The 2024 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 5, 2024. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 21. Half of the senate (all odd-numbered seats) was up for election. Following the 2022 election, Republicans and Democrats held 31 and seven seats, respectively. The deadline for candidates to file was January 5, 2024. Republicans maintained their majority in the chamber without gaining or losing any seats.
A numbered map of the senate districts can be viewed at the Kentucky Senate site.here
Overview PartyCandidatesVotes%SeatsOpposedUnopposedBeforeWonAfter+/−Republican77536,25865.68311331-Democratic74260,75431.94757- Write-in11019,4022.38N/A1N/AN/ATotal2511816,414100.00381938±0Source: Kentucky Secretary of State
Retiring incumbents
A total of four senators (one Democrat and three Republicans) retired, none of whom retired to run for other offices.
Democratic 35th: Denise Harper Angel (Louisville): Retired.
Republican 3rd: Whitney Westerfield (Fruit Hill): Retired. 11th: John Schickel (Union): Retired. 17th: Damon Thayer (Georgetown): Retired.
Incumbents defeated One incumbent lost renomination in the primary election.
In the primary election Republicans One Republican lost renomination.
7th: Adrienne E. Southworth (first elected in 2020) lost renomination to Aaron Reed.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of Sabato's Crystal Ball | October 23, 2024
Summary by district † – Incumbent did not seek re-election DistrictIncumbent PartyElectedParty 1 Jason G. Howell Rep Jason G. Howell Rep 3 Whitney Westerfield† Rep Craig B. Richardson Rep 5 Stephen Meredith Rep Stephen Meredith Rep 7 Adrienne E. Southworth Rep Aaron Reed Rep 9 David P. Givens Rep David P. Givens Rep 11 John Schickel† Rep Steve Rawlings Rep 13 Reggie Thomas Dem Reggie Thomas Dem 15 Rick Girdler Rep Rick Girdler Rep 17 Damon Thayer† Rep Matt Nunn Rep 19 Cassie Chambers Armstrong Dem Cassie Chambers Armstrong Dem 21 Brandon J. Storm Rep Brandon J. Storm Rep 23 Chris McDaniel Rep Chris McDaniel Rep 25 Robert Stivers Rep Robert Stivers Rep 27 Steve West Rep Steve West Rep 29 Vacant Scott Madon Rep 31 C. Phillip Wheeler Jr. Rep C. Phillip Wheeler Jr. Rep 33 Gerald A. Neal Dem Gerald A. Neal Dem 35 Denise Harper Angel† Dem Keturah J. Herron Dem 37 David Yates Dem David Yates Dem
Closest races There were no seats where the margin of victory was under 10%.
Special elections District 19 special
Cassie Chambers Armstrong was elected in February 2023 following the resignation of Morgan McGarvey to become a U. S. Representative.
District 28 special
Greg Elkins was elected in May 2023 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Ralph Alvarado in January 2023.
District 1 Republican primary Candidates Nominee Jason G. Howell,Archived campaign website incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary Lynn Bechler,Archived campaign website representative from the 4th district (2013–2023)
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of May 8, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handLynn Bechler$30,565.54$30,565.54$0.00Jason G. Howell$163,968.20$68,872.11$95,096.09Source: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
Results
General election Results
District 3 Incumbent senator Whitney Westerfield retired. Republican primary Candidates Nominee Craig B. Richardson,Campaign website attorney
General election Results
District 5 Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jamie Skudlarek, candidate for the Ohio County Board of Education in 2022
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Stephen Meredith,Campaign website incumbent senator
Eliminated in primary Thomas Ballinger,Archived campaign website veteran and beekeeper
Endorsements
Fundraising Final campaign finance reportsCandidateRaisedSpentCash on handThomas Ballinger$5,421.15$5,421.15$0.00Stephen Meredith$145,501.04$145,501.04$0.00Source: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
Results
General election Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of October 27, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJamie Skudlarek (D)$6,172.22$5,601.36$570.86Stephen Meredith (R)$50,993.84$38,042.20$12,951.64Source: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
Results
District 7 Incumbent senator Adrienne E. Southworth was defeated for renomination by Republican Aaron Reed. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Rhonda Davis,Campaign website small business owner
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Aaron Reed,Campaign website veteran and firearms manufacturer
Eliminated in primary Ed Gallrein,Archived campaign website veteran and farmer Adrienne E. Southworth,Archived campaign website incumbent senator
Endorsements
Fundraising Final campaign finance reportsCandidateRaisedSpentCash on handEd Gallrein$244,079.00$244,079.00$0.00Aaron Reed$148,701.03$148,701.03$0.00Adrienne E. Southworth$69,501.48$69,501.48$0.00Source: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
Results
General election Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of October 27, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handRhonda Davis (D)$2,136.49$2,111.49$25.00Aaron Reed (R)$61,323.98$59,64.15$55,359.83Source: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
Results
District 9 Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Karen M. Pennington
Republican primary Candidates Nominee David P. Givens,Campaign website incumbent senator and president pro tempore of the senate
General election Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of October 27, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handKaren M. Pennington (D)$0.00$0.00$0.00David P. Givens (R)$299,012.26$33,937.03$265,075.23Source: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
Results
District 11 Incumbent senator John Schickel retired. Republican primary Candidates Nominee Steve Rawlings,Archived campaign website representative from the 66th district (2023–2025)
