The 2010 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 2, 2010. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 18. Half of the senate (all even-numbered seats) were up for election. Republicans increased their majority in the chamber, gaining two seats.[1]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19 out of 38 seats in the Kentucky Senate 20 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Results: Republican hold Republican gain Democratic hold Democratic gain Independent hold No election Popular vote: 50–60% 60–70% >90% 50–60% >90% 40–50% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
A numbered map of the senate districts at the time can be viewed here.
Overview edit
Party | Candidates | Votes | % | Seats | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Opposed | Unopposed | Before | Won | After | +/− | ||||||
Republican | 15 | 3 | 398,458 | 57.88 | 20 | 13 | 22 | +2 | |||
Democratic | 15 | 1 | 271,350 | 39.42 | 17 | 5 | 15 | -2 | |||
Independent | 1 | 0 | 17,606 | 2.56 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | |||
Evangelical Christian | 1 | 0 | 1,004 | 0.15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |||
Total | 32 | 4 | 688,418 | 100.00 | 38 | 19 | 38 | ±0 | |||
Source: Kentucky Secretary of State |
Retiring incumbents edit
A total of two senators (one Democrat and one Republican) retired, neither of which ran for other offices.[2]
Democratic edit
Republican edit
- 20th: Gary Tapp (Shelbyville): Retired.
Defeated incumbents edit
Three incumbents (two Democrats and one Republican) were defeated for reelection.
Democrats edit
- 8th: David Boswell (first elected in 1990) lost to Joseph R. Bowen.
- 32nd: Mike Reynolds (elected in February 2009) lost to Mike Wilson.
Republicans edit
- 10th: Elizabeth Tori (first elected in 1994) lost to Dennis Parrett.
Summary by district edit
Certified results by the Kentucky Secretary of State are available online for the primary election and general election.
District | Incumbent | Party | Elected | Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | Bob Leeper | Ind | Bob Leeper | Ind | ||
4 | Dorsey Ridley | Dem | Dorsey Ridley | Dem | ||
6 | Jerry Rhoads | Dem | Jerry Rhoads | Dem | ||
8 | David Boswell | Dem | Joseph R. Bowen | Rep | ||
10 | Elizabeth Tori | Rep | Dennis Parrett | Dem | ||
12 | Alice Forgy Kerr | Rep | Alice Forgy Kerr | Rep | ||
14 | Jimmy Higdon | Rep | Jimmy Higdon | Rep | ||
16 | David Williams | Rep | David Williams | Rep | ||
18 | Robin L. Webb | Dem | Robin L. Webb | Dem | ||
20 | Gary Tapp | Rep | Paul Hornback | Rep | ||
22 | Tom Buford | Rep | Tom Buford | Rep | ||
24 | Katie Kratz Stine | Rep | Katie Kratz Stine | Rep | ||
26 | Ernie Harris | Rep | Ernie Harris | Rep | ||
28 | R. J. Palmer | Dem | R. J. Palmer | Dem | ||
30 | Brandon Smith | Rep | Brandon Smith | Rep | ||
32 | Mike Reynolds | Dem | Mike Wilson | Rep | ||
34 | Ed Worley | Dem | Jared Carpenter | Rep | ||
36 | Julie Denton | Rep | Julie Denton | Rep | ||
38 | Dan Seum | Rep | Dan Seum | Rep |
Closest races edit
Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
- District 12, 2.38%
- District 2, 2.49%
- District 10, 3.30% (gain)
- District 8, 3.34% (gain)
- District 6, 5.19%
- District 28, 5.41%
- District 18, 6.62%
Special elections edit
District 32 special edit
Mike Reynolds was elected in February 2009 following the resignation of Brett Guthrie.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Mike Reynolds | 8,283 | 54.7 | |
Republican | J. Marshall Hughes | 6,858 | 45.3 | |
Total votes | 15,141 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic gain from Republican |
District 18 special edit
Robin L. Webb was elected in August 2009 following the resignation of Charlie Borders.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Robin L. Webb | 8,684 | 48.1 | |
Republican | Jack F. Ditty | 8,402 | 46.6 | |
Independent | Guy E. Gibbons Jr. | 953 | 5.3 | |
Total votes | 18,039 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic gain from Republican |
District 14 special edit
Jimmy Higdon was elected in December 2009 following the resignation of Dan Kelly.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jimmy Higdon | 11,327 | 56.1 | ||
Democratic | Jodie Haydon | 8,881 | 43.9 | ||
Total votes | 20,208 | 100.0 | |||
Republican hold |
District 2 edit
Incumbent senator Bob Leeper won reelection, defeating Democratic and Republican challengers.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Rex Smith, representative from the 4th district (1987–1995)
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- William Michael East
Independent candidates edit
- Bob Leeper, incumbent senator
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Independent | Bob Leeper | 17,606 | 46.3 | |
Democratic | Rex Smith | 16,657 | 43.8 | |
