While we were all waiting with bated breath to see who was going to face Senator McConnell in the fall, there were actually a number of other races across the state. Some of them were fairly pro forma, while others were mild upsets, big upsets, or significant for what they would lead to in the future. So, here’s a breakout of some of them.
Dems flip a seat in the state Senate
Kentucky Democrats haven’t flipped a seat in the GOP-heavy state Senate since 2010 – but they did it this year. Dr. Karen Berg beat Bill Ferko by a wide margin to take the District 26 seat, which had been held by Republican Ernie Harris, who retired. (Harris had defeated Berg in 2018.) This was a special election to fill the unexpired term. It gives the Dems 10 seats out of 38.
Massie and Barr get opponents
In KY-04, Dr. Alexandra Owensby beat Shannon Fabert to win the chance to take on Congressman Thomas Massie in the fall.
And in KY-06, Josh Hicks beat Daniel Kemph in the Democratic primary, and will take on Congressman Andy Barr in the fall.
Incumbent Repubs upset
Republican Travis Brenda, a school teacher elected in 2018 when he upset Jonathan Shell (a member of Republican leadership in the house), was himself upset in this election, losing his District 71 seat in the House to Josh Bray by just 30 votes.
In Senate District 21, incumbent Albert Robinson lost to Brandon Storm, even though Robinson was endorsed by various conservative groups. Storm was endorsed by teacher unions.
Dems that won
Pamela Stevenson beat David Snardon to claim Charles Booker’s House seat in District 43.
Nima Kulkarni easily beat Dennis Horlander to retain the House seat she first took from him in 2018.
David Yates won the Democratic primary for Senate District 37, to replace retiring Senator Perry Clark.
Tom Burch and Charles Miller both won their primaries easily.
Other races of note
Rep. Chad McCoy (R), a member of the House leadership, beat Donald Thrasher, the chair of the Nelson County Republican Party, in a primary that was contentious from the get-go.
Carroll Hubbard, who once served in the U.S. House before going to prison for campaign finance violations, switched parties from Democrat to Republican, then challenged incumbent Rep. Steven Rudy in House District 1. Rudy won handily.
The drama-filled race for the Republican nomination for House District 88 (Fayette County) saw Aaron Yates easily beat Monteia Mundy, whose DUI arrest during the campaign dramatically hampered her chances. At the same time, a lawsuit filed by Mundy claiming that Yates wasn’t eligible to run was dismissed later Tuesday, after the results were announced.
And finally, if the name Adrienne Southworth seems familiar, it is because she was the aide to Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton who was fired by Matt Bevin’s staff last year without discussing it with Hampton.
In this election, Southworth won the Republican primary in Senate District 7, and will now take on Democratic state rep Joe Graviss for the chance to succeed retiring senator and former governor Julian Carroll.
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