2020 Kentucky Senate election

2020 Kentucky Senate election

← 2018 November 3, 2020 2022 →

19 out of 38 seats in the Kentucky Senate
20 seats needed for a majority
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Robert Stivers Morgan McGarvey
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since January 8, 2013 January 8, 2019
Leader's seat 25thManchester 19thLouisville
Last election 28 10
Seats won 30 8
Seat change Increase 2 Decrease 2
Seats up 12 7
Races won 14 5

Results:
     Republican hold      Republican gain
     Democratic hold      No election
Popular vote:
     50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
     >90%

Senate President before election

Robert Stivers
Republican

Elected Senate President

Robert Stivers
Republican

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 (all odd-numbered seats) were up for election. Republicans increased their majority in the chamber, gaining two seats.

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

Overview

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Party Candidates Votes % Seats
Opposed Unopposed Before Won After +/−
Republican 11 3 532,205 59.01 28 14 30 +2
Democratic 9 4 340,042 37.70 10 5 8 -2
Libertarian 3 0 20,927 2.32 0 0 0 -
Independent 2 0 8,423 0.93 0 0 0 -
Write-in 3 0 268 0.03 0 0 0 -
Total 28 7 901,865 100.00 38 19 38 ±0
Source: Kentucky Secretary of State

Retiring incumbents

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A total of three senators (two Democrats and one Republican) retired, none of whom ran for other offices.

Democratic

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  1. 7th: Julian M. Carroll (Frankfort): Retired
  2. 37th: Perry B. Clark (Louisville): Retired

Republican

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  1. 1st: Stan Humphries (Cadiz): Retired

Incumbents defeated

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One incumbent lost renomination in the primary election, and one incumbent lost reelection in the general election.

In the primary election

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Republicans

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One Republican lost renomination.

  1. 21st: Albert Robinson (first elected in 1994) lost renomination to Brandon J. Storm, who won the general election.

In the general election

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Democrats

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One Democrat lost reelection to a Republican.

  1. 29th: Johnny Ray Turner (first elected in 2000) lost to Johnnie L. Turner.

Summary by district

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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 Party Elected Party
1 Stan Humphries Rep Jason G. Howell Rep
3 Whitney H. Westerfield Rep Whitney H. Westerfield Rep
5 Stephen L. Meredith Rep Stephen L. Meredith Rep
7 Julian M. Carroll Dem Adrienne E. Southworth Rep
9 David P. Givens Rep David P. Givens Rep
11 John Schickel Rep John Schickel Rep
13 Reginald Thomas Dem Reginald Thomas Dem
15 Rick Girdler Rep Rick Girdler Rep
17 Damon Thayer Rep Damon Thayer Rep
19 Morgan McGarvey Dem Morgan McGarvey Dem
21 Albert Robinson Rep Brandon Jackson Storm Rep
23 Chris McDaniel Rep Chris McDaniel Rep
25 Robert Stivers Rep Robert Stivers Rep
27 Steve West Rep Steve West Rep
29 Johnny Ray Turner Dem Johnnie L. Turner Rep
31 Phillip Wheeler Rep Phillip Wheeler Rep
33 Gerald A. Neal Dem Gerald A. Neal Dem
35 Denise Harper Angel Dem Denise Harper Angel Dem
37 Perry B. Clark Dem David Yates Dem

Crossover seats

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Democratic

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

District Incumbent
# Trump margin of
victory in 2016
Member Party Incumbent margin
of victory in 2016
7 R+24.18 Julian M. Carroll Democratic Unopposed
29 R+58.30 Johnny Ray Turner Democratic Unopposed
37 R+5.54 Perry B. Clark Democratic Unopposed

Republican

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None.

Closest races

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Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. District 29, 6.80% (gain)
  2. District 7, 9.48% (gain)

Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[1] Solid R October 21, 2020

Special elections

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District 31 special

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Results by county:
  Wheeler
  •   50–60%
  •   70–80%
  Pugh
  •   50–60%
  •   70–80%

Phillip Wheeler was elected in March 2019 following the resignation of Ray Jones II.

2019 Kentucky Senate 31st district special election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Phillip Wheeler 6,188 52.3
Democratic Darrell Pugh 5,649 47.7
Total votes 11,837 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic

District 38 special

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Mike Nemes was elected in January 2020 following the resignation of Dan Seum.

