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Joshua Watkins
Joshua Watkins (Democratic Party) is a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, representing District 42. He assumed office on January 1, 2025. His current term ends on January 1, 2027.
Watkins (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the Kentucky House of Representatives to represent District 42. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on May 19, 2026.[source]
Biography
Joshua Watkins was born in Miami, Florida. He attended Murray State University and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Kentucky in 2010 and a graduate degree from Northcentral University in 2022. His career experience includes working as a government administrator, community advocate, and grassroots organization advisor. He has been affiliated with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, Waterfront Development Corporation, and the Kentucky College of Art & Design.[1]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
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 election
Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 42
Incumbent Joshua Watkins is running in the Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 42 on May 19, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Joshua Watkins | |
| ||||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
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2024
See also: Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 42
Joshua Watkins won election in the general election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 42 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joshua Watkins (D) | 100.0 | 12,350 |
| Total votes: 12,350 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 42
Joshua Watkins defeated Jonathan Musselwhite and Jack Walker in the Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 42 on May 21, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joshua Watkins | 53.0 | 2,103 |
| Jonathan Musselwhite | 24.0 | 951 | ||
 | Jack Walker | 23.0 | 914 | |
| Total votes: 3,968 | |||
| = 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 did not identify endorsements for Watkins in this election.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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2024
Joshua Watkins completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Watkins' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am passionate about lifelong learning, which began early in life. A thirst for knowledge led to a unique educational journey, exploring various topics among my peers. Education broadened my horizons, laying the foundation for my future pursuits. In college, I delved into Community Leadership Development, focusing on Public Service and Leadership, driven by a desire to understand the dynamics of community organization and collaboration. My academic journey continued with a Master’s in Business Administration, specializing in Public Administration, to explore the intersection of government, community, and business.
With nearly a decade in local government, serving in real estate, community development, project management, and performance improvement roles, I’ve come to believe in a dynamic, efficient government. My experiences have taught me that governmental challenges cannot be tackled in isolation; they require robust institutional partnerships for lasting change.
My vision for District 42 is bold and clear: to make it the most prosperous com- Economic Opportunity for All: I am committed to fostering economic growth and creating opportunities for every individual in District 42, ensuring that no one is left behind.
- Strong Advocacy for Communities: I will be a tireless advocate for the diverse communities within our district, listening to their needs and fighting for policies that improve their quality of life.
- Results-Driven Leadership: With a track record of delivering tangible results, I will bring effective and accountable leadership to the state legislature, prioritizing action and progress for the people of Kentucky.
Integrity: Elected officials must be honest, ethical, and transparent in their actions and decision-making processes. Integrity builds trust and credibility with constituents.
Accountability: Elected officials should be accountable to the people they represent, taking responsibility for their actions and decisions. This includes being responsive to constituent concerns and feedback.
Leadership: Effective leadership involves setting a vision, inspiring others, and working collaboratively to achieve common goals. Elected officials should lead by example and foster a positive, inclusive environment.
Empathy: Understanding and empathizing with the needs and concerns of constituents is essential for effective representation. Elected officials should listen actively, show compassion, and advocate for the interests of all residents.
Collaboration: Building relationships and working across party lines and sectors is vital for achieving meaningful progress on complex issues. Elected officials should be skilled collaborators who seek common ground and compromise when necessary.
Legislation: Introducing, supporting, and voting on legislation that addresses key issues facing the district and the state, including economic development, education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Oversight: Conducting oversight of government agencies and programs to ensure accountability, transparency, and effectiveness in the use of taxpayer dollars.
Constituent Services: Providing assistance and support to constituents navigating state government, including helping with inquiries, resolving issues, and connecting residents with resources and services.
Budgeting: Participating in the budgeting process to allocate state funds responsibly and effectively, prioritizing investments in critical services and infrastructure.
Collaboration: Collaborating with fellow legislators, local officials, community organizations, and stakeholders to develop and implement policies that benefit District 42 and the state as a whole.
Communication: Keeping constituents informed about legislative activities, issues, and opportunities for engagement through regular communication channels such as newsletters, town hall meetings, and social media.
Commitment to Ethics: Upholding high ethical standards, avoiding conflicts of interest, and adhering to the laws and regulations governing the conduct of elected officials.
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
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Kentucky scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
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Candidate Kentucky House of Representatives District 42 |
Officeholder Kentucky House of Representatives District 42 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 22, 2024
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Keturah Herron (D) |
Kentucky House of Representatives District 42 2025-Present |
Succeeded by - |
