Mills Rep
6 C. B. Embry Jr. Rep C. B. Embry Jr. Rep
8 Joe BowenRep Matt Castlen Rep
10 Dennis L. Parrett Dem Dennis L. Parrett Dem
12 Alice Forgy Kerr Rep Alice Forgy Kerr Rep
14 Jimmy Higdon Rep Jimmy Higdon Rep
16 George Maxwell "Max" Wise Rep George Maxwell "Max" Wise Rep
18 Robin L. Webb Dem Robin L. Webb Dem
20 Paul R. Hornback Rep Paul R. Hornback Rep
22 Tom Buford Rep Tom Buford Rep
24 Wil Schroder Rep Wil Schroder Rep
26 Ernie Harris Rep Ernie Harris Rep
28 Ralph Alvarado Rep Ralph Alvarado Rep
30 Brandon Smith Rep Brandon Smith Rep
32 Mike Wilson Rep Mike Wilson Rep
34 Jared K. Carpenter Rep Jared K. Carpenter Rep
36 Julie Raque Adams Rep Julie Raque Adams Rep
38 Dan Malano Seum Rep Dan Malano Seum Rep

Crossover seats

Democratic

Three districts voted for Donald Trump in 2016 but had Democratic incumbents:

DistrictIncumbent
#Trump margin of
victory in 2016
MemberPartyIncumbent margin
of victory in 2014
4R+44.38 J. Dorsey Ridley DemocraticUnopposed
10R+30.39 Dennis L. Parrett DemocraticUnopposed
18R+43.15 Robin L. Webb DemocraticD+25.37

Republican

None.

Closest races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. District 4, 1.29% (gain)
  2. District 12, 1.46%
  3. District 32, 4.66%
  4. District 26, 5.42%
  5. District 28, 6.71%
  6. District 36, 6.74%

District 2

Incumbent senator Danny Carroll won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Julie Tennyson.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Julie Tennyson

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

Results by county:
.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}
Carroll
60-70% 2018 Kentucky Senate 2nd district election results map by county.svg
Results by county:
  Carroll
  •   60–70%
2018 Kentucky Senate 2nd district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Danny Carroll (incumbent) 28,252 63.2
Democratic Julie Tennyson16,42836.8
Total votes44,680 100.0
Republican hold

District 4

Incumbent senator J. Dorsey Ridley was defeated for reelection by Republican Robert M. "Robby" Mills.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

Results by county:
Mills
50-60%
60-70%
Ridley
50-60% 2018 Kentucky Senate 4th district election results map by county.svg
Results by county:
  Mills
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Ridley
  •   50–60%
2018 Kentucky Senate 4th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Robert M. "Robby" Mills 19,057 50.6
Democratic J. Dorsey Ridley (incumbent)18,57349.4
Total votes37,630 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
Results by county
CountyRobert M. "Robby" MillsJ. Dorsey RidleyMarginTotal
votes
# %# %#%
Caldwell 2,66053.532,30946.473517.064,969
Crittenden 2,14463.751,21936.2592527.513,363
Henderson 6,58643.038,71856.97-2,132-13.9315,304
Livingston 2,21658.151,59541.8562116.293,811
Union 3,02853.232,66146.773676.455,689
Webster 2,42353.922,07146.083527.834,494
Total19,05750.6418,57349.364841.2937,630

District 6

Incumbent senator C. B. Embry Jr. won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Crystal Chappell.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Crystal Chappell

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

Results by county:
Embry
50-60%
60-70%
70-80%
80-90% 2018 Kentucky Senate 6th district election results map by county.svg
Results by county:
  Embry
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
2018 Kentucky Senate 6th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican C. B. Embry Jr. (incumbent) 27,139 67.2
Democratic Crystal Chappell13,21732.8
Total votes40,356 100.0
Republican hold

District 8

Incumbent senator Joe Bowen did not seek reelection. [1] He was succeeded by Republican Matt Castlen.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Bob Glenn

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Matt Castlen, representative from the 14th district (2017–2019)
Eliminated in primary
  • Dianne Burns Mackey

Results

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Matt Castlen 4,530 65.0
Republican Dianne Burns Mackey2,44135.0
Total votes6,971 100.0

