LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The results of of the Kentucky primary election provided mixed results for incumbents. Some won easily and while others lost to new challengers.
U.S. House. Rep. Hal Rogers defeated three challengers to win the Republican nomination for Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District, covering parts of eastern and southern Kentucky. Rep. Morgan McGarvey defeated two opponents to win the Democratic nomination for House District 3, which covers the Louisville area.
As expected, Joe Biden and Donald Trump won the nominations for Kentucky’s Democratic and Republican presidential primaries, respectively.
Here’s a breakdown of some key races and results.
State Senate District 17
Matt Nunn, R-Sadieville, won the Republican nomination for State Senate District 17. He defeated Julia Jaddock, R-Georgetown. Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, has held the seat for 21 years but announced in Dec. 2023 he would not seek reelection.
Nunn will face Kiana Fields, D-Georgetown, in the Nov. 5 general election. The district covers Grant and Scott counties, along with parts of Fayette and Kenton counties.
Thayer’s full term will end in Dec. 2024. He is the longest-serving Republican Senate Majority Floor Leader in state history.
U.S. House District 4
Rep. Thomas Massie easily won the Republican nomination for U.S. House District 4, defeating two challengers: Eric Deters and Michael McGinnis.
The 53-year-old has served since 2012 and will not face a Democratic opponent in the Nov. 5 general election. He has been a vocal opponent of a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and recently led a failed effort to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana.
He campaigned as “Kentucky’s most conservative congressman“ and spent Tuesday night meeting with supporters in Kenton County.
“Tonight’s victory is a referendum on thousands of independent votes I have cast in Washington DC on behalf of Kentucky’s 4th District,” Massie said. “I’ve consistently upheld the Constitution, by voting for and sponsoring legislation to support the right to keep and bear arms, the right to free speech, freedom of religion and the right to privacy. I’ve also fought against endless foreign wars, foreign aid, and inflationary policies, regardless of who is in the White House.”
Deters placed fourth in last year’s Republican primary for governor.
State Senate District 7
The race for State Senate District 7 is too close to call, but incumbent Adrienne Southworth won't be elected to office With 99% of the expected vote in as of 6 a.m. Wednesday, the nomination will belong to either Shelby County native Aaron Reed or Ed Gallrein. The district covers Anderson, Henry and Shelby counties, along with part of Jefferson County.
Southworth has been in the seat since 2021. She is part of the Natural Resources and Energy Committee in Frankfort and supports anti-abortion measures and continued access to firearms, according to her website.
Both Reed and Gallrein are retired Navy SEALS and farmers.
State Senate District 33
Incumbent Minority Floor Leader Gerald Neal, D-Louisville, beat both of his two challengers: former State Rep. Attica Scott and Michael Churchill. The district covers part of west Louisville.
Neal, 78, has served since 1989. He was the first Black man elected to the Kentucky State Senate and is a member of several senate committees, including Banking and Insurance, Rules, Appropriations and Revenue and Education.
State House District 45
Thomas Jefferson, R-Lexington, is the Republican nominee for House District 45. He defeated incumbent Rep. Killian Timoney, R-Nicholasville. The district represents western Fayette and Jessamine counties.
Jefferson has said transgender children should not play women’s sports, use certain women’s bathrooms or undergo transition surgery, three things he said Timoney voted to allow.
Timoney, who first got elected to the House in 2021, is a Fayette County Public Schools administrator. He was seeking his third term in office.
State House District 40
In the Democratic primary for Kentucky’s 40th District, incumbent Nima Kulkarni had the most votes as of Tuesday night; however, the Associated Press did not call the race. The Kentucky Supreme Court restored her to the ballot May 20 after a Court of Appeals’ order May 15 kept her off, but officials will not certify the race’s results until the Supreme Court reviews her eligibility this summer.
According to Secretary of State Michael Adams, R-Ky., turnout for the primary election was 12.7% of Kentucky voters.
A complete list of races and results can be found on our website.