Eliminated in primary Duane Froelicher,Archived campaign website member of the Florence city council (2015–2021) and candidate for mayor of Florence in 2022
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of May 8, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handDuane Froelicher$35,686.76$35,686.76$0.00Steve Rawlings$53,450.54$53,450.54$0.00Source: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
Results
General election Results
District 13 Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Reggie Thomas, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 15 Republican primary Candidates Nominee Rick Girdler, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 17 Incumbent senator and senate majority leader Damon Thayer retired. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Kiana FieldsCampaign website
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Matt Nunn,Campaign website veteran and Toyota Tsusho vice president
Eliminated in primary Julia Jaddock,Archived campaign website church employee
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of May 8, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJulia Jaddock$23,950.70$23,950.70$0.00Matt Nunn$148,398.68$148,398.68$0.00Source: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
Results
General election Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of October 27, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handKiana Fields (D)$41,699.42$27,467.39$14,232.03Matt Nunn (R)$139,488.01$94,049.87$45,438.14Source: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
Results
District 19 Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Cassie Chambers Armstrong, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 21 Republican primary Candidates Nominee Brandon J. Storm, incumbent senator
General election Results
District 23 Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jennifer Sierra,Campaign website artist and author, and candidate for Dayton city council in 2014
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Chris McDaniel,Campaign website incumbent senator
General election Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of October 27, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJennifer Sierra (D)$57,890.01$37,990.97$19,899.04Chris McDaniel (R)$360,508.69$120,647.86$239,860.83Source: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
Results
District 25 Republican primary Candidates Nominee Robert Stivers, incumbent senator and president of the senate
General election Results
District 27 Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Molly Gene Crain,Campaign website farmer and consultant
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Steve West,Campaign website incumbent senator
General election Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of October 27, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handMolly Gene Crain (D)$149,114.09$123,989.54$25,124.55Steve West (R)$136,391.18$102,608.75$33,782.43Source: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
Results
District 29 At the time ballots were printed for the election, two candidates were in the race: Republican Johnnie L. Turner and independent David Suhr. However, before the election was held, Suhr withdrew from the race and Turner died, meaning neither of their votes would be counted. The winner of the race was a write-in candidate, Republican Scott Madon. Republican primary Candidates Nominee Johnnie L. Turner,Campaign website senator from the 29th district (2021–2024) (died October 22, 2024, remained on ballot)
Eliminated in primary Shawn Andrew Gilley, member of the Letcher County Board of Education (2019–present) Randy Thompson,Archived campaign website Judge/Executive of Knott County (2005–2013)
Withdrawn Les Stapleton, mayor of Prestonsburg (2015–2024) (withdrew January 5, 2024)
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of May 8, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handShawn Andrew Gilley$900.00$869.14$30.86Randy Thompson$24,600.00$24,600.00$0.00Johnnie L. Turner$81,033.90$81,033.90$0.00Source: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
Results
Independent candidates Withdrawn David Suhr (withdrew October 15, 2024, remained on ballot)
Write-in candidates Democratic Craig E. Blackburn Valerie Ison Horn, volunteer and activist Justin Wade Noble, attorney Paul Williams, deputy sheriff
Republican John Clem, candidate for Harlan County Clerk in 2018 Willie Crase, candidate for Judge/Executive of Floyd County in 2022 Scott Madon, mayor of Pineville (2015–2025) Andrew Thomas Saylor James Tyler Ward II, attorney
Independent James Richard Tanner Hesterberg, attorney and former journalist
Unknown Leonard Hendrickson, candidate for Judge/Executive of Knott County in 2018
General election Endorsements
Results
District 31 Republican primary Candidates Nominee C. Phillip Wheeler Jr., incumbent senator
General election Results
District 33 Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Gerald A. Neal,Archived campaign website incumbent senator and senate minority leader
Eliminated in primary Michael W. Churchill Jr.Archived campaign website Attica Woodson Scott,Archived campaign website representative from the 41st district (2017–2023) and candidate for Kentucky's 3rd congressional district in 2022
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of May 8, 2024CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handMichael W. Churchill Jr.$2,305.00$2,305.00$0.00Gerald A. Neal$135,403.88$115,449.06$19,954.82Attica Woodson Scott$31,952.19$31,952.19$0.00Source: Kentucky Registry of Election Finance
Results
General election Results
District 35 Incumbent senator Denise Harper Angel retired. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Keturah J. Herron,Archived campaign website representative from the 42nd district (2022–2025)
General election Results
District 37
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee David Yates,Campaign website incumbent senator and senate minority whip
Republican primary Candidates Nominee