Kentucky elections, 2014
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Kentucky's 2014 elections U.S. Senate • U.S. House • State Senate • State House • School boards • Judicial • Candidate ballot access |
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The state of Kentucky held elections in 2014. Below are the dates of note:
| 2014 elections and events in Kentucky | ||||
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| Signature filing deadline for party candidates | January 28, 2014 
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| Filing deadline for independent and minor party candidates for primary election | April 1, 2014
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| Deadline for general election candidates running for state office to file a statement of candidacy | April 1, 2014
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| Voter registration deadline for primary election | April 21, 2014
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| Primary election date | May 20, 2014
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| Filing deadline for general election candidates | August 12, 2014
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| Voter registration deadline for general election | October 6, 2014
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| Filing deadline for write-in candidates for general election | October 24, 2014
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| General election date | November 4, 2014
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| School board elections (13) | November 4, 2014
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Below are the types of elections that were scheduled in Kentucky in 2014:
2014 elections
Races to watch in Kentucky
U.S. Congress
Facing both legitimate challenges from his own party and the Democratic Party, Sen. Mitch McConnell faced his toughest re-election campaign yet. Democratic frontrunner Alison Lundergan Grimes showed strong fundraising and media attention.
Kentucky State Legislature
Elections for the Kentucky State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 28, 2014. Heading into the election, the Republican Party controlled the chamber. The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6, 2012, general election.
| 2012 Margin of Victory, Kentucky State Senate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Winner | Margin of Victory | Total Votes | Top Opponent |
| District 3 |  Whitney Westerfield |
0.8% | 36,617 | Joey Pendleton |
| District 21 | Albert Robinson |
7.6% | 38,073 | Amie Hacker |
| District 37 |  Perry Clark |
17.2% | 42,342 | Chris Thieneman |
| District 7 | Julian Carroll |
18% | 56,617 | Frank Haynes |
| District 1 | Stan Humphries |
18.6% | 47,783 | Carroll Hubbard |
| District 23 | Chris McDaniel |
20% | 40,003 | James Noll |
| District 27 | Walter Blevins |
27% | 39,327 | Tony Downey |
| District 23 | Robert Stivers |
27.9% | 33,147 | Ralph Hoskins |
| District 17 | Damon Thayer |
32.7% | 53,269 | David Holcomb |
| District 33 | Gerald Neal |
87.4% | 36,277 | Norris Shelton |
Elections for the Kentucky House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 28, 2014. Heading into the election, the Democratic Party controlled the chamber. The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6, 2012, general election.
| 2012 Margin of Victory, Kentucky House of Representatives | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Winner | Margin of Victory | Total Votes | Top Opponent |
| District 91 | Gary Wayne Herald |
1.1% | 12,530 | Ted Edmonds |
| District 13 | James Glenn, Jr. |
1.6% | 15,731 | Bill Barron |
| District 27 | Jeff Greer |
2% | 14,800 | Dalton Jantzen |
| District 49 | Russell Webber |
5.6% | 21,453 | Linda Belcher |
| District 50 | David Floyd |
6.9% | 21,298 | Dick Heaton |
| District 88 | Robert J. Benvenuti III. |
7.9% | 24,013 | Reginald Thomas |
| District 62 | Ryan Quarles |
8.1% | 22,965 | Charlie Hoffman |
| District 16 | Martha King |
8.5% | 15,004 | Chris Hightower |
| District 76 | Ruth Palumbo |
9.2% | 19,028 | Richard Marrs |
Elections by type
U.S. Senate
U.S. Senate elections in Kentucky
Voters in Kentucky elected one member to the U.S. Senate in the election on November 4, 2014.
| Candidate Filing Deadline | Primary Election | General Election |
|---|---|---|
Primary: 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.[1][2][3]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Voter registration: To vote in the primary, voters had to register by April 21, 2014. For the general election, the voter registration deadline was October 6, 2014.[4]
- See also: Kentucky elections, 2014
Incumbent: The election filled the Senate seat held by Mitch McConnell (R). McConnell was first elected in 1984.
Kentucky was a solidly Republican state.[5]
Candidates
Note: The filing deadline for candidates was January 28, 2014.
