LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Americans will decide who becomes the next president in November, but Kentuckians must first pick their candidates for state office before then.  

What You Need To Know

  • This year's primary election in Kentucky is May 21 

  • Democrats and Republicans will choose their candidate for the General Election in November

  • Voter turnout is expected to be higher than last year

  • This is typical in presidential election years 

This year, the state’s primary will be held May 21. Voters across the state registered as either Democrats or Republicans will decide what candidate ends up on the November ballot.

In all, 118 seats of the state legislature are up for grabs. Forty of them are unopposed races. 

Secretary of State Michael Adams, R-Ky., said he expects a higher turnout than in 2023. He said presidential election years often have the highest turnouts. 

“Right now, I think our turnout will be between 20 and 25%, which is not very high," Adams said. "But it's still a lot higher than it was in May of last year or May of 2022 when we had local races on the ballot."

Adams added there will be room for a few surprises in these elections, with more voters participating. 

“Historically, when you see bigger shifts, they happen in a presidential election,” Adams said. “There's just a lot more movement and a lot more volatility because you have a lot more voters coming out who are unpredictable in their behavior.”

Adding to the uncertainty is the growing number of independent voters in the state. As of last month, 10% of Kentucky voters have no party affiliation. Democrats make up 43% of the electorate while Republicans make up 46%. 

Independents, Adams said, could have the biggest impact on suburban districts.  

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