2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky

The 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky were held on November 8, 2016, to elect the six U.S. representatives from the state of Kentucky, one from each of the state's six congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2016 presidential election, as well as other elections to the House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The primaries were held on May 17.

2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky

← 2014 November 8, 2016 2018 →

All 6 Kentucky seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election 5 1
Seats won 5 1
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 1,248,140 516,904
Percentage 70.70% 29.28%
Swing Increase 7.12% Decrease 7.14%

Overview

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Popular vote
Republican
70.70%
Democratic
29.28%
Other
0.02%
House seats
Republican
83.33%
Democratic
16.67%

By district

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Results of the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky by district:[1]

District Republican Democratic Others Total Result
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
District 1 216,959 72.56% 81,710 27.33% 332 0.11% 299,001 100.0% Republican hold
District 2 251,825 100.0% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 251,825 100.0% Republican hold
District 3 122,093 36.50% 212,401 63.50% 0 0.00% 334,494 100.0% Democratic hold
District 4 233,922 71.32% 94,065 28.68% 0 0.00% 327,987 100.0% Republican hold
District 5 221,242 100.0% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 221,242 100.0% Republican hold
District 6 202,099 61.09% 128,728 38.91% 0 0.00% 330,827 100.0% Republican hold
Total 1,248,140 70.70% 516,904 29.28% 332 0.02% 1,765,376 100.0%

District 1

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2016 Kentucky's 1st congressional district elections
 
← 2014
2018 →
     
Nominee James Comer Sam Gaskins
Party Republican Democratic
Regular election 216,959
72.6%
81,710
27.3%
Special election 209,810
72.2%
80,813
27.8%

 
 
Comer:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%

U.S. Representative before election

Ed Whitfield
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

James Comer
Republican

Incumbent Republican Ed Whitfield, who had represented the district since 1995, did not run for re-election for a 12th term.[2] He was re-elected with 73% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+18.

Republican primary

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Republicans James Comer, the Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky,[3] and Michael Pape, Witfield's district director,[4] ran for the Republican Party nomination. Other potential Republican candidates included former Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky nominee Robbie Rudolph, businessman Todd P'Pool, George W. Bush administration official J. Scott Jennings, and Whitfield's chief of staff Cory Hicks.[5] State Senator Max Wise also was considered a potential candidate, but he endorsed Comer.[6] In the May 17 primary, Comer won with 61% of the vote and went on to face Democrat Sam Gaskins in the general election.

Candidates

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Nominee
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  • James Comer, former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner and candidate for governor in 2015[7]
Eliminated in primary
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Declined
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Results

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County results
Map legend
  •   Comer—>90%
  •   Comer—80–90%
  •   Comer—70–80%
  •   Comer—60–70%
  •   Comer—50–60%
  •   Comer—40–50%
  •   Pape—70–80%
  •   Pape—50–60%
  •   Pape—40–50%
  •   Batts—>90%
  •   Batts—70–80%
  •   Batts—50–60%
Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James Comer 24,342 60.6
Republican Mike Pape 9,357 23.3
Republican Jason Batts 5,578 13.9
Republican Miles A. Caughey, Jr. 896 2.2
Total votes 40,173 100.0

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Withdrawn
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  • Tom Osborne, attorney[15]
Declined
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Special election

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Whitfield resigned on September 6, 2016. A special election was held on November 8, concurrently with the regularly-scheduled election.[21]

Candidates

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Republican nominee
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Democratic nominee
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Results

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Kentucky's 1st congressional district special election, 2016[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James Comer 209,810 72.2
Democratic Sam Gaskins 80,813 27.8
Total votes 290,623 100.0
Republican hold

General election

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Results

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Kentucky's 1st congressional district, 2016[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican James Comer 216,959 72.6
Democratic Sam Gaskins 81,710 27.3
Independent Terry McIntosh (write-in) 332 0.1
Total votes 299,001 100.0
Republican hold

District 2

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2016 Kentucky's 2nd congressional district election
 
← 2014
2018 →
   
Nominee Brett Guthrie
Party Republican
Popular vote 251,825
Percentage 100.0%

U.S. Representative before election

Brett Guthrie
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Brett Guthrie
Republican

Incumbent Republican Brett Guthrie, who had represented the district since 2009, ran for re-election.[9] He was re-elected with 69% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+16.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Democratic primary

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No Democrats filed to run.