Republican | William Michael East | 3,790 | 10.0 | |
Total votes | 38,053 | 100.0 | ||
Independent hold |
District 4 edit
Incumbent senator Dorsey Ridley won reelection unopposed.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Dorsey Ridley, incumbent senator
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dorsey Ridley | Unopposed | |||
Total votes | 26,304 | 100.0 | |||
Democratic hold |
District 6 edit
Incumbent senator Jerry Rhoads won reelection, defeating Republican Jack Whitfield.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Jerry Rhoads, incumbent senator
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Jack Whitfield
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jerry Rhoads | 17,473 | 52.6 | |
Republican | Jack Whitfield | 15,750 | 47.4 | |
Total votes | 33,223 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold |
District 8 edit
Incumbent senator David Boswell was defeated for reelection by Republican Joseph R. Bowen.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- David Boswell, incumbent senator
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Joseph R. Bowen | 18,073 | 51.7 | |
Democratic | David Boswell | 16,904 | 48.3 | |
Total votes | 34,977 | 100.0 | ||
Republican gain from Democratic |
District 10 edit
Incumbent senator Elizabeth Tori was defeated for reelection by Democrat Dennis Parrett.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Elizabeth Tori, incumbent senator
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dennis Parrett | 16,291 | 51.7 | |
Republican | Elizabeth Tori | 15,250 | 48.3 | |
Total votes | 31,541 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic gain from Republican |
District 12 edit
Incumbent senator Alice Forgy Kerr won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Don Blevins, County Clerk of Fayette County (1982–2008)
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Alice Forgy Kerr, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary edit
- Andrew Roberts
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Alice Forgy Kerr | 6,805 | 71.3 | |
Republican | Andrew Roberts | 2,738 | 28.7 | |
Total votes | 9,543 | 100.0 |
General election edit
Endorsements edit
- Newspapers
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Alice Forgy Kerr | 20,341 | 51.2 | |
Democratic | Don Blevins | 19,397 | 48.8 | |
Total votes | 39,738 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
District 14 edit
Incumbent senator Jimmy Higdon won reelection unopposed.
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Jimmy Higdon, incumbent senator
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jimmy Higdon | Unopposed | |||
Total votes | 30,360 | 100.0 | |||
Republican hold |
District 16 edit
Incumbent senator David Williams won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Denver Capps.
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- David Williams, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary edit
- Denver Capps
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | David Williams | 18,407 | 81.6 | |
Republican | Denver Capps | 4,143 | 18.4 | |
Total votes | 22,550 | 100.0 |
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | David Williams | Unopposed | |||
Total votes | 24,484 | 100.0 | |||
Republican hold |
District 18 edit
Incumbent senator Robin L. Webb won reelection, defeating Republican Jack Ditty.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Robin L. Webb, incumbent senator
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Jack Ditty, Republican candidate for this district in August 2009
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Robin L. Webb | 17,617 | 53.3 | |
Republican | Jack Ditty | 15,428 | 46.7 | |
Total votes | 33,045 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold |
District 20 edit
Incumbent senator Gary Tapp did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Paul Hornback.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- David Eaton, candidate for the 58th house district in 2002 and 2004
Eliminated in primary edit
- John Spainhour
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | David Eaton | 8,281 | 55.6 | |
Democratic | John Spainhour | 6,618 | 44.4 | |
Total votes | 14,899 | 100.0 |
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
Eliminated in primary edit
- David Glauber
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Paul Hornback | 5,328 | 62.9 | |
Republican | David Glauber | 3,148 | 37.1 | |
Total votes | 8,476 | 100.0 |
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Paul Hornback | 26,883 | 60.5 | |
Democratic | David Eaton | 17,588 | 39.5 | |
Total votes | 44,471 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
District 22 edit
Incumbent senator Tom Buford won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Chad Crouch.
