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2024 Kentucky elections

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2024 Kentucky elections

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A general election was held in the U.S. state of Kentucky on November 5, 2024. The primary election for all offices was held on May 21, 2024. The last day to register to vote in the primary election was April 22 and the last day to register to vote in the general election was October 7.[1]

Federal offices

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President and Vice President of the United States

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Kentucky has 8 electoral votes in the Electoral College. The candidates certified to appear on the ballot, In order of their appearance,[2] were Republican Party candidate Donald Trump, Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris, Kentucky Party candidate Jill Stein, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., independent candidate Shiva Ayyadurai, and Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver. Trump previously won the state in both 2016 and 2020.

United States House of Representatives

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Kentucky has six congressional districts, electing five Republicans and one Democrat.

State offices

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Kentucky Senate

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The Kentucky Senate consists of 38 members. In 2024, half of the chamber (all odd-numbered districts) was up for election.[3] Republicans maintained their majority without gaining or losing any seats.

Kentucky House of Representatives

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All 100 seats in the Kentucky House of Representatives were up for election in 2024.[3] Republicans maintained their majority without gaining or losing any seats.

Kentucky Supreme Court

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Current districts of the Supreme Court.

The Kentucky Supreme Court consists of 7 justices elected in non-partisan elections to staggered eight-year terms. District 5, occupied by chief justice Laurance B. VanMeter, was the only seat up for election in 2024.[3] The district is composed of 8 counties in the Lexington area. VanMeter announced in September 2023 that he would not be seeking reelection.[4] He was succeeded by judge Pamela R. Goodwine.

Commonwealth’s Attorneys

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Commonwealth's Attorneys, who serve as the prosecutors for felonies in the state, are elected to six-year terms.[3] One attorney is elected for each of the 57 circuits of the Kentucky Circuit Courts. Following the 2018 elections, 32 attorneys were affiliated with the Democratic Party, 24 with the Republican party, and one independent.[5]

2024 Kentucky Commonwealth’s Attorneys elections

← 2018 November 5, 2024 2030 →

All 57 circuits of the Kentucky Circuit Courts
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Party Republican Democratic Independent
Last election 24 32 1
Seats before 29[a] 26[b] 2[c]
Seats won 37 18 2
Seat change Increase 8 Decrease 8 Steady

