LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Some Jefferson County voters will select a new state senator this February. A special election has been called for Senate District 19, which covers Louisville neighborhoods like the Highlands and Cherokee Park.
The reasoning? Former State Senator Morgan McGarvey vacated the seat to replace retiring Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth in Washington. McGarvey is the only Democrat representing Kentucky in D.C.
Democrat Cassie Chambers Armstrong and Republican Misty Glin have been selected by their respective parties to run for District 19.
Armstrong is currently on the Louisville Metro Council, representing District 8. She’s held the position since 2020.
Armstrong says that experience would help her in Frankfort. “I am someone that has shown during my time on Metro Council that I can be an effective legislator, that I can reach across the aisle, that I can build bipartisan coalitions, and that I can use those coalitions that can pass policies that will benefit people in the 19th Senate District,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong adds that Morgan McGarvey has been a mentor to her, and says his ability to reach across the aisle on issues is something she plans to do as well.
The Democrat would enter the Kentucky Senate facing a Republican supermajority.
“Even when we disagree on other things,” Armstrong said, “it’s also important that we bring different perspectives and I am someone who has lived and experienced rural poverty on the other side of the state and now represents one of the most urban areas in my current Metro Council District. And so I think I have a good diversity of perspective on what the challenges are in Kentucky and good ideas about how we can solve those together.”
As a mother of two, Armstrong says family-related issues, such as daycare access, high-quality public education, affordable health care, are a few areas she plans to focus on in the Senate.
“And really making sure that working families can thrive in our commonwealth,” Armstrong said. “That is how we move Kentucky forward.”
Historically, State Senate District 19 votes blue. Morgan McGarvey held the seat from 2012 until 2022. A Republican hasn’t been elected there in more than two decades.
Still, Armstrong adds, anything is possible with a special election.
“I am not taking anything for granted. It is a very short timeline and what we see in special elections is that they are unpredictable, and so my job right now is to go out and talk to as many voters as I can about who I am, what I care about, policies that I could advocate for,” Armstrong said.
The abbreviated timeline has made each day between now and the election even more valuable. Armstrong says she plans to spend much of the remaining time door knocking in the district, both to encourage voters to get out to the polls and put a face to the name they’ll see on the ballot.
The special election will be held Feb. 21. There will be six days of in-person excused absentee voting as well. Mail-in ballots will be available for those who are eligible.
For more information on the election and to see if you are in the district, you can check the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office website.