General election

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Results

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Kentucky's 2nd Congressional District, 2016[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brett Guthrie (incumbent) 251,825 100.0
Total votes 251,825 100.0
Republican hold

District 3

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2016 Kentucky's 3rd congressional district election
 
← 2014
2018 →
     
Nominee John Yarmuth Harold Bratcher
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 212,401 122,093
Percentage 63.5% 36.5%

 
County results
Yarmuth:      60–70%

U.S. Representative before election

John Yarmuth
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

John Yarmuth
Democratic

Incumbent Democrat John Yarmuth, who had represented the district since 2007, ran for re-election.[9][24] He was re-elected with 64% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of D+4.

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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  • Harold Bratcher, business owner[9]
Eliminated in primary
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  • Everett Corley, real estate agent
  • Robert DeVore Jr., Navy veteran

Results

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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Harold Bratcher 9,578 44.6
Republican Everett Corley 7,857 36.5
Republican Robert DeVore, Jr. 4,075 18.9
Total votes 21,510 100.0

General election

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Results

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Kentucky's 3rd congressional district, 2016[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Yarmuth (incumbent) 212,401 63.5
Republican Harold Bratcher 122,093 36.5
Total votes 334,494 100.0
Democratic hold

District 4

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2016 Kentucky's 4th congressional district election
 
← 2014
2018 →
     
Nominee Thomas Massie Calvin Sidle
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 233,922 94,065
Percentage 71.3% 28.7%

 
County results
Massie:      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. Representative before election

Thomas Massie
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Thomas Massie
Republican

Incumbent Republican Thomas Massie, who had represented the district since 2013, ran for re-election.[9] He was re-elected with 68% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+16.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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General election

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Endorsements

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Thomas Massie (R)

U.S. Senators

U.S. Representatives

Organizations

Local officials

Results

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Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, 2016[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Massie (incumbent) 233,922 71.3
Democratic Calvin Sidle 94,065 28.7
Total votes 327,987 100.0
Republican hold

District 5

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2016 Kentucky's 5th congressional district election
 
← 2014
2018 →
   
Nominee Hal Rogers
Party Republican
Popular vote 221,242
Percentage 100.0%

U.S. Representative before election

Hal Rogers
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Hal Rogers
Republican

Incumbent Republican Hal Rogers, who had represented the district since 1981, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 78% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+25.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Eliminated in primary
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  • John Burk Jr., insurance industry worker[9]

Results

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Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hal Rogers (incumbent) 35,984 82.4
Republican John Burk, Jr. 7,669 17.6
Total votes 43,653 100.0

Democratic primary

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No Democrats filed to run.

General election

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Results

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Kentucky's 5th congressional district, 2016[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Hal Rogers (Incumbent) 221,242 100.0
Total votes 221,242 100.0
Republican hold

District 6

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2016 Kentucky's 6th congressional district election
 
← 2014
2018 →
     
Nominee Andy Barr Nancy Jo Kemper
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 202,099 128,728
Percentage 61.1% 38.9%

 
County results
Barr:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. Representative before election

Andy Barr
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Andy Barr
Republican

Incumbent Republican Andy Barr, who had represented the district since 2013, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 60% of the vote in 2014. The district had a PVI of R+9.

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[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Andy Barr (Incumbent) 25,212 84.55
Republican Roger Brill 4,608 15.45
Total votes 29,820 100.0

Democratic primary

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Matt Jones, host and founder of Kentucky Sports Radio, considered challenging Representative Barr, but announced on November 23, 2015, that he would not do so.[28] Rev. Nancy Jo Kemper, a graduate of Yale Divinity School and former executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches, announced she would run for the Democratic nomination on January 21, 2016.

