Jennifer Hardin
From Ballotpedia
Jennifer Hardin (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Kentucky House of Representatives to represent District 33. She declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on May 19, 2026.[source]
Hardin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Jennifer Hardin was born in Louisville, Kentucky. She graduated from South Oldham High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from Morehead State University in 2005. Her career experience includes working as a small business owner. She has been affiliated with The Political Women's Council.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on May 19, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 33
Tarah Combs LeBlanc (D) and Jennifer Hardin (D) are running in the Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 33 on May 19, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Tarah Combs LeBlanc | ||
 | Jennifer Hardin  | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary
Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 33
Incumbent Jason Michael Nemes (R) is running in the Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 33 on May 19, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Jason Michael Nemes | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jennifer Hardin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hardin's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and raised in Jeffersontown until my family moved to Oldham County, where I graduated from South Oldham High School. I earned my BA in Government with an emphasis in Regional Analysis and Public Policy from Morehead State University and later pursued a master’s in public administration while raising a special needs child.
In 2016, I founded my first business, a Kentucky‑based gift company that designs and handcrafts items made from bourbon barrel staves and products featuring local photography. In 2019, I launched my sock company, which began with Kentucky‑themed designs and has since expanded to offer products in 22 states, reaching customers across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. As a mother, I enjoy spending time with my son on creative projects that encourage learning and growth. I’m also an animal lover with three Boston terriers, including a rescue named Hamilton who joined our family in 2021.
As a business owner, I prioritize fair workplaces and employee well‑being. I support labor rights and foster an environment where my team can contribute ideas and grow professionally. My background in public policy, entrepreneurship, and community engagement shapes my commitment to helping build a future where individuals and families can thrive.- People deserve leaders who show up, listen. I’ll bring a commitment to representing the voices of the community and not the interests that already have a seat at the table.
- Politics should be personal, not performative. I’m a mom, a business owner, and someone who’s tired of the disconnect between everyday Kentuckians and the people who claim to represent them. I bring empathy, strategy, and a deep commitment to making government work for real people and not just insiders.
- From public schools to clean water to safe neighborhoods, our communities thrive when we invest in the basics that support working people. I’ll fight to protect and strengthen the services families rely on.
I’m passionate about public policy that strengthens communities, protects people’s rights, and ensures government works transparently and responsibly. I care deeply about environmental protection, public health, and safeguarding Kentuckians from pollution and corporate neglect. I’m committed to policies that expand access to healthcare, improve public safety, and create fair economic opportunities. My approach is rooted in local values and real‑world experience. I believe policy should reflect the needs, challenges, and voices of the people it serves.
I look up to those who’ve built change from the ground up. I look to our senior and veterans who have given us so much. I look up to the women who have been trailblazers. And I look up to the small business owners who created a company with integrity.
Integrity, accountability, and empathy are essential. Elected officials must listen to their constituents and they must tell the truth. My approach will be to treat people with the respect that everyone deserves regardless of their political party. I believe we must put people ahead of politics.
The core responsibility of a State Representative is to listen and carry the people's concerns to the Capitol. Frankfort already has plenty of lobbyists and voices for the powerful, what is lacking is a voice who will stand up for the values of our district. I’m running to represent the people and the small businesses who keep our communities going.
I want to leave a legacy where I have represented the people with honesty and integrity. That I made a difference in people's lives by building coalitions that get results.
One of the first historical events I remember was the September 11th attacks. I was a freshman in college at the time, and I’ll never forget how quickly everything changed. Friends were signing up for military service within days. The campus felt heavy with grief, uncertainty, and a deep sense of responsibility. That moment shaped how I see public service. It is rooted in courage, sacrifice, and the belief that we owe each other more than silence.
My very first job was at Michaels in the frame shop. I started as soon as I could drive and stayed through college. Learning the value of craftsmanship, customer service, and showing up consistently. After that, I worked in a frame shop and art gallery while pursuing my master’s degree. Those early jobs taught me how to balance creativity with precision, and how to connect with people from all walks of life.
