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Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2020

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2020 Kentucky
House Elections
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GeneralNovember 3, 2020
PrimaryJune 23, 2020
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Elections for the office of Kentucky House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 23, 2020. The filing deadline was January 10, 2020.

Republicans expanded their existing supermajority in the 2020 House elections. All 100 House seats were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Republicans had a 62-37 majority with one vacant seat. Republicans gained a net 13 seats and Democrats lost a net 12 seats, leaving the chamber's post-election partisan balance at a 75-25 Republican majority. A 51-seat majority is required to override a gubernatorial veto.

The Kentucky House of Representatives was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. All 100 seats in the Kentucky House of Representatives were up for election in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.

Kentucky's 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In Kentucky, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. District plans are subject to gubernatorial veto.

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

Kentucky modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

  • Absentee/mail-in voting: Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility was extended to all voters "concerned with contracting or spreading COVID-19."

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

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Party control

See also: Partisan composition of state houses and State government trifectas
Kentucky House of Representatives
Party As of November 3, 2020 After November 4, 2020
     Democratic Party 37 25
     Republican Party 62 75
     Vacancy 1 0
Total 100 100

Candidates

General election

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Primary election




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Incumbents who were not re-elected
See also: Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 10, 2020

Incumbents defeated in the general election

Six incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election. Those incumbents were:

Name Party Office
Dean Schamore Electiondot.png Democratic House District 10
Robert Wiederstein Electiondot.png Democratic House District 11
James Glenn Jr. Electiondot.png Democratic House District 13
Maria Sorolis Electiondot.png Democratic House District 48
Kathy Hinkle Electiondot.png Democratic House District 96
Terri Branham Clark Electiondot.png Democratic House District 100

Incumbents defeated in primary elections

Two incumbents lost in the June 23 primaries, a decrease from the three incumbents defeated in 2018, but higher than the one defeated in 2016.

Name Party Office
R. Travis Brenda Republican Party House District 71
Les Yates Republican Party House District 73

Retiring incumbents

There were 14 open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[1] Those incumbents were:

Name Party Office
Larry Elkins Ends.png Republican House District 5
Wilson Stone Electiondot.png Democratic House District 22
Russ Meyer Electiondot.png Democratic House District 39
Charles Booker Electiondot.png Democratic House District 43
Stan Lee Ends.png Republican House District 45
Rick Rand Electiondot.png Democratic House District 47
Joe Graviss Electiondot.png Democratic House District 56
Rob Rothenburger Ends.png Republican House District 58
John Sims Jr. Electiondot.png Democratic House District 70
Jeffrey Hoover Ends.png Republican House District 83
Thomas Turner Ends.png Republican House District 85
Jim Stewart III Ends.png Republican House District 86
Cluster Howard Electiondot.png Democratic House District 91
Chris Harris Electiondot.png Democratic House District 93


The 14 seats left open in 2020 represented a lower number than the 20 open seats in 2018, but higher than earlier elections. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.

Open Seats in Kentucky House of Representatives elections: 2010 - 2020
Year Total seats Open seats Seats with incumbents running for re-election
2020 100 14 (14 percent) 86 (86 percent)
2018 100 20 (20 percent) 80 (80 percent)
2016 100 8 (8 percent) 92 (92 percent)
2014 100 7 (7 percent) 93 (93 percent)
2012 100 8 (8 percent) 92 (92 percent)
2010 100 5 (5 percent) 95 (95 percent)

Process to become a candidate

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Kentucky

DocumentIcon.jpg See statutes: Section 118.105 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes

There are three methods by which a candidate can gain ballot access in Kentucky: by political party primary, by political organization convention, and by petition. A candidate must be registered with a political party if he or she wishes to run in the political party primary. If a candidate seeks nomination by a political organization, either by petition or convention, he or she must be registered with that organization. An independent candidate must be registered as an independent in order to use that designation on his or her nominating petition.[2][3]

Political party primary candidates

A political party candidate is granted general election ballot access by winning his or her party's primary election. The candidate must file a notification and declaration form with the Kentucky Secretary of State. This form must be signed by the candidate and by no less than two registered voters from the same party as the candidate and from the same district in which the candidate is running. This form cannot be signed earlier than the first Wednesday after the first Monday in November of the year preceding the election in which the candidate is running. The notification and declaration form must be filed by 4 p.m. on the first Friday following the first Monday in January preceding the primary election. A candidate defeated at the primary election is not permitted to run in the general election, with the exception of candidates running in a presidential preference primary.[4][5][6][7]

Political organization convention candidates

A political organization candidate is nominated at his or her political organization's convention. Only registered voters of the political organization can attend and vote at the convention. The Kentucky Statutes do not stipulate the time at which a convention must be held; however, it must be held prior to the filing deadline in order to complete all necessary paperwork. The candidate must file nomination papers by the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June preceding the day fixed by law for the election of the office being sought.[8][9][10][11]