Results:
     Democratic gain      Republican gain
     Democratic hold      Republican hold
     Independent hold
Popular vote:
     50–60%      60–70%      80–90%      >90%
     50–60%      >90%
     >90%
Summary of elections
Circuit Incumbent[6] Candidates[7]
# Counties Attorney Party Status
1 Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, Hickman Michael B. Stacy Independent Incumbent re-elected.
  • Michael B. Stacy (Independent)
2 McCracken Daniel Y. Boaz Democratic Incumbent retired.[8]
Republican gain.
  • Donna L. Dixon (Republican)
3 Christian Maureen Leamy Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Maureen Leamy (Republican)
4 Hopkins Kathryn Hibbs Senter Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Kathryn Hibbs Senter (Republican)
5 Crittenden, Union, Webster Zac Greenwell Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • Zac Greenwell (Democratic)
6 Daviess Mike Van Meter Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • Mike Van Meter (Democratic)
7 Logan, Todd Neil Kerr Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Neil Kerr (Republican)
8 Edmonson, Warren Kori Beck Bumgarner Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • Kori Beck Bumgarner (Democratic)
9 Hardin Shane Young Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Shane Young (Republican)
10 Hart, LaRue, Nelson Terry L. Geoghegan Democratic Incumbent retired.
Democratic hold.
  • Kyle W. Williamson (Democratic)
11 Green, Marion, Taylor, Washington Shelly Miller Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Shelly Miller (Republican)
12 Henry, Oldham, Trimble Courtney T. Baxter Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Courtney T. Baxter (Republican)
13 Garrard, Jessamine Andy Sims Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Andy Sims (Republican)
14 Bourbon, Scott, Woodford Sharon Muse Johnson Republican Incumbent lost renomination.
Republican hold.
  • Kelli Kearney (Republican)
15 Carroll, Grant, Owen Leigh Tomlinson Roberts Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Leigh Tomlinson Roberts (Republican)
16 Kenton Rob Sanders Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Rob Sanders (Republican)
17 Campbell Michelle Snodgrass Democratic Incumbent retired.
Republican gain.
  • Michael C. Zimmerman (Republican)
18 Harrison, Nicholas, Pendleton, Robertson Douglas Miller Democratic Incumbent retired.
Republican gain.
  • Michael Wade Laws (Republican)
19 Bracken, Fleming, Mason Christopher L. Kelley Democratic Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican gain.
  • Johnathan Gay (Republican) 65.1%
  • Christopher L. Kelley (Democratic) 34.9%
20 Greenup, Lewis Melvin C. Leonhart Democratic Incumbent retired.
Republican gain.
  • Rhese David McKenzie (Republican)
21 Bath, Menifee, Montgomery, Rowan Ashton McKenzie Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • Ashton McKenzie (Democratic)
22 Fayette Kimberly Henderson Baird Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • Kimberly Henderson Baird (Democratic)
23 Estill, Lee, Owsley Heather Buntin Combs Republican Incumbent retired.
Democratic gain.
  • Beverly Arvin Brewer (Democratic)
24 Johnson, Lawrence, Martin Floyd Anthony Skeans Republican Incumbent retired.[9]
Republican hold.
  • David Matt Runyon (Republican)
25 Clark, Madison David W. Smith Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • David W. Smith (Democratic)
26 Harlan Steven Parker Boggs Democratic Incumbent retired.
Republican gain.
  • Karen S. Davenport (Republican)
27 Knox, Laurel Jackie L. Steele Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Jackie L. Steele (Republican)
28 Lincoln, Pulaski, Rockcastle David L. Dalton Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • David L. Dalton (Republican)
29 Adair, Casey Brian Wright Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Brian Wright (Republican)
30 Jefferson Gerina D. Whethers Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • Gerina D. Whethers (Democratic)
31 Floyd Arnold Brent Turner Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • Arnold Brent Turner (Democratic)
32 Boyd Rhonda Copley Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Rhonda Copley (Republican)
33 Perry Vacant Scott Blair (D) resigned.
Republican gain.
  • John Hansen (Republican) 50.4%
  • Jonathan Wilder (Democratic) 49.6%
34 McCreary, Whitley Ronnie Bowling Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Ronnie Bowling (Republican)
35 Pike Billy G. Slone Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Billy G. "Bill" Slone (Republican)
36 Knott, Magoffin Todd Martin Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • Todd Martin (Democratic)
37 Carter, Elliott, Morgan Brandon Ison Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • Brandon Ison (Democratic)
38 Butler, Hancock, Ohio Blake Ross Chambers Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Blake Ross Chambers (Republican)
39 Breathitt, Powell, Wolfe Miranda Stevens King Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • Miranda Stevens King (Democratic)
40 Clinton, Cumberland, Monroe Jesse M. Stockton Jr. Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Jesse M. Stockton Jr. (Republican)
41 Clay, Jackson, Leslie Gary H. Gregory Republican Incumbent lost renomination.
Republican hold.
  • Haley Jo Fields (Republican) 85.2%
  • Jake Roberts (Democratic) 14.8%
42 Calloway, Marshall Dennis R. Foust Independent Incumbent re-elected.
  • Dennis R. Foust (Independent)
43 Barren, Metcalfe John Bishop Gardner Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • John Bishop Gardner (Democratic)
44 Bell Lisa Fugate Republican Incumbent lost renomination.
Republican hold.
  • Mike Taylor (Republican) 68.6%
  • Jessie Moberg (Democratic) 31.4%
45 McLean, Muhlenberg Clayton Douglas Adams Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • Clayton Douglas Adams (Democratic)
46 Breckinridge, Grayson, Meade Rick Allen Hardin Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Rick Allen Hardin (Republican)
47 Letcher Matthew Thomas Butler Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • Matthew Thomas Butler (Democratic) 56.3%
  • Edison G. Banks II (Republican) 43.7%
48 Franklin Larry Cleveland Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • Larry Cleveland (Democratic)
49 Allen, Simpson Corey Morgan Republican Incumbent lost renomination.
Republican hold.
  • Mike Lindsey (Republican)
50 Boyle, Mercer Richard Bottoms Democratic Incumbent retired.
Republican gain.
  • Justin Johnson (Republican)
51 Henderson Herbert L. McKee, Jr. Democratic Incumbent re-elected.
  • Herbert L. McKee Jr. (Democratic)
52 Graves Richard Kemp Democratic Incumbent lost re-election.
Republican gain.
  • George Shannon Powers (Republican) 52.8%
  • Richard "Richie" Kemp (Democratic) 47.2%
53 Anderson, Shelby, Spencer Hart Megibben Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Hart Megibben (Republican)
54 Boone, Gallatin Louis Kelly Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Louis Kelly (Republican)
55 Bullitt Bailey Taylor Republican Incumbent retired.
Republican hold.
  • Amanda Hernandez-Troutman (Republican)
56 Caldwell, Livingston, Lyon, Trigg Carrie L. Ovey-Wiggins Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Carrie L. Ovey-Wiggins (Republican)
57 Russell, Wayne Matthew Leveridge Republican Incumbent re-elected.
  • Matthew Leveridge (Republican)

Circuit Clerks

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Results by county:
  Republican
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   80–90%
  •   100%
  Democratic
  •   100%

Each county elected a Circuit Court Clerk to a six-year term.[3] Republican candidates won in 76 counties, while Democrats won 44.