2020 Kentucky Senate 38th district special election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Nemes 8,637 63.6
Democratic Andrew Bailey 4,943 36.4
Total votes 13,580 100.0
Republican hold

District 26 special

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Karen Berg was elected in June 2020 following the resignation of Ernie Harris.

2020 Kentucky Senate 26th district special election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Karen Berg 24,771 57.0
Republican Bill Ferko 18,705 43.0
Total votes 43,476 100.0
Democratic gain from Republican

District 1

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Incumbent senator Stan Humphries did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Jason G. Howell.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 1st district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jason G. Howell Unopposed
Total votes 40,128 100.0
Republican hold

District 3

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Incumbent senator Whitney H. Westerfield won reelection, defeating Libertarian candidate Amanda Billings.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Third-party candidates

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Libertarian party

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  • Amanda Billings

General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 3rd district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Whitney H. Westerfield (incumbent) 29,640 78.4
Libertarian Amanda Billings 8,157 21.6
Total votes 37,797 100.0
Republican hold

District 5

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Incumbent senator Stephen L. Meredith won reelection, defeating Independent and Libertarian candidates.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Independent candidates

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  • John Whipple

Third-party candidates

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Libertarian party

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  • Guy M. Miller

General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 5th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephen L. Meredith (incumbent) 43,385 82.0
Independent John Whipple 5,724 10.8
Libertarian Guy M. Miller 3,781 7.1
Total votes 52,890 100.0
Republican hold

District 7

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Incumbent senator Julian M. Carroll did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Adrienne E. Southworth.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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  • Joe Graviss, representative from the 56th district (2019–2021)

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Eliminated in primary
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  • Cleaver Kirk Crawford
  • Katie Howard
  • Calen Studler
  • Linda Thompson

Results

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Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Adrienne E. Southworth 3,701 31.1
Republican Katie Howard 3,157 26.5
Republican Calen Studler 2,697 22.7
Republican Linda Thompson 1,952 16.4
Republican Cleaver Kirk Crawford 390 3.3
Total votes 11,897 100.0

Independent candidates

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  • Ken Carroll

General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 7th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Adrienne E. Southworth 33,187 52.6
Democratic Joe Graviss 27,205 43.1
Independent Ken Carroll 2,699 4.3
Total votes 63,091 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
Results by county
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County Adrienne E. Southworth Joe Graviss Ken Carroll Margin Total
votes
# % # % # % # %
Anderson 8,862 68.20 3,744 28.81 388 2.99 5,118 39.39 12,994
Franklin 10,731 41.45 13,562 52.39 1,594 6.16 -2,831 -10.94 25,887
Gallatin 2,650 70.27 931 24.69 190 5.04 1,719 45.58 3,771
Owen 3,994 74.72 1,163 21.76 188 3.52 2,831 52.97 5,345
Woodford 6,950 46.04 7,805 51.71 339 2.25 -855 -5.66 15,094
Total 33,187 52.60 27,205 43.12 2,699 4.28 5,982 9.48 63,091

District 9

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Incumbent senator David P. Givens won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Brian Pedigo.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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  • Brian Pedigo

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 9th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David P. Givens (incumbent) 41,555 78.5
Democratic Brian Pedigo 11,356 21.5
Total votes 52,911 100.0
Republican hold

District 11

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Incumbent senator John Schickel won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate James Fiorelli.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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  • James Fiorelli

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 11th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Schickel (incumbent) 46,463 70.4
Democratic James Fiorelli 19,496 29.6
Total votes 65,959 100.0
Republican hold

District 13

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Incumbent senator Reginald Thomas won reelection, defeating write-in candidate Matt E. Miniard.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 13th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Reginald Thomas (incumbent) 36,345 99.8
Write-in Matt E. Miniard 55 0.2
Total votes 36,400 100.0
Democratic hold

District 15

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Incumbent senator Rick Girdler won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Larry Sears Nichols.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Eliminated in primary
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  • Larry Sears Nichols

Results

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Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Girdler (incumbent) 14,140 78.3
Republican Larry Sears Nichols 3,923 21.7
Total votes 18,063 100.0

General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 15th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Girdler (incumbent) Unopposed
Total votes 47,098 100.0
Republican hold

District 17

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Incumbent senator Damon Thayer won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Jason Stroude.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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  • Jason Stroude