Geoff Young, candidate for governor in Kentucky in 2014, and Michael Coblenz, a candidate for Kentucky state house in 2010 competed with Kemper for the chance to challenge Barr in the general election.[9] Michael Coblenz later withdrew, leaving Rev. Kemper and Young as the only Democratic candidates.[29]

Candidates

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Nominee
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  • Nancy Jo Kemper, former executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches[30]
Eliminated in primary
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Withdrawn
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  • Michael Coblenz, attorney and former Air Force B-52 navigator
Declined
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  • Matt Jones, host and founder of Kentucky Sports Radio

Endorsements

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Nancy Jo Kemper

Statewide officials

State legislators

Results

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Democratic primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nancy Jo Kemper 63,440 80.1
Democratic Geoff Young 15,772 19.9
Total votes 79,212 100

General election

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Results

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Kentucky's 6th congressional district, 2016[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Andy Barr (incumbent) 202,099 61.1
Democratic Nancy Jo Kemper 128,728 38.9
Total votes 330,827 100.0
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ Johnson, Cheryl L. (February 28, 2019). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 2018". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  2. ^ "Rep. Ed Whitfield will not seek re-election". The Courier-Journal. September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  3. ^ "Comer runs to replace Whitfield in Kentucky's 1st District". Lexington Herald Leader. Frankfort, Kentucky. September 30, 2015. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  4. ^ John Null, Rob Canning. "Rep. Ed Whitfield Isn't Running in 2016, But His District Director Is". wkms.org. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Yokley, Eli (September 30, 2015). "Two Republicans Launch Campaigns After Whitfield Retirement". Roll Call. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Wise, Max (September 30, 2015). "Excited for my friend @KYComer in his announcement to run for the 1st Congressional District. Proud to endorse #comerforcongress". Twitter. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Beam, Adam (September 30, 2015). "Comer runs to replace Whitfield in Kentucky's 1st District". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  8. ^ "Hickman County Attorney to Run For Congress". West Kentucky Star. October 2, 2015. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State". Secretary of State of Kentucky. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d e Yokley, Eli (September 29, 2015). "Kentucky's Whitfield Won't Seek 12th Term in Congress". Roll Call. Archived from the original on October 2, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
  11. ^ P'Pool, Todd (October 1, 2015). "@ToddPPool: Friends, I will not be running for Congress in KY CD 1. I am humbled by the kind support. Shannon and I are excited for @KYGOP! #WeAreKY". Twitter. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Official Results" (PDF). Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  13. ^ a b Hancock, Brian (July 16, 2015). "Gaskins discusses platform in Franklin visit". Franklin Favorite. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  14. ^ a b "Christian County Native to Run for Congress". WKDZ-FM. October 2, 2015. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  15. ^ "Osborne withdraws from Kentucky House District 1 race". WPSD Local 6. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  16. ^ a b c d Gerth, Joseph (October 2, 2015). "Both parties line up to replace Ed Whitfield". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  17. ^ a b Null, John (October 6, 2015). "State Sen. Dorsey Ridley Likely Joining Race for 1st Congressional District". WKMS-FM. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  18. ^ Null, John (December 16, 2015). "State Senator Dorsey Ridley Will Not Join 1st District Congressional Race". WKMS. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  19. ^ Gerth, Joseph (December 10, 2015). "Bevin depletes House Dems with appointment". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  20. ^ "State Rep. Gerald Watkins Won't Run for 1st District Congressional Seat". WKMS. October 28, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  21. ^ a b c Callais, Krystle (September 6, 2016). "U.S. Congressman Ed Whitfield stepping down". WPSD-TV. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  22. ^ "Official Results" (PDF). Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  23. ^ a b c d e f "Official Results" (PDF). Kentucky Secretary of State. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  24. ^ Wheatley, Kevin (June 22, 2015). "Yarmuth announces he will seek re-election to Congress for sixth term". cn2 Pure Politics. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  25. ^ "About Calvin Sidle". Calvin Sidle for Congress. January 21, 2016. Archived from the original on January 28, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  26. ^ "Kentucky Secretary of State Election Candidate Filings- Calvin Sidle". Kentucky Secretary of State. January 21, 2016. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  27. ^ "Endorsements". thomasmassie.com. Thomas Massie for Congress. Archived from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  28. ^ Storm, Nick (November 23, 2015). "Matt Jones will not run for Congress". CN2 Pure Politics. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  29. ^ "Candidate forum scheduled for Sixth Congressional District primary race for April 3". Kentucky Forward. April 1, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  30. ^ Youngman, Sam (January 21, 2016). "Democrat Nancy Jo Kemper files to run for U.S. Rep. Andy Barr's seat". Lexington Herald Leader. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  31. ^ "Nancy Jo Kemper for Congress". Kemper for Congress. January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2016.[permanent dead link]
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