Too many to name one.
One of the biggest struggles in my life was raising a special needs child as a single mother while working full time and pursuing my master’s degree. It was an exhausting, emotional, and often isolating chapter. Juggling caregiving, coursework, and a full‑time job just to keep us afloat became my everyday reality. I had to fight for services, navigate systems that weren’t built for families like mine, and keep showing up even when I felt like I had nothing left to give. That experience shaped me. It taught me how to advocate, how to endure, and how to lead with empathy. It’s why I will fight so hard for people, because I’ve lived what so many are still going through it.
The best relationship between the Governor and the state legislature is built on accountability, collaboration, and respect for each other and the people of the Commonwealth. I am committed to working with anyone who is working on behalf of our district regardless of position or party.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky’s greatest challenges over the next decade are the sky rocking prices and the dismantling of healthcare. It is affecting every small business and working family in my district. Other investments must include public education and policies that make Kentucky friendly to creating good paying jobs, workers' rights and safe workplaces. Affordability continues to be a huge issue for our district. I am not for data centers that drive up the cost of electricity and use our precious resources like clean air and water. These are tough issues that affect our Commonwealth and our district.
No, democracy is based on the inclusion of many. Life experience should never be discounted. Frankfort has enough folks with political experience. It's far more important to have a small business owner who knows how to balance a budget and think outside of the box. We don't need any more politicians. We need people who understand and know how to solve problems.
Yes, building relationships is a cornerstone in life itself. Relationships with other legislators is essential to build coalitions to get things done. Collaboration leads to better policy, stronger coalitions, and real results for the people we serve. Even when we disagree, mutual respect can open doors to progress.
Governor Martha Layne Collins is my name sake. As Kentucky’s first and only female governor, was a trailblazer who proved that principled leadership and bold vision can reshape what’s possible. Her legacy inspires me to lead with courage, elevate women’s voices, and fight for policies that protect families and empower communities. Like her, I believe Kentucky deserves leaders who listen, act, and never back down from doing what’s right.
My sole focus is on serving the people of District 33 and delivering real results for Louisville families. I believe in building change from the ground up and if the people I serve call me to lead in a broader role someday, I’ll be ready to listen.
I’ve met so many Kentuckians whose stories stay with me, but two stand out. One woman, born in Harlan County, moved to the West End and now lives in Anchorage with her family including her granddaughter. She worked hard her whole life to build stability but now worries about her granddaughter being able to afford basic needs as she's graduating school and entering the workforce. Another was a young man who moved here from Florida just to access Kentucky’s expanded Medicaid because he couldn’t get the care, he needed anywhere else. These stories remind me that policy isn’t abstract, it’s personal. It’s about dignity, access, and making sure no one is left behind.
Kentucky already has an emergency‑powers framework in place, and it has been used effectively by governors from both parties. I believe in full transparency and equal branches of government with checks and balances.
If elected, the first bill I would introduce would address the unchecked expansion of data centers. I will push for transparency around data center development, especially when it affects air quality, water access, utility use or community health.
A state ballot initiative process could be good for Kentucky, if it’s designed with transparency, accessibility, and safeguards against corporate influence. It would give every day Kentuckians a direct voice in shaping policy, especially when the legislature fails to act. But it must be protected from dark money, misinformation, and efforts to bypass public debate. Done right, it’s a tool for empowerment, not exploitation.
I’m moved every day by the people I meet. Going door to door, there isn’t a single day when our neighbors don’t leave an impression on me.
One of the accomplishments I’m most proud of is being a small business owner. I built the company from with ground up by listening and showing respect to my customers and employees.