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 17th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Damon Thayer (incumbent) 44,772 69.3
Democratic Jason Stroude 19,852 30.7
Total votes 64,624 100.0
Republican hold

District 19

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Incumbent senator Morgan McGarvey won reelection unopposed.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 19th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Morgan McGarvey (incumbent) Unopposed
Total votes 50,867 100.0
Democratic hold

District 21

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Incumbent Republican senator Albert Robinson was defeated for renomination by Brandon Jackson Storm.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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  • Walter Trebolo III

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Eliminated in primary
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Results

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Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brandon Jackson Storm 6,875 38.7
Republican Albert Robinson (incumbent) 6,131 34.5
Republican Kay Hensley 4,756 26.8
Total votes 17,762 100.0

General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 21st district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brandon Jackson Storm 44,099 82.4
Democratic Walter Trebolo III 9,447 17.6
Total votes 53,546 100.0
Republican hold

District 23

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Incumbent senator Chris McDaniel won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Ryan Olexia.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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  • Ryan Olexia

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 23rd district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris McDaniel (incumbent) 32,188 57.7
Democratic Ryan Olexia 23,623 42.3
Total votes 55,811 100.0
Republican hold

District 25

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Incumbent senator Robert Stivers won reelection unopposed.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 25th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Robert Stivers (incumbent) Unopposed
Total votes 37,141 100.0
Republican hold

District 27

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Incumbent senator Steve West won reelection, defeating Libertarian and write-in candidates.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Third-party candidates

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Libertarian party

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  • Bryan Shumate Short

General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 27th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve West (incumbent) 38,370 80.7
Libertarian Bryan Shumate Short 8,989 18.9
Write-in Yvonne Baldwin 166 0.3
Write-in Gene Barry Detherage Jr. 47 0.1
Total votes 47,572 100.0
Republican hold

District 29

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Incumbent senator Johnny Ray Turner was defeated for reelection by Republican Johnnie L. Turner.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Eliminated in primary
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  • Matthew Wynn

Results

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Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Johnnie L. Turner 3,552 69.9
Republican Matthew Wynn 1,527 30.1
Total votes 5,079 100.0

General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 29th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Johnnie L. Turner 22,475 53.4
Democratic Johnny Ray Turner (incumbent) 19,612 46.6
Total votes 42,087 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
Results by county
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County Johnnie L. Turner Johnny Ray Turner Margin Total
votes
# % # % # %
Floyd 6,097 37.50 10,161 62.50 -4,064 -25.00 16,258
Harlan 8,431 78.49 2,310 21.51 6,121 56.99 10,741
Knott 3,047 49.62 3,094 50.38 -47 -0.77 6,141
Letcher 4,900 54.77 4,047 45.23 853 9.53 8,947
Total 22,475 53.40 19,612 46.60 2,863 6.80 42,087

District 31

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Incumbent senator Phillip Wheeler won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Glenn Martin Hammond.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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  • Glenn Martin Hammond
Eliminated in primary
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  • Scott Sykes

Results

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Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Glenn Martin Hammond 5,559 59.2
Democratic Scott Sykes 3,836 40.8
Total votes 9,395 100.0

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 31st district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Phillip Wheeler (incumbent) 31,704 72.2
Democratic Glenn Martin Hammond 12,196 27.8
Total votes 43,900 100.0
Republican hold

District 33

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Incumbent senator Gerald A. Neal won reelection unopposed.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 33rd district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Gerald A. Neal (incumbent) Unopposed
Total votes 38,520 100.0
Democratic hold

District 35

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Incumbent senator Denise Harper Angel won reelection unopposed.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 35th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Denise Harper Angel (incumbent) Unopposed
Total votes 37,358 100.0
Democratic hold

District 37

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Incumbent senator Perry B. Clark did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Democrat David Yates.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Eliminated in primary
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  • Katie Brophy
  • Garrett A. Dean
  • Di Tran

Results

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Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Yates 10,946 67.0
Democratic Katie Brophy 2,708 16.6
Democratic Garrett A. Dean 1,345 8.2
Democratic Di Tran 1,343 8.2
Total votes 16,342 100.0

General election

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Results

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2020 Kentucky Senate 37th district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic David Yates Unopposed
Total votes 34,165 100.0
Democratic hold

References

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  1. ^ "October Overview: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 26, 2024.

See also

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