LEXINGTON, Ky. – All 100 seats in the Kentucky House of Representatives were up for election in 2020, and Republican candidates gained several seats in what was already a supermajority.

Republican candidates won 54 of the 65 contested races for the Kentucky House. There were 35 candidates who were unopposed – 23 Republicans and 13 Democrats.

Heading into Tuesday’s election, Republicans held a 62-37 seat advantage over Democrats in the State House of Representatives and there was one vacant seat.

Republicans gained at least 10 seats in the election and now have a 72-28 advantage in the House after flipping seven seats previously held by Democrats that were open because the legislator did not file for re-election. The House seats in Districts 22, 39, 47, 56, 70, 97, and 93 that were held by Democrats are now held by Republicans.

“There's no question it was a great night for Republicans in Kentucky last night,” said Michael Lonergan, spokesperson for the Republican Party of Kentucky. “When it's all said and done, we're looking pretty good to expand our legislative supermajorities in the house in the state senate as well. It looks like we may be picking up possibly more than a dozen seats in the State House and a couple of seats in the state senate as well. We're very proud to have delivered our state's electoral votes for President Trump and to help re-elect Sen. Mitch McConnell and our Republican congressional delegation as well. “We're pretty proud of our candidates running campaigns that work really hard to connect with Kentucky voters and focus on jobs and opportunities here in Kentucky and growing our economy. I think voters made a pretty clear choice and send a pretty resounding message that they want to keep growing Republican leadership in Kentucky.”

Republicans R. Travis Brenda in District 71 and Les Yates in District 73 lost in the June primary but both seats remained Republican.

Democrats defeated GOP challengers in nine Districts – 32, 37, 46, 57, 65, 67, 79, 88, and 95 – and GOP challengers defeated Democrat incumbents in Districts 10 and 48. 

Democrats controlled the State House until 2017.
The seven open seats previously held by Democrats but flipped to Republicans are in districts across the Commonwealth. Democrat Rep. Wilson Stone did not seek re-election in District 22 representing Allen, Simpson, and part of Warren counties and that seat was one by Republican Shawn McPherson over Democrat Brian Gann by fewer than 200 votes. The vacant seat in District 39 representing part of Fayette and Jessamine counties previously held by Democrat Rep. Russ Meyer was won by Republican Matt Lockett over Democrat Carolyn DuPont. The seat had been a Democrat stronghold since at least 2010.

The District 47 seat representing Carroll, Gelatin, Henry, and Trimble counties previously held by Democrat Rep. Rick Rand was won by Republican Felicia Rabourn in a landslide over Democrat Jack Couch. The District 56 seat in the State House was also turned red. Democrat Rep. Joe Graviss did not seek re-election to the seat representing Woodford County, and parts of Fayette and Franklin counties, and the seat was won narrowly by Republican Daniel Fister over Democrat Allen Lamar.

The Democrats lost a seat in District 70 representing Bracken, Fleming, Mason, and Robertson counties after Rep. John Sims Jr. did not seek re-election and Republican William Lawrence defeated Democratic challenger Craig Miller. The seat in District 91 representing Breathitt, Estill, Lee, Owsley, and part of Madison County left open when Democratic Rep. Howard Cluster did not seek re-election was won easily by Republican Billy Wesley over his opponent Paula Clemons-Combs. 

The final open seat to switch from Democrat to Republican is in District 93 representing Martin and part of Pike County. The seat became open after former Rep. Chris Harris, a Democrat, chose to run for Kentucky Supreme Court. Republican Norma Kirk-McCormick defeated Democratic challenger Rod Varney 63% to 37%.

Incumbent Democrats were defeated by Republican challengers in house Districts 10 and 48. Democrat incumbent Rep. Dean Schamore was defeated by Republican challenger Josh Calloway in District 10, which represents Breckenridge, Hancock, and part of Hardin County. Republican Ken Fleming defeated incumbent Democratic Rep. Maria Sorolis in District 48 representing parts of Jefferson and Oldham counties.

A total of 19 of the 38 seats in the Kentucky Senate were up for election in 2020. Republicans have controlled the state senate since 2000 and entered Tuesday’s General Election with a 28-10 advantage. 

All Senate Republicans running for re-election were victorious and one seat was flipped from Democrat to Republican. In District 29 representing Floyd, Knott, Harlan, and Letcher counties incumbent Democratic Rep. Johnny Turner was defeated by Republican challenger Johnnie Turner.

The outcomes of the 2020 election cycle in Kentucky stand to influence the state's redistricting process following the 2020 census. In Kentucky, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. District plans are subject to a gubernatorial veto.