General election candidates
- Mitch McConnell - Incumbent
- Alison Lundergan Grimes - Kentucky Secretary of State
David Patterson
Mike Maggard (Write-in)- Robert Ransdell (Write-in)
- Shawna Sterling (Write-in)
May 20, 2014, primary results
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Third Party Candidates
Failed to file
- Bennie Smith[12][15][16]
- Cecil Weldon Pearson, Jr.[17]
- Bill Garmer - Attorney and former state Democratic Party Chairman[18]
- Tom Fitzgerald - Environmental attorney[18]
- Roger Thoney[19]
- Joshua Pike Mather[19]
Withdrew
- Gurley Martin - Candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010[20][21][22][23]
- Ed Marksberry[9][24]
Declined to run
- Heather French Henry - Former Miss America[12][25]
- Brett Guthrie - Representative from District 2[26]
- Thomas Massie - Representative from District 4[27]
U.S. House
U.S. House of Representatives elections in Kentucky
The 2014 U.S. House of Representatives elections in Kentucky took place on November 4, 2014. Voters elected six candidates to serve in the U.S. House, one from each of the state's six congressional districts.
| Candidate Filing Deadline | Primary Election | General Election |
|---|---|---|
Primary: 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.[1][2][28]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Voter registration: To vote in the primary, voters had to register by April 21, 2014. For the general election, the voter registration deadline was October 6, 2014.[4]
- See also: Kentucky elections, 2014
Partisan breakdown
Heading into the November 4 election, the Republican Party held five of the six congressional seats from Kentucky.
| Members of the U.S. House from Kentucky -- Partisan Breakdown | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 2014 | After the 2014 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 1 | 1 | |
| Republican Party | 5 | 5 | |
| Total | 6 | 6 | |
Incumbents
Heading into the 2014 election, the incumbents for the six congressional districts were:
| Name | Party | District |
|---|---|---|
| Ed Whitfield |  Republican |
1 |
| Brett Guthrie | Republican |
2 |
| John Yarmuth |  Democratic |
3 |
| Thomas Massie | Republican |
4 |
| Hal Rogers | Republican |
5 |
| Andy Barr | Republican |
6 |
List of candidates by district
- Note: The filing deadline for candidates was January 28, 2014.
1st Congressional District
General election candidates
- Ed Whitfield - Incumbent
- Charles Kendall Hatchett
May 20, 2014, primary results
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2nd Congressional District
General election candidates
- Brett Guthrie - Incumbent
- Ron Leach
May 20, 2014, primary results
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3rd Congressional District
General election candidates
- Michael Macfarlane
- John Yarmuth - Incumbent
- Greg Puccetti
May 20, 2014, primary results
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Third Party Candidates
4th Congressional District
General election candidates
- Thomas Massie - Incumbent
- Peter Newberry
May 20, 2014, primary results
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Failed to file
- Steve Stevens: Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President[33]
5th Congressional District
General election candidates
- Hal Rogers - Incumbent
- Kenneth Stepp
May 20, 2014, primary results
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6th Congressional District
General election candidates
- Andy Barr - Incumbent
- Elisabeth Jensen
May 20, 2014, primary results
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Failed to file
Withdrew from race
State Senate
State Senate election in Kentucky
Elections for the Kentucky State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 28, 2014.
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 4 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the Kentucky State Senate:
| Kentucky State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2014 | After November 4, 2014 | |
| Democratic Party | 14 | 12 | |
| Republican Party | 23 | 26 | |
| Independent | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 38 | 38 | |
List of candidates by district
- Note: The filing deadline for candidates was January 28, 2014.
District 2 • District 4 • District 6 • District 8 • District 10 • District 12 • District 14 • District 16 • District 18 • District 20 • District 22 • District 24 • District 26 • District 28 • District 30 • District 32 • District 34 • District 36 • District 38
State House
State House elections in Kentucky
Elections for the Kentucky House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 28, 2014.
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 4 election, the Democratic Party held the majority in the Kentucky House of Representatives:
| Kentucky House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2014 | After November 4, 2014 | |
| Democratic Party | 54 | 54 | |
| Republican Party | 46 | 46 | |
| Total | 100 | 100 | |
List of candidates by district
- Note: The filing deadline for candidates was January 28, 2014.