General election

Results

Results by county:
Castlen
50-60%
60-70% 2018 Kentucky Senate 8th district election results map by county.svg
Results by county:
  Castlen
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
2018 Kentucky Senate 8th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Matt Castlen 25,107 58.2
Democratic Bob Glenn18,01941.8
Total votes43,126 100.0
Republican hold

District 10

Incumbent senator Dennis L. Parrett won reelection unopposed.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

2018 Kentucky Senate 10th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Dennis L. Parrett (incumbent) Unopposed
Total votes24,224 100.0
Democratic hold

District 12

Incumbent senator Alice Forgy Kerr won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Paula Setser-Kissick.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Paula Setser-Kissick

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

2018 Kentucky Senate 12th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Alice Forgy Kerr (incumbent) 26,874 50.7
Democratic Paula Setser-Kissick26,10249.3
Total votes52,976 100.0
Republican hold

District 14

Incumbent senator Jimmy Higdon won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Stephanie Compton.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Stephanie Compton

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

Results by county:
Higdon
60-70%
70-80%
80-90% 2018 Kentucky Senate 14th district election results map by county.svg
Results by county:
  Higdon
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
2018 Kentucky Senate 14th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jimmy Higdon (incumbent) 29,752 65.3
Democratic Stephanie Compton15,84234.7
Total votes45,594 100.0
Republican hold

District 16

Incumbent senator George Maxwell "Max" Wise won reelection, defeating write-in candidate Nicole Britton.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

2018 Kentucky Senate 16th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican George Maxwell "Max" Wise (incumbent) 33,447 96.7
Write-in Nicole Britton1,1253.3
Total votes34,572 100.0
Republican hold

District 18

Incumbent senator Robin L. Webb won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Chester Chuck Highley

Results

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Robin L. Webb (incumbent) 10,543 86.7
Democratic Chester Chuck Highley1,62313.3
Total votes12,166 100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

Results by county:
Webb
50-60%
60-70% 2018 Kentucky Senate 18th district election results map by county.svg
Results by county:
  Webb
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
2018 Kentucky Senate 18th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Robin L. Webb (incumbent) 21,644 57.8
Republican Scott L. Sharp 15,82342.2
Total votes37,467 100.0
Democratic hold

District 20

Incumbent senator Paul R. Hornback won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Dave Suetholz.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Dave Suetholz

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

2018 Kentucky Senate 20th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Paul R. Hornback (incumbent) 25,775 56.5
Democratic Dave Suetholz19,82943.5
Total votes45,604 100.0
Republican hold

District 22

Incumbent senator Tom Buford won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Carolyn Dupont.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Carolyn Dupont

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

2018 Kentucky Senate 22nd district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Tom Buford (incumbent) 28,537 66.0
Democratic Carolyn Dupont14,69234.0
Total votes43,229 100.0
Republican hold

District 24

Incumbent senator Wil Schroder won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Rachel Roberts.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

Results by county:
Schroder
50-60%
70-80% 2018 Kentucky Senate 24th district election results map by county.svg
Results by county:
  Schroder
  •   50–60%
  •   70–80%
2018 Kentucky Senate 24th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Wil Schroder (incumbent) 23,705 56.9
Democratic Rachel Roberts 17,95843.1
Total votes41,663 100.0
Republican hold

District 26

Incumbent senator Ernie Harris won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Matt Kaufmann

Results

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Karen Berg 7,112 67.3
Democratic Matt Kaufmann3,45132.7
Total votes10,563 100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Alex R. White

Results

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ernie Harris (incumbent) 5,193 52.2
Republican Alex R. White4,75047.8
Total votes9,943 100.0

General election

Results

2018 Kentucky Senate 26th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ernie Harris (incumbent) 29,625 51.8
Democratic Karen Berg 26,52446.3
Independent Jody Hurt1,0781.9
Total votes57,227 100.0
Republican hold

District 28

Incumbent senator Ralph Alvarado won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Denise Gray.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Denise Gray

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

2018 Kentucky Senate 28th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ralph Alvarado (incumbent) 23,212 53.4
Democratic Denise Gray20,29146.6
Total votes43,503 100.0
Republican hold

District 30

Incumbent senator Brandon Smith won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Paula Clemons-Combs.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Paula Clemons-Combs

