2018 Kentucky Senate election

2018 Kentucky Senate election

← 2016 November 6, 2018 2020 →
19 out of 38 seats in the Kentucky Senate 20 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Robert Stivers Ray Jones Party Republican Democratic Leader since January 8, 2013 January 6, 2015 Leader's seat 25th – Manchester 31st – Pikeville Last election 27 11 Seats won 28 10 Seat change 1 1 Seats up 16 3 Races won 17 2
Results Popular vote Results:      Republican hold      Republican gain      Democratic hold      No election Popular vote:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90%      50–60%      >90%
Senate President before election Robert Stivers Republican Elected Senate President Robert Stivers Republican

Elections in Kentucky
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Government
v t e

The 2018 Kentucky Senate election was held on November 6, 2018. The Republican and Democratic primary elections were held on May 22. Half of the senate (all even-numbered seats) were up for election. Republicans increased their majority in the chamber, gaining one seat.

A numbered map of the senate districts at the time can be viewed here.

Party		Candidates		Votes	%	Seats
		Opposed	Unopposed			Before	Won	After	+/−
	Republican	18	0	468,530	57.93	27	17	28	+1
	Democratic	16	1	325,800	40.29	11	2	10	-1
	Independent	2	0	10,946	1.35	0	0	0	-
	Write-in	2	0	3,454	0.43	0	0	0	-
Total		38	1	808,730	100.00	38	19	38	±0
Source: Kentucky Secretary of State

One senator retired, who did not run for another office.

1. 8th: Joe Bowen (Owensboro) retired.^[1]

One incumbent lost reelection in the general election.

1. 4th: J. Dorsey Ridley (first elected in 2004) lost to Robert M. "Robby" Mills.

Certified results by the Kentucky Secretary of State are available online for the primary election and general election.

† – Incumbent not seeking re-election

Three districts voted for Donald Trump in 2016 but had Democratic incumbents:

None.

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

1. District 4, 1.29% (gain)
2. District 12, 1.46%
3. District 32, 4.66%
4. District 26, 5.42%
5. District 28, 6.71%
6. District 36, 6.74%

Incumbent senator Danny Carroll won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Julie Tennyson.

• Julie Tennyson

• Danny Carroll, incumbent senator

Incumbent senator J. Dorsey Ridley was defeated for reelection by Republican Robert M. "Robby" Mills.

• J. Dorsey Ridley, incumbent senator

• Robert M. "Robby" Mills, representative from the 11th district (2017–2019)

Incumbent senator C. B. Embry Jr. won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Crystal Chappell.

• Crystal Chappell

• C. B. Embry Jr., incumbent senator

Incumbent senator Joe Bowen did not seek reelection.^[1] He was succeeded by Republican Matt Castlen.

• Bob Glenn

• Matt Castlen, representative from the 14th district (2017–2019)

• Dianne Burns Mackey

Incumbent senator Dennis L. Parrett won reelection unopposed.

• Dennis L. Parrett, incumbent senator

Incumbent senator Alice Forgy Kerr won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Paula Setser-Kissick.

• Paula Setser-Kissick

• Alice Forgy Kerr, incumbent senator

Incumbent senator Jimmy Higdon won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Stephanie Compton.

• Stephanie Compton

• Jimmy Higdon, incumbent senator

Incumbent senator George Maxwell "Max" Wise won reelection, defeating write-in candidate Nicole Britton.

• George Maxwell "Max" Wise, incumbent senator

2018 Kentucky Senate 18th district election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee Robin L. Webb Scott L. Sharp Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 21,644 15,823 Percentage 57.8% 42.2%

Precinct results Webb:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      100% Sharp:      50-60% Tie:      50%

Senator before election Robin L. Webb Democratic Elected Senator Robin L. Webb Democratic

Incumbent senator Robin L. Webb won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

• Robin L. Webb, incumbent senator

• Chester Chuck Highley

• Scott L. Sharp

Incumbent senator Paul R. Hornback won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Dave Suetholz.

• Dave Suetholz

• Paul R. Hornback, incumbent senator

Incumbent senator Tom Buford won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Carolyn Dupont.

• Carolyn Dupont

• Tom Buford, incumbent senator

Incumbent senator Wil Schroder won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Rachel Roberts.

• Rachel Roberts

• Wil Schroder, incumbent senator

Incumbent senator Ernie Harris won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

• Karen Berg

• Matt Kaufmann

• Ernie Harris, incumbent senator

• Alex R. White

Incumbent senator Ralph Alvarado won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Denise Gray.

• Denise Gray

• Ralph Alvarado, incumbent senator

Incumbent senator Brandon Smith won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Paula Clemons-Combs.

• Paula Clemons-Combs

• Brandon Smith, incumbent senator

Incumbent senator Mike Wilson won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

• Jeanie Smith

• Mike Wilson, incumbent senator

• Darrell Traughber

Incumbent senator Jared K. Carpenter won reelection, defeating Democratic candidate Susan Byrne Haddix.

• Susan Byrne Haddix

• Jared K. Carpenter, incumbent senator

Incumbent senator Julie Raque Adams won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

• Sheri A. Donahue

• Gay Adelmann

• Julie Raque Adams, incumbent senator

• Sheeba Jolly

Incumbent senator Dan Malano Seum won reelection, defeating primary and general election challengers.

• Dan Malano Seum, incumbent senator

• Paul Wesley Ham

• 2018 Kentucky elections
  • 2018 Kentucky House of Representatives election
  • 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky