FRANKFORT, Ky. — In a closely watched election cycle, Former President Donald Trump won the presidential election Tuesday with a decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. As of Wednesday morning, Trump secured 277 electoral college points over Harris’ 224, with only a few states left to report, according to the Associated Press.
In Kentucky, the House will retain its Republican 80-20 supermajority while the Senate retains its majority with at least 30 seats.
Total voter turnout in Kentucky reached nearly 59%, with 792,000 Kentuckians early voting, a record-high number.
House Minority Caucus Chair Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson, representing the 88th District, lost to Republican challenger Vanessa Grossl. As of Wednesday morning, with 96% of votes counted, Grossl leads with 11,602 votes over Stevenson’s 11,388 votes.
In a close race in the 45th District, where Republican Rep. Killian Timoney lost his primary election to challenger Thomas Jefferson, Democrat Adam Moore won the election by 131 votes — 12,777 to 12,646. This flips a seat, but with the Democrats losing a seat in House District 88. If the margin is within 0.5%, then state law allows for a recount of votes.
Counting continues in the race for Senate District 29, where nine write-in candidates are vying to fill a seat left open by the recent death of Senator Johnnie L. Turner, as of Wednesday morning.
Republicans hoped to flip House District 67 in northern Kentucky, but Democrat Matthew Lehman maintains a 30-vote lead over Republican Terry Hatton after current Rep. Rachel Roberts announced she would not run for reelection late last year. As of Wednesday morning, this race is too close to call and will likely go to a recount.
Visit the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website for more election results.
Kentucky Supreme Court
In the race for the Kentucky Supreme Court’s Fifth District, Court of Appeals judge Pamela Goodwine made history as she is set to become the first Black female justice elected to the bench. She defeated Frankfort attorney Erin Izzo by a large margin. Also for the first time in history, the highest court in the Commonwealth will have more female justices than male justices, including its first female chief justice, Debra Hembree Lambert.
Constitutional Amendments
Two constitutional amendments were on the ballot. Constitutional Amendment 1, which passed by more than 60%, clarifies that non-U.S. citizens are not eligible to vote in Kentucky. Constitutional Amendment 2, which failed by 65%, would have authorized the General Assembly to provide financial support to students attending non-public schools.
Congressional Elections
The U.S. Senate is projected to have a Republican majority following last night’s election. However, multiple races have yet to be called to determine which party will control the U.S. House.
There will be no changes to Kentucky’s federal delegation, with all incumbents winning their races.
- Rep. James Comer (R) of Kentucky’s first district defeated Democrat Erin Marshall.
- Rep. Brett Guthrie (R) beat Democrat Hank Linderman for Kentucky’s second district.
- Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D) beat Republican challenger Mike Craven for Kentucky’s third district.
- Rep. Thomas Massie (R) was unopposed in the general election for the fourth district.
- Rep. Hal Rogers (R) was unopposed in the general election for the fifth district.
- Rep. Andy Barr (R) defeated Democrat Randy Cravens for Kentucky’s sixth district.