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

Results by county:
Smith
60-70%
70-80%
80-90%
Clemons-Combs
50-60% 2018 Kentucky Senate 30th district election results map by county.svg
Results by county:
  Smith
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  Clemons-Combs
  •   50–60%
2018 Kentucky Senate 30th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Brandon Smith (incumbent) 27,747 73.2
Democratic Paula Clemons-Combs10,15126.8
Total votes37,898 100.0
Republican hold

District 32

Incumbent senator Mike Wilson won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Jeanie Smith

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Darrell Traughber

Results

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Wilson (incumbent) 4,877 60.8
Republican Darrell Traughber3,15039.2
Total votes8,027 100.0

General election

Results

2018 Kentucky Senate 32nd district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mike Wilson (incumbent) 20,803 52.3
Democratic Jeanie Smith18,95247.7
Total votes39,755 100.0
Republican hold

District 34

Incumbent senator Jared K. Carpenter won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Susan Byrne Haddix.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Susan Byrne Haddix

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Results

2018 Kentucky Senate 34th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jared K. Carpenter (incumbent) 28,145 61.8
Democratic Susan Byrne Haddix17,37738.2
Total votes45,522 100.0
Republican hold

District 36

Incumbent senator Julie Raque Adams won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Sheri A. Donahue
Eliminated in primary
  • Gay Adelmann

Results

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Sheri A. Donahue 5,694 56.2
Democratic Gay Adelmann4,44243.8
Total votes10,136 100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Sheeba Jolly

Results

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Julie Raque Adams (incumbent) 5,800 90.3
Republican Sheeba Jolly6229.7
Total votes6,422 100.0

General election

Results

2018 Kentucky Senate 36th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Julie Raque Adams (incumbent) 29,729 53.4
Democratic Sheri A. Donahue25,97746.6
Total votes55,706 100.0
Republican hold

District 38

Incumbent senator Dan Malano Seum won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Paul Wesley Ham

Results

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dan Malano Seum (incumbent) 3,712 57.1
Republican Paul Wesley Ham2,78742.9
Total votes6,499 100.0

General election

Results

2018 Kentucky Senate 38th district election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dan Malano Seum (incumbent) 25,801 67.9
Independent Brenda Sue "Susie" Board9,86826.0
Write-in Andrew Bailey2,3296.1
Total votes37,998 100.0
Republican hold

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 United States Senate elections</span>

The 1980 United States Senate elections were held on November 4, coinciding with Ronald Reagan's victory in the presidential election. The 34 Senate seats of Class 3 were contested in regular elections. Reagan's large margin of victory over incumbent Jimmy Carter gave a huge boost to Republican Senate candidates, allowing them to flip 12 Democratic seats and win control of the chamber for the first time since the end of the 83rd Congress in January 1955. This was the first time since 1966 that any party successfully defended all their own seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 United States Senate elections</span>

The 1974 United States Senate elections were held on November 5, with the 34 seats of Class 3 contested in regular elections. They occurred in the wake of the Watergate scandal, Richard M. Nixon's resignation from the presidency, and Gerald Ford's subsequent pardon of Nixon. Economic issues, specifically inflation and stagnation, were also a factor that contributed to Republican losses. As an immediate result of the November 1974 elections, Democrats made a net gain of three seats from the Republicans, as they defeated Republican incumbents in Colorado and Kentucky and picked up open seats in Florida and Vermont, while Republicans won the open seat in Nevada. Following the elections, at the beginning of the 94th U.S. Congress, the Democratic caucus controlled 60 seats, and the Republican caucus controlled 38 seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Kentucky Senate election</span>

The 2004 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 2, 2004. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 18. Half of the senate were up for election. Republicans maintained their majority in the chamber without gaining or losing any seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New York</span>

The 2010 congressional elections in New York were held on November 2, 2010 to determine representation from the state of New York in the United States House of Representatives. New York had 29 seats in the House. Representatives are elected to two-year terms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 United States Senate election in Kentucky</span>

The 1992 United States Senate election in Kentucky took place on November 3, 1992. It was concurrent with elections to the United States House of Representatives. Incumbent Senator Wendell Ford won reelection to a fourth and final term. As of 2023, this was the last time Democrats won a U.S. Senate election in Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Gooch (politician)</span> American politician

Jim Gooch Jr. is an American politician and member of the Kentucky House of Representatives since January 1995. He represents Kentucky's 12th House district, which includes Crittenden, McLean, Union, and Webster counties. Gooch switched parties from Democratic to Republican in December 2015. He has served as chair of the House Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Energy for over 20 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julie Raque Adams</span> American politician

Julie Raque Adams is an American businesswoman, politician and a Republican member of the Kentucky Senate representing District 36 since January 1, 2015. She is a former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives and the Louisville Metro Council.