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Tom Buford, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary edit
- Chad Crouch
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Tom Buford | 6,236 | 52.9 | |
Republican | Chad Crouch | 5,542 | 47.1 | |
Total votes | 11,778 | 100.0 |
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Tom Buford | Unopposed | |||
Total votes | 32,080 | 100.0 | |||
Republican hold |
District 24 edit
Incumbent senator Katie Kratz Stine won reelection, defeating Democrat Julie Smith-Morrow.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Julie Smith-Morrow
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Katie Kratz Stine, incumbent senator
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Katie Kratz Stine | 22,398 | 69.2 | |
Democratic | Julie Smith-Morrow | 9,978 | 30.8 | |
Total votes | 32,376 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
District 26 edit
Incumbent senator Ernie Harris won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- John Black
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Ernie Harris, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary edit
- Don Godfrey
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ernie Harris | 9,109 | 71.5 | |
Republican | Don Godfrey | 3,626 | 28.5 | |
Total votes | 12,735 | 100.0 |
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ernie Harris | 30,305 | 58.3 | |
Democratic | John Black | 21,656 | 41.7 | |
Total votes | 51,961 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
District 28 edit
Incumbent senator R. J. Palmer won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- R. J. Palmer, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary edit
- Bryan Lutz
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | R. J. Palmer | 14,575 | 68.5 | |
Democratic | Bryan Lutz | 6,705 | 31.5 | |
Total votes | 21,280 | 100.0 |
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Ralph Alvarado, candidate for the 73rd house district in 2004 and 2006
Eliminated in primary edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ralph Alvarado | 3,386 | 65.5 | |
Republican | Ryan Dotson | 1,780 | 34.5 | |
Total votes | 5,166 | 100.0 |
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | R. J. Palmer | 18,876 | 52.7 | |
Republican | Ralph Alvarado | 16,940 | 47.3 | |
Total votes | 35,816 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic hold |
District 30 edit
Incumbent senator Brandon Smith won reelection, defeating Democrat Johnnie L. Turner.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Johnnie L. Turner, representative from the 88th district (1999–2003)
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Brandon Smith, incumbent senator
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Brandon Smith | 20,870 | 67.2 | |
Democratic | Johnnie L. Turner | 10,180 | 32.8 | |
Total votes | 31,050 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
District 32 edit
Incumbent senator Mike Reynolds was defeated for reelection by Republican Mike Wilson.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Mike Reynolds, incumbent senator
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
Eliminated in primary edit
- Ed Mills
- Regina Webb
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mike Wilson | 5,025 | 51.5 | |
Republican | Regina Webb | 3,077 | 31.5 | |
Republican | Ed Mills | 1,656 | 17.0 | |
Total votes | 9,758 | 100.0 |
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mike Wilson | 18,935 | 55.0 | |
Democratic | Mike Reynolds | 15,490 | 45.0 | |
Total votes | 34,425 | 100.0 | ||
Republican gain from Democratic |
District 34 edit
Incumbent senator Ed Worley did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Jared Carpenter.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Lee Murphy
Eliminated in primary edit
- Michael Cope
- Landra Lewis
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Lee Murphy | 4,452 | 35.5 | |
Democratic | Landra Lewis | 4,106 | 32.8 | |
Democratic | Michael Cope | 3,966 | 31.7 | |
Total votes | 12,524 | 100.0 |
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
Eliminated in primary edit
- Kent Kessler
- Barry Metcalf, senator from the 34th district (1994–1999) and candidate in 2002 and 2006
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jared Carpenter | 4,405 | 37.9 | |
Republican | Kent Kessler | 4,264 | 36.7 | |
Republican | Barry Metcalf | 2,955 | 25.4 | |
Total votes | 11,624 | 100.0 |
Third-party candidates edit
Evangelical Christian edit
- Donald VanWinkle
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jared Carpenter | 23,553 | 64.9 | |
Democratic | Lee Murphy | 11,719 | 32.3 | |
Evangelical Christian | Donald VanWinkle | 1,004 | 2.8 | |
Total votes | 36,276 | 100.0 | ||
Republican gain from Democratic |
District 36 edit
Incumbent senator Julie Denton won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Rick Hiles
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Julie Denton, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary edit
- Shawn Slone
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Julie Denton | 10,135 | 71.7 | |
Republican | Shawn Slone | 4,000 | 28.3 | |
Total votes | 14,135 | 100.0 |
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Julie Denton | 36,864 | 66.8 | |
Democratic | Rick Hiles | 18,291 | 33.2 | |
Total votes | 55,155 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
District 38 edit
Incumbent senator Dan Seum won reelection, defeating Democrat Marty Meyer.
Democratic primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Marty Meyer
Republican primary edit
Candidates edit
Nominee edit
- Dan Seum, incumbent senator
General election edit
Results edit
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Dan Seum | 26,154 | 60.7 | |
Democratic | Marty Meyer | 16,929 | 39.3 | |
Total votes | 43,083 | 100.0 | ||
Republican hold |
Notes edit
- ^ a b Independent senator Bob Leeper caucused with the Republicans.
References edit
- ^ "Kerr narrowly defeats Blevins". The Lexington Herald-Leader. November 3, 2010. p. A6.
- ^ "Legislative races draw 232 candidates - district Voters will get to decide 61 House, 19 Senate contests". The Lexington Herald-Leader. January 27, 2010. p. A1.
- ^ a b c "2009 Special Elections" (PDF). Kentucky State Board of Elections. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ "Blevins for Senate". The Lexington Herald-Leader. October 12, 2010. p. A10.