District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • 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 • 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 • District 72 • District 73 • District 74 • District 75 • District 76 • District 77 • District 78 • District 79 • District 80 • District 81 • District 82 • District 83 • District 84 • District 85 • District 86 • 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
School boards
School board elections in Kentucky
In 2014, 670 of America's largest school districts held elections for 2,188 seats. These elections took place in 37 states.
State elections
A total of 13 Kentucky school districts among America's largest school districts by enrollment held elections in 2014 for 29 seats. Each district held elections on November 4, 2014.
Here are several quick facts about Kentucky's school board elections in 2014:
- An average of 1.93 candidates ran for each board seat up for election in 2014 in Kentucky’s largest school districts by enrollment, which was higher than the national average of 1.89 candidates per seat.
- 31.03 percent of the school board seats on the ballot in 2014 were unopposed. This was a slightly lower percentage than the 32.57 percent of school board seats that were unopposed nationally.
- 79.31 percent of the incumbents whose seats were on the ballot ran for re-election in 2014, which was higher than the 75.56 percent of incumbents who sought another term nationally.
- A total of 11 newcomers were elected to school boards in Kentucky. They took 37.93 percent of the total seats in 2014, which was slightly lower than the 38.19 percent of school board seats that went to newcomers nationally.
- The largest school district by enrollment with an election in 2014 was Jefferson County Public Schools with 97,331 K-12 students.
- The smallest school district by enrollment with an election in 2014 was Christian County Public Schools with 9,291 K-12 students.
- Jefferson County Public Schools had the most seats on the ballot in 2014 with four seats up for election.
- Eleven districts tied for the fewest seats on the ballot with two seats up for election in each.
The districts listed below served 273,445 K-12 students during the 2010-2011 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.[40] Click on the district names for more information on the district and its school board elections.
| 2014 Kentucky School Board Elections | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Date | Seats up for election | Total board seats | Student enrollment |
| Boone County Schools | 11/4/2014 | 3 | 5 | 19,306 |
| Bullitt County Public Schools | 11/4/2014 | 2 | 5 | 12,873 |
| Christian County Public Schools | 11/4/2014 | 2 | 5 | 9,291 |
| Daviess County Public Schools | 11/4/2014 | 2 | 5 | 11,310 |
| Fayette County Public Schools | 11/4/2014 | 2 | 5 | 37,819 |
| Hardin County Schools | 11/4/2014 | 2 | 5 | 14,675 |
| Jefferson County Public Schools | 11/4/2014 | 4 | 7 | 97,331 |
| Kenton County School District | 11/4/2014 | 2 | 5 | 14,465 |
| Laurel County Schools | 11/4/2014 | 2 | 5 | 9,394 |
| Madison County Schools | 11/4/2014 | 2 | 5 | 11,138 |
| Oldham County Schools | 11/4/2014 | 2 | 5 | 11,951 |
| Pike County Schools | 11/4/2014 | 2 | 5 | 9,982 |
| Warren County Public Schools | 11/4/2014 | 2 | 5 | 13,910 |
Voting in Kentucky
- See also: Voting in Kentucky
Important voting information
- 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.[1][2][41]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
- On September 22, 2015, Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) said that the state board of elections had approved regulations establishing an online voter registration system. The system was expected to be available in time for the 2016 election. The board of elections expected the registration system to cost the state between $45,000 and $50,000.[42]
Voting absentee
- See also: Absentee voting by state
For information about eligibility, deadlines, military and overseas voting and updates to the voting laws in Kentucky, please visit our absentee voting by state page.
Voting early
- See also: Early voting
Kentucky is one of 14 states that do not permit early voting in any form.