Dennis L. Parrett is an American politician and former Democratic member of the Kentucky Senate. Parrett represented District 10 from January 4, 2011, to January 1, 2023. He considered running for Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky in the 2015 elections but ultimately did not run. Senator Parrett was elected by the Senate Democratic Caucus as Minority Caucus Whip on August 23, 2017. Parrett earned a BS in agricultural economics from University of Kentucky. Instead of running for a fourth term in the Kentucky Senate in 2022, Parrett made the decision to retire. Consequently, the 10th district had no incumbent running and facing no opponent in the general election, the open seat was won by former Elizabethtown City Councilman, Matthew Deneen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Hornback</span> American politician

Paul Hornback is an American politician and former Republican member of the Kentucky Senate. Hornback represented District 20 from January 2011 to January 2023.

J. Dorsey Ridley is an American politician. He was a member of the Kentucky State Senate from the 4th District, serving from 2004 to 2019. He is a member of the Democratic Party. First elected in a July 2004 special election following the death of senator Paul Herron, he was defeated for reelection in 2018 by Republican Robby Mills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky</span>

The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky were held on November 8, 2016, to elect the six U.S. representatives from the state of Kentucky, one from each of the state's six congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The primaries were held on May 17.

Robert M. Mills is an American politician who has served in the Kentucky Senate from the 4th district since 2019. He previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from the 11th district from 2017 to 2019, after defeating incumbent David Watkins in 2016. Mills was elected to the senate in 2018, defeating incumbent Democratic senator Dorsey Ridley. He was Daniel Cameron's running mate in their unsuccessful campaign in the 2023 Kentucky gubernatorial election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Kentucky elections</span>

Kentucky state elections in 2018 were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, with the primary elections being held on May 22, 2018. These midterm elections occurred during the presidency of Republican Donald Trump and the governorship of Republican Matt Bevin, alongside other elections in the United States. All six of Kentucky's seats in the United States House of Representatives, nineteen of the 38 seats in the Kentucky State Senate, all 100 seats in the Kentucky House of Representatives, and one of the seven seats on the Kentucky Supreme Court were contested. Numerous county and local elections were also contested within the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States Senate election in South Carolina</span>

The 2022 United States Senate election in South Carolina was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of South Carolina. Incumbent Republican Senator Tim Scott won reelection to a second full term, defeating state representative Krystle Matthews. This was the third consecutive election for this seat where both major party nominees were black.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Kentucky Senate election</span>

The 2020 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 3, 2020. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on June 23. Half of the senate seats were up for election. Republicans increased their majority in the chamber, gaining two seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Kentucky House of Representatives election</span>

The 2022 Kentucky House of Representatives election was held on November 8, 2022. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 17. All 100 seats of the house were up for election. Republicans increased their majority in the chamber, gaining five seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Kentucky Senate election</span>

The 2022 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 8, 2022. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 17. Half of the senate were up for election. Republicans increased their majority in the chamber, gaining one seat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Kentucky Senate election</span>

The 2010 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 2, 2010. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 18. Half of the senate were up for election. Republicans increased their majority in the chamber, gaining two seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Kentucky Senate election</span>

The 2016 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 8, 2016. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 17. Half of the senate were up for election. Republicans maintained their majority in the chamber without gaining or losing any seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Kentucky Senate election</span>

The 2014 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 4, 2014. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 20. Half of the senate were up for election. Republicans increased their majority in the chamber, gaining three seats.

References

  1. 1 2 Schimmel, Becca (January 15, 2018). "Sen. Joe Bowen Won't Seek Re-election". WKMS. Retrieved May 7, 2024.

See also