I would support legislation that protects and strengthens mail‑in voting in Kentucky. Mail‑in ballots are a secure, reliable option that increases access for seniors, people with disabilities, working families, and anyone who may face barriers getting to the polls. With recent USPS changes affecting how and when mail is postmarked, it’s even more important that Kentucky’s laws ensure ballots are counted as long as they are mailed on time. I believe election administration should focus on making voting straightforward, transparent, and accessible, and maintaining strong mail‑in voting options is an important part of that.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 8, 2026
Current members of the Kentucky House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:David Osborne
Minority Leader:Pamela Stevenson
Representatives
District 1
Steven Rudy (R)
District 2
District 3
Randy Bridges (R)
District 4
D. Wade Williams (R)
District 5
Mary Imes (R)
District 6
Chris Freeland (R)
District 7
Suzanne Miles (R)
District 8
Walker Thomas (R)
District 9
Myron Dossett (R)
District 10
Josh Calloway (R)
District 11
J.T. Payne (R)
District 12
Jim Gooch (R)
District 13
D.J. Johnson (R)
District 14
Scott Lewis (R)
District 15
Rebecca Raymer (R)
District 16
Jason Petrie (R)
District 17
Robert Duvall (R)
District 18
Samara Heavrin (R)
District 19
Michael Meredith (R)
District 20
Kevin Jackson (R)
District 21
Amy Neighbors (R)
District 22
Shawn McPherson (R)
District 23
Steve Riley (R)
District 24
Ryan Bivens (R)
District 25
Steve Bratcher (R)
District 26
Peyton Griffee (R)
District 27
Nancy Tate (R)
District 28
Jared Bauman (R)
District 29
Chris Lewis (R)
District 30
Daniel Grossberg (D)
District 31
District 32
Tina Bojanowski (D)
District 33
Jason Nemes (R)
District 34
Sarah Stalker (D)
District 35
Lisa Willner (D)
District 36
John Hodgson (R)
District 37
Emily Callaway (R)
District 38
Rachel Roarx (D)
District 39
Matt Lockett (R)
District 40
Nima Kulkarni (D)
District 41
Mary Marzian (D)
District 42
Joshua Watkins (D)
District 43
Pamela Stevenson (D)
District 44
District 45
Adam Moore (D)
District 46
Alan Gentry (D)
District 47
Felicia Rabourn (R)
District 48
Ken Fleming (R)
District 49
Thomas Huff (R)
District 50
Candy Massaroni (R)
District 51
Michael Pollock (R)
District 52
Ken Upchurch (R)
District 53
James Tipton (R)
District 54
Daniel Elliott (R)
District 55
Kim King (R)
District 56
Daniel Fister (R)
District 57
Erika Hancock (D)
District 58
Jennifer Decker (R)
District 59
David Osborne (R)
District 60
Marianne Proctor (R)
District 61
Savannah Maddox (R)
District 62
Tony Hampton (R)
District 63
Kimberly Banta (R)
District 64
Kimberly Moser (R)
District 65
Stephanie Dietz (R)
District 66
T.J. Roberts (R)
District 67
Matthew Lehman (D)
District 68
Mike Clines (R)
District 69
Steven Doan (R)
District 70
William Lawrence (R)
District 71
Josh Bray (R)
District 72
Matthew Koch (R)
District 73
Ryan Dotson (R)
District 74
David Hale (R)
District 75
Lindsey Burke (D)
District 76
Anne Donworth (D)
District 77
George Brown (D)
District 78
Mark Hart (R)
District 79
Chad Aull (D)
District 80
David Meade (R)
District 81
District 82
Nick Wilson (R)
District 83
Joshua Branscum (R)
District 84
Chris Fugate (R)
District 85
Shane Baker (R)
District 86
Tom Smith (R)
District 87
Adam Bowling (R)
District 88
Vanessa Grossl (R)
District 89
Timmy Truett (R)
District 90
Derek Lewis (R)
District 91
Billy Wesley (R)
District 92
John Blanton (R)
District 93
Adrielle Camuel (D)
District 94
Mitchum Whitaker (R)
District 95
Ashley Laferty (D)
District 96
Patrick Flannery (R)
District 97
Bobby McCool (R)
District 98
Aaron Thompson (R)
District 99
Richard White (R)
District 100
Scott Sharp (R)
Republican Party (80)
Democratic Party (20)