Elections Performance Index
Kentucky ranked 27th out of the 50 states and District of Columbia in the Pew Charitable Trusts' Elections Performance Index (EPI), based on the 2012 elections. The EPI examined election administration performance and assigned an average percentage score based on 17 indicators of election performance. These indicators were chosen in order to determine both the convenience and integrity of these three phases of an election: registration, voting and counting. Kentucky received an overall score of 64 percent.[43]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," February 06, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
- ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections,"Key Information," accessed July 26, 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Voter Information Guide," accessed January 3, 2014
- ↑ Five Thirty Eight, "Re-Election Is Likely for McConnell, but Not Guaranteed" accessed July 8, 2013
- ↑ Washington Post "Businessman set to enter primary against McConnell" accessed July 22, 2013
- ↑ Copas for Senate, "Home," accessed January 25, 2014
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Kentucky Secretary of State Elections, "Candidate Filings," accessed January 28, 2014
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Public Policy Polling, "McConnell remains extremely unpopular," April 9, 2013
- ↑ WHAS "Grimes to challenge McConnell in 2014" accessed July 1, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State Elections, "Information for Burrel Charles Farnsley, Candidate for United State Senator," accessed January 28, 2014
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 WDRB "Ky. Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes announces Senate run" accessed July 3, 2013
- ↑ Courier Journal, "Sen. Mitch McConnell officially files for re-election," accessed January 13, 2014
- ↑ WPSD TV, "Libertarian candidate enters Senate race in Kentucky," accessed September 24, 2013
- ↑ Bennie J. Smith for U.S. Senate "Info" accessed July 3, 2013
- ↑ WFPL "Noise and Notes: Bennie J. Smith's Long Shot Quest to Retire Mitch McConnell" accessed July 5, 2013
- ↑ CNN.com, "Overalls In The Senate?" accessed October 21, 2013
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 ABC News "Potential McConnell Challenger to Announce Senate Intentions" accessed July 1, 2013
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 WHAS TV, "Tea party activist says McConnell to face GOP primary challenger soon," accessed September 24, 2013
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State Elections, "Gurley L. Martin," accessed January 28, 2014
- ↑ Gurley Martin for Senate, "Home," accessed January 13, 2014
- ↑ cn|2 "Party of one? Republican Gurley L. Martin's 90th birthday plans include filing to challenge McConnell" accessed July 5, 2013
- ↑ Courier Journal, "Gurley Martin to run against Mitch McConnell for U.S. Senate," accessed January 13, 2014
- ↑ WFPL, "Ed Marksberry Announces Independent Bid for Kentucky U.S. Senate Race," accessed September 24, 2013
- ↑ ABC News "Former Miss America May Take On Mitch McConnell" accessed July 1, 2013
- ↑ The News Enterprise "Guthrie, Parrett not interested in challenging McConnell in 2014" accessed July 5, 2013
- ↑ Politico "Kentucky lawmaker earns name for himself by voting ‘no’" accessed July 5, 2013
- ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections,"Key Information," accessed July 26, 2024
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 Kentucky Secretary of State Election, "Candidate Filings," accessed January 28, 2014
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Michael Macfarlane," accessed October 30, 2013
- ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Mark Gatton," accessed November 4, 2013
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State Elections Division, "Candidate Filings," accessed January 29, 2014
- ↑ Politico, "Kentucky House primaries 2014: Rep. Tom Massie may be challenged by Steve Stevens," accessed December 21, 2013
- ↑ Kentucky.com "Education advocate Elisabeth Jensen to challenge U.S. Rep. Andy Barr" accessed June 19, 2013
- ↑ Pure Politics, "Lexington Democrat Geoff Young first to file to run for Congress," accessed December 4, 2013
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State Elections Division, "Candidate List," accessed January 29,l 2014
- ↑ CN|2 "Democrat Michael Coblenz announces candidacy for 6th Congressional District race" accessed July 19, 2013
- ↑ Kentucky.com, "Joe Palumbo withdraws from Central Kentucky congressional race," accessed November 11, 2013
- ↑ CN|2 "Joe Palumbo running for Democratic nomination for 6th Congressional District" accessed July 19, 2013
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed March 21, 2014
- ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections,"Key Information," accessed July 26, 2024
- ↑ Governing, "Online Voter Registration Coming Soon to Kentucky," September 24, 2015
- ↑ Pew Charitable Trusts, "Election Performance Index Report," accessed April 23, 2014
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