Ballotpedia's 2012 General Election Preview Articles: Kentucky State Legislature

October 31, 2012

By Ballotpedia's State legislative team

Kentucky's State Legislative Elections in 2012
Senate seats	Contested senate seats	House seats	Contested house seats
19	9 (47.3%)	100	44 (44.0%)

FRANKFORT: Kentucky: There are 126 total legislative seats with 2012 elections in Kentucky, where polling places are open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern and Central Time. All those in line by 6:00 PM will be able to vote. Kentucky is divided between the Eastern and Central Time Zones.

The State Senate has a total of 38 seats and is currently under Republican control, 21 to 14, with an Independent senator and 2 vacant seats. 3 incumbents, all Republican, are retiring from the Senate this year. The 100-seat House of Representatives is 58-41 in favor of the Democrats, with one vacant seat. Of the 8 retiring incumbents, 5 are Republican. The House of Representatives is one that may change hands in this year's election, with Republicans only needing to gain 9 seats to secure a majority.

Of the 117 incumbents up for election in 2012, 106 (90.6%) of them are running for re-election. A total of 53 of 119 (44.5%) districts will see more than one major party candidate in the general election.

Here are a few races to watch:

Senate

• Chris Girdler beat out a crowded Republican primary field to take the nomination for his party in an effort to succeed retiring Senator Vernie McGaha. Girdler will face J. Scott Wantland, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
• District 23: Incumbent Jack Westwood (R) is not running for re-election, leaving the seat open. Democrat James Noll and Republican Chris McDaniel will face each other in November as they try to take the seat.

House

• No Incumbents will face each other in the general election, so the most competitive races will likely be in districts in which incumbents have retired and there are two major party candidates, primarily districts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 36.

Kentucky State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	14	14
	Republican Party	21	22
	Independent	1	1
	Vacancy	2	1
Total		38	38

Kentucky House of Representatives
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	58	55
	Republican Party	41	45
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		100	100

Articles

• 2012 elections review: One incumbent toppled in Kentucky primaries May 23
• 2012 elections preview: Kentucky voters to select primary winners in congressional, legislative races May 21

See also

• Ballotpedia's 2012 General Election Preview Articles: Kentucky Congressional Seats
• Ballotpedia:2012 general election preview articles
• State legislative elections, 2012
• Kentucky elections, 2012

• Kentucky State Senate elections, 2012
• Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2012