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]
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19 out of 38 seats in the Kentucky Senate 20 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A numbered map of the senate districts at the time can be viewed here.
Overview
editParty | 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
editA total of two senators (one Democrat and one Republican) retired, neither of which ran for other offices.[2]
Democratic
editRepublican
edit- 20th: Gary Tapp (Shelbyville): Retired.
Defeated incumbents
editThree 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
editCertified 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
editSeats 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
editDistrict 32 special
editMike 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
editRobin 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
editJimmy 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
editIncumbent senator Bob Leeper won reelection, defeating Democratic and Republican challengers.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Rex Smith, representative from the 4th district (1987–1995)
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- William Michael East
Independent candidates
edit- Bob Leeper, incumbent senator
General election
editResults
editParty | 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
editIncumbent senator Dorsey Ridley won reelection unopposed.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Dorsey Ridley, incumbent senator
General election
editResults
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dorsey Ridley | Unopposed | |||
Total votes | 26,304 | 100.0 | |||
Democratic hold |
District 6
editIncumbent senator Jerry Rhoads won reelection, defeating Republican Jack Whitfield.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Jerry Rhoads, incumbent senator
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Jack Whitfield
General election
editResults
editParty | 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
editIncumbent senator David Boswell was defeated for reelection by Republican Joseph R. Bowen.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- David Boswell, incumbent senator
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
editGeneral election
editResults
editParty | 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
editIncumbent senator Elizabeth Tori was defeated for reelection by Democrat Dennis Parrett.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
editRepublican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Elizabeth Tori, incumbent senator
General election
editResults
editParty | 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
editIncumbent senator Alice Forgy Kerr won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Don Blevins, County Clerk of Fayette County (1982–2008)
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Alice Forgy Kerr, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary
edit- Andrew Roberts
Results
editParty | 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
editEndorsements
edit- Newspapers
Results
editParty | 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
editIncumbent senator Jimmy Higdon won reelection unopposed.
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Jimmy Higdon, incumbent senator
General election
editResults
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Jimmy Higdon | Unopposed | |||
Total votes | 30,360 | 100.0 | |||
Republican hold |
District 16
editIncumbent senator David Williams won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Denver Capps.
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- David Williams, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary
edit- Denver Capps
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | David Williams | 18,407 | 81.6 | |
Republican | Denver Capps | 4,143 | 18.4 | |
Total votes | 22,550 | 100.0 |
General election
editResults
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | David Williams | Unopposed | |||
Total votes | 24,484 | 100.0 | |||
Republican hold |
District 18
editIncumbent senator Robin L. Webb won reelection, defeating Republican Jack Ditty.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Robin L. Webb, incumbent senator
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Jack Ditty, Republican candidate for this district in August 2009
General election
editResults
editParty | 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
editIncumbent senator Gary Tapp did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Paul Hornback.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- David Eaton, candidate for the 58th house district in 2002 and 2004
Eliminated in primary
edit- John Spainhour
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | David Eaton | 8,281 | 55.6 | |
Democratic | John Spainhour | 6,618 | 44.4 | |
Total votes | 14,899 | 100.0 |
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
editEliminated in primary
edit- David Glauber
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Paul Hornback | 5,328 | 62.9 | |
Republican | David Glauber | 3,148 | 37.1 | |
Total votes | 8,476 | 100.0 |
General election
editResults
editParty | 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
editIncumbent senator Tom Buford won reelection, defeating primary election challenger Chad Crouch.
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Tom Buford, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary
edit- Chad Crouch
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Tom Buford | 6,236 | 52.9 | |
Republican | Chad Crouch | 5,542 | 47.1 | |
Total votes | 11,778 | 100.0 |
General election
editResults
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Tom Buford | Unopposed | |||
Total votes | 32,080 | 100.0 | |||
Republican hold |
District 24
editIncumbent senator Katie Kratz Stine won reelection, defeating Democrat Julie Smith-Morrow.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Julie Smith-Morrow
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Katie Kratz Stine, incumbent senator
General election
editResults
editParty | 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
editIncumbent senator Ernie Harris won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- John Black
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Ernie Harris, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary
edit- Don Godfrey
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ernie Harris | 9,109 | 71.5 | |
Republican | Don Godfrey | 3,626 | 28.5 | |
Total votes | 12,735 | 100.0 |
General election
editResults
editParty | 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
editIncumbent senator R. J. Palmer won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- R. J. Palmer, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary
edit- Bryan Lutz
Results
editParty | 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
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Ralph Alvarado, candidate for the 73rd house district in 2004 and 2006
Eliminated in primary
editResults
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ralph Alvarado | 3,386 | 65.5 | |
Republican | Ryan Dotson | 1,780 | 34.5 | |
Total votes | 5,166 | 100.0 |
General election
editResults
editParty | 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
editIncumbent senator Brandon Smith won reelection, defeating Democrat Johnnie L. Turner.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Johnnie L. Turner, representative from the 88th district (1999–2003)
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Brandon Smith, incumbent senator
General election
editResults
editParty | 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
editIncumbent senator Mike Reynolds was defeated for reelection by Republican Mike Wilson.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Mike Reynolds, incumbent senator
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
editEliminated in primary
edit- Ed Mills
- Regina Webb
Results
editParty | 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
editResults
editParty | 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
editIncumbent senator Ed Worley did not seek reelection. He was succeeded by Republican Jared Carpenter.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Lee Murphy
Eliminated in primary
edit- Michael Cope
- Landra Lewis
Results
editParty | 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
editCandidates
editNominee
editEliminated in primary
edit- Kent Kessler
- Barry Metcalf, senator from the 34th district (1994–1999) and candidate in 2002 and 2006
Results
editParty | 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
editEvangelical Christian
edit- Donald VanWinkle
General election
editResults
editParty | 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
editIncumbent senator Julie Denton won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Rick Hiles
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Julie Denton, incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary
edit- Shawn Slone
Results
editParty | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Julie Denton | 10,135 | 71.7 | |
Republican | Shawn Slone | 4,000 | 28.3 | |
Total votes | 14,135 | 100.0 |
General election
editResults
editParty | 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
editIncumbent senator Dan Seum won reelection, defeating Democrat Marty Meyer.
Democratic primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Marty Meyer
Republican primary
editCandidates
editNominee
edit- Dan Seum, incumbent senator
General election
editResults
editParty | 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.