Petition candidates

Political organization, political group, and independent candidates may all run for office as petition candidates. A candidate running for state executive office or state legislative office must first file a statement of candidacy form with the Kentucky Secretary of State. This form must be filed by 4 p.m. on April 1 (or the next business day if April 1 falls on a weekend or holiday). No charge is assessed for the filing of this form. A petition signed by the candidate and by registered voters in the district from which the candidate seeks nomination must be filed with the Kentucky Secretary of State. Candidates may begin gathering signatures after the first Wednesday after the first Monday in November of the year preceding the general election in which the candidate is running.[3][8][10]

Petitions must be filed by the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June preceding the day fixed by law for the holding of regular elections for the offices sought. Signature requirements vary according to the office being sought. Examples are provided in the table below.[2][3][11]

Signature requirements for petition candidates in Kentucky[3]
Office sought Number of signatures required
Kentucky state executive office 5,000
Member of the United States Congress 400
Member of the Kentucky General Assembly 100

Write-in candidates

Though write-in candidates' names are not printed on the ballot, they may be written in by a voter. In order for a write-in vote to be counted, the write-in candidate must file a declaration of intent with the Kentucky Secretary of State by the fourth Friday in October preceding the general election. A candidate can be a write-in for only one office and will be considered ineligible for write-in status if he or she has already been placed on the ballot by a different method.[12]

All candidates

Any registered voter may challenge the "good faith of a candidate” at any time before the election. No specific challenge period is designated in the Kentucky Statutes.[13]

A candidate may only run for one office at a time, as his or her name cannot appear on the ballot more than once.[14]

All candidates are subject to filing fees. These fees are outlined in the table below. The Kentucky Secretary of State accepts personal checks, campaign account checks, cash, or money orders for payment of filing fees.[2][15][16]

Filing fees for candidates in Kentucky[17]
Office sought Filing fee
Member of the United States Congress $500.00
Governor of Kentucky $500.00
Kentucky Attorney General $500.00
Kentucky Secretary of State $500.00
Kentucky Auditor $500.00
Kentucky Treasurer $500.00
Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture $500.00
Kentucky Senator $200.00
Kentucky Representative $200.00
Write-in candidate $50.00

2020 ballot access requirements

The table below details filing requirements for Kentucky House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
Kentucky House of Representatives Qualified party 2 $200.00 1/10/2020 Source
Kentucky House of Representatives Unaffiliated 100 $200.00 6/2/2020 Source

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

To be eligible to serve in the Kentucky House of Representatives, a candidate must be:[18]

  • 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

Salaries and per diem

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[19]
SalaryPer diem
$188.22/calendar day during session for legislators whose terms began before 2023. $203.28/calendar day for legislators whose terms began after 2023.$182.60/day

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Kentucky legislators assume office the first day of January after their election.[20]

Kentucky political history

Trifectas

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.

Kentucky Party Control: 1992-2025
Eight years of Democratic trifectas  •  Three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D
Senate D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R

Presidential politics in Kentucky

2016 Presidential election results

U.S. presidential election, Kentucky, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes Electoral votes
     Democratic Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine 32.7% 628,854 0
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDonald Trump/Mike Pence 62.5% 1,202,971 8
     Libertarian Gary Johnson/Bill Weld 2.8% 53,752 0
     Green Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka 0.7% 13,913 0
     American Delta Roque De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg 0.1% 1,128 0
     Independent Evan McMullin/Nathan Johnson 1.2% 22,780 0
     - Write-in votes 0% 751 0
Total Votes 1,924,149 8
Election results via: Kentucky Secretary of State

Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Kentucky utilizes a closed primary process, in which the selection of a party's candidates in an election is limited to registered party members.[21][22][23]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

In Kentucky, all polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central and Eastern Time. All those in line by 6:00 p.m. will be permitted to vote.[24]

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

According to the Kentucky State Board of Elections, in order to register to vote, a person must:[25]

“
  • Be a U.S. citizen and a Kentucky resident for at least 28 days before the election.
    • Non-U.S. citizens, including U.S. nationals do not qualify;
  • Be at least 18 years old by the next General Election;
    • Kentucky law allows qualified individuals to register at 17 years of age and be able to participate in a Primary Election if the individual will be 18 years old by the General Election;
  • Not be a convicted felon (or, if convicted of a felony, my right to vote has been restored following an expungement, Executive Pardon, or Executive Order;
  • Not have been judged mentally incompetent in a court of law and have voting rights removed;
  • Not claim the right to vote outside Kentucky.[26]
 ”

The deadline to submit a voter registration application is 29 days before an election, unless that day is a state or federal holiday.[27] If mailed, applications must be postmarked by that deadline.[28]

Voter registration applications may be completed online, mailed to the county clerk's office, or submitted in person at the county clerk's office.[25]

Automatic registration

Kentucky does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Kentucky has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Kentucky does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Kentucky law requires 28 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Kentucky does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "per KRS 119.025, any person who causes himself to be registered when he is not legally entitled to register, shall be subject to penalties including fines and/or a term of imprisonment not less than one (1) year nor more than (5) years."[29]

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[30] Nine states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Voter Information Center site, run by the Kentucky State Board of Elections, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.