Local offices

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Mayors

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Mayors in Kentucky are elected to four-year terms, with cities holding their elections in either presidential or midterm years.[3] Cities with mayoral elections in 2024 included Ashland, Bowling Green, Covington, Frankfort, Newport, Owensboro, and Paducah. Special elections were held for unexpired terms in Brandenburg and Prestonsburg.

Summary of elections
City Incumbent Candidates
Mayor First
elected
Status
Ashland Matt Perkins 2020 Incumbent retired.
  • Chuck Charles 51.5%
  • Joshua Blanton 48.%
Bowling Green Todd Alcott 2020 Incumbent re-electeed.
Brandenburg
(special)
David Pace 2024[d] Incumbent retired.
  • Bruce Fackler
Covington Joseph U. Meyer 2016 Incumbent retired.
  • Ronald Washington
Frankfort Layne Wilkerson 2020 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Layne Wilkerson 62.0%
  • Katrisha Waldridge 38.0%
Newport Thomas Guidugli 2020 Incumbent re-elected.
  • Thomas Guidugli
Owensboro Tom Watson 2016[e] Incumbent re-elected.
  • Tom Watson 56.9%
  • Pamela Smith-Wright 43.1%
Paducah George Bray 2020 Incumbent re-elected.
  • George Bray 70.2%
  • David Guess 29.8%
Prestonsburg
(special)
Rick Hughes 2024[f] Incumbent re-elected
  • Rick Hughes 56.0%
  • David Gearheart 30.4%
  • Danny Martin 13.6%

City Councils

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Each incorporated city elected its council members to a two-year term.[3]

School boards

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Local school board members are elected to staggered four-year terms, with half up for election in 2024.[3]

Louisville Metro Council

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The Louisville Metro Council is elected to staggered four-year terms, with even-numbered districts up for election in 2024.[3]

Ballot measures

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Two constitutional amendments were proposed by the Kentucky General Assembly to be voted on in the general election.

Noncitizen voting amendment

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Results by county:
  Yes
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%

The amendment prevents people who are not United States citizens from voting.

Amendment 1
Choice Votes %
Referendum passed Yes 1,210,581 62.38
No 730,053 37.62
Total votes 1,940,634 100.00

School choice amendment

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Results by county:
  No
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%

If enacted, the amendment would have allowed the General Assembly to fund charter schools.

Amendment 2
Choice Votes %
Referendum failed No 1,302,466 64.79
Yes 707,819 35.21
Total votes 2,010,285 100.00

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ A Republican won a special election in the 15th circuit, previously held by a Democrat, in November 2022. Additionally, five Democratic incumbents in the 4th, 9th, 11th, 35th, and 56th circuits switched parties following the 2018 elections.
  2. ^ Matt Butler (D) was appointed in the 47th circuit following the resignation of Edison Banks (R).
  3. ^ The Democratic incumbent in the 1st circuit switched parties following the 2018 elections.
  4. ^ Pace was appointed by the Brandenburg City Council to replace outgoing mayor Bryan Claycomb, beginning January 1, 2024.
  5. ^ Watson previously served as mayor from 2005 to 2008.
  6. ^ Hughes was appointed by the Prestonsburg City Council to replace outgoing mayor Les Stapleton, who resigned on March 12, 2024.

References

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  1. ^ "2024 Kentucky Election Calendar" (PDF). Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  2. ^ https://web.sos.ky.gov/electionballots/
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Kentucky Election Schedule" (PDF). Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  4. ^ Bryson, Julie (September 12, 2023). "Kentucky Chief Justice not seeking re-election in 2024". WPSD Local 6. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  5. ^ "Official 2018 General Election Results" (PDF). Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "Members by Circuit". Kentucky Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Association. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  7. ^ "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State". Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  8. ^ Dick, Carly (November 11, 2023). "McCracken County Commonwealth's Attorney Dan Boaz says its time to pass the torch". The Paducah Sun. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  9. ^ Fyffe, Tony (December 9, 2023). "Assistant prosecutor files for commonwealth's attorney". The Paintsville Herald. Retrieved February 27, 2024.