Voter ID requirements

Kentucky requires voters to present identification while voting.[31][32]

Voters can present the following forms of identification:

  • Driver’s license
  • Social Security card
  • County issued identification card approved in writing by the State Board of Elections
  • U.S. government-issued identification card
  • Kentucky state government-issued identification card with a picture
  • Credit card
  • Any form of ID containing both picture and signature

If a precinct officer is a personal acquaintance of the voter, the voter does not have to produce identification.

Early voting

Kentucky permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

A Kentucky voter is eligible to vote absentee in an election if he or she cannot make it to the polls on Election Day for one of the following reasons:[33]

  • The voter is advanced in age, disabled, or ill
  • The voter is a member of the United States Military or is a dependent of a member of the military
  • The voter is an overseas citizen
  • The voter is a student who temporarily resides outside the county
  • The voter is temporarily residing outside of Kentucky and maintains eligibility to vote in Kentucky, such as a "snowbird"
  • The voter is incarcerated, but not yet convicted of a crime
  • The voter is unable to vote in-person because of his or her employment location
  • The voter is a participant in the Secretary of State's crime victim address confidentiality protection program
  • The voter is subject to a medical emergency within fourteen days or less of an election
  • The voter has change their residence or registered in a new state after the date on which that state closes their registration before a presidential election, than the voter may cast an absentee ballot by mail in Kentucky

Absentee ballots can only be requested through an online portal established by the State Board of Elections. Disabled, military and overseas, and voters subject to medical emergencies may also request an absentee ballot through their county clerk. Eligible voters who do not have internet access may give their information to a county clerk by phone to request an absentee ballot.[34]

State law allows for the portal to be open between 45 and 14 days immediately preceding a primary or general election.[34]


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kentucky Secretary of State Website, "Candidates" accessed April 27, 2025
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.315," accessed April 27, 2025
  4. ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.105," accessed April 25, 2025
  5. ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.125," accessed April 25, 2025
  6. ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.165," accessed April 25, 2025
  7. ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.345," accessed April 25, 2025
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.325," accessed April 27, 2025
  9. ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Registration" accessed April 27, 2025
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.367," accessed April 27, 2025
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.365," accessed April 27, 2025
  12. ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.125," accessed April 27, 2025
  13. ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Chapter 118, Section 176," accessed April 27, 2025
  14. ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Chapter 118, Section 405," accessed April 27, 2025
  15. ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State Website, "Qualifications & Filing Fees," accessed April 27, 2025
  16. ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.255,"accessed April 27, 2025
  17. ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State Website, "Candidate Qualifications and Filing Fees," accessed April 27, 2025
  18. ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Becoming a Candidate," accessed August 21, 2014
  19. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  20. ↑ Kentucky Constitution, "Section 30," accessed February 10, 2021
  21. ↑ NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," February 06, 2024
  22. ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
  23. ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections,"Key Information," accessed July 26, 2024
  24. ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Election Day Information," accessed July 26, 2024
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Registration," accessed July 26, 2024
  26. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  27. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "116.045 Voter registration, transfer, or change of party affiliation -- Availability of forms," accessed July 24, 2024
  28. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "116.0452 Standards for timely receipt of voter registration application -- Removal of names from registration books -- Confidentiality of registration location," accessed July 24, 2024
  29. ↑ Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Commonwealth of Kentucky Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
  30. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  31. ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Election Day Information," accessed July 25, 2024
  32. ↑ FindLaw.com, "Kentucky Revised Statutes Title X. Elections § 117.227. Confirmation of voter's identity," accessed July 25, 2024
  33. ↑ Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 117, "117.076 No-excuse in-person absentee ballot -- Excused in-person absentee ballot -- Proof of identification -- In-person absentee voting procedure -- Voter assistance form -- Oath of voter affidavit -- Signature roster -- Members of county board may serve as precinct officers -- Challengers -- Locking of voting equipment -- Transmitting or publicizing count -- Tamper-resistant seal -- Administrative regulations.," accessed July 25, 2024
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 117, "117.085 Mail-in absentee ballots -- Application through online portal and other means -- Procedures -- Cancellation -- Administrative regulations -- Disclosure of information." accessed July 25, 2024


Current members of the Kentucky House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:David Osborne
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
Mary Imes (R)
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
Jim Gooch (R)
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
Kim King (R)
District 56
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
District 61
District 62
District 63
District 64
District 65
District 66
District 67
District 68
District 69
District 70
District 71
Josh Bray (R)
District 72
District 73
District 74
District 75
District 76
District 77
District 78
Mark Hart (R)
District 79
Chad Aull (D)
District 80
District 81
District 82
District 83
District 84
District 85
District 86
Tom Smith (R)
District 87
District 88
District 89
District 90
District 91
District 92
District 93
District 94
District 95
District 96
District 97
District 98
District 99
District 100
Republican Party (80)
Democratic Party (20)


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