Kentucky's 1st Congressional District election, 2020
- Election date: Nov. 3
- Registration deadline(s): Oct. 5
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Recount laws
- Early voting starts: Oct. 13
- Absentee/mail voting deadline(s): Nov. 3 (postmarked); Nov. 6 (received)
- Processing, counting, and challenging absentee/mail-in ballots
- Voter ID: Non-photo ID
- Poll times: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
2022 →
← 2018
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Kentucky's 1st Congressional District |
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Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
Election details |
Filing deadline: January 10, 2020 |
Primary: June 23, 2020 General: November 3, 2020 Pre-election incumbent: James Comer Jr. (Republican) |
How to vote |
Poll times: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Voting in Kentucky |
Race ratings |
Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican |
Ballotpedia analysis |
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2020 |
See also |
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th Kentucky elections, 2020 U.S. Congress elections, 2020 U.S. Senate elections, 2020 U.S. House elections, 2020 |
All U.S. congressional districts, including the 1st Congressional District of Kentucky, held elections in 2020.
Incumbent James Comer Jr. won election in the general election for U.S. House Kentucky District 1.
Candidate filing deadline | Primary election | General election |
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Heading into the election the incumbent was Republican James Comer Jr., who was first elected in 2016.
Kentucky's 1st Congressional District is located in western Kentucky and stretches across the southern portion of the state. It includes Adair, Allen, Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Casey Christian, Clinton, Crittenden, Cumberland, Fulton, Graves, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, McCracken, McLean, Metcalfe, Monroe, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Russell, Simpson, Taylor, Todd, Trigg, Union, and Webster counties and a part of Washington County.[1]
Post-election analysis
The table below compares the vote totals in the 2020 presidential election and 2020 U.S. House election for this district. The presidential election data was compiled by Daily Kos.
Presidential and congressional election results, Kentucky's 1st Congressional District, 2020 | ||
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Race | Presidential | U.S. House |
Democratic candidate ![]() |
25.5 | 25 |
Republican candidate ![]() |
73.1 | 75 |
Difference | 47.6 | 50 |
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
Kentucky modified its absentee/mail-in voting procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:
- Absentee/mail-in voting: Absentee/mail-in voting eligibility was extended to all voters "concerned with contracting or spreading COVID-19."
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Candidates and election results
General election
General election for U.S. House Kentucky District 1
Incumbent James Comer Jr. defeated James Rhodes in the general election for U.S. House Kentucky District 1 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | James Comer Jr. (R) | 75.0 | 246,329 |
James Rhodes (D) | 25.0 | 82,141 |
Total votes: 328,470 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. James Rhodes advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 1.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent James Comer Jr. advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 1.
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
One of 120 Kentucky counties—0.83 percent—is a pivot county. Pivot counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 pivot counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
Elliott County, Kentucky | 44.13% | 2.50% | 25.17% |
In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Kentucky with 62.5 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 32.7 percent. In presidential elections between 1792 and 2016, Kentucky voted Democratic 45.6 percent of the time and Republican 26.3 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Kentucky voted Republican all five times.[2]
Presidential results by legislative district
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Kentucky. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[3][4]
In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 18 out of 100 state House districts in Kentucky with an average margin of victory of 24.5 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 18 out of 100 state House districts in Kentucky with an average margin of victory of 25 points. Clinton won one district controlled by a Republican heading into the 2018 elections. |
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 82 out of 100 state House districts in Kentucky with an average margin of victory of 32.8 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 82 out of 100 state House districts in Kentucky with an average margin of victory of 42 points. Trump won 20 districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections. |
2016 presidential results by state House district | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
1 | 28.28% | 70.29% | R+42 | 21.07% | 75.71% | R+54.6 | R |
2 | 28.39% | 70.02% | R+41.6 | 19.66% | 76.54% | R+56.9 | R |
3 | 40.47% | 57.82% | R+17.3 | 36.33% | 58.93% | R+22.6 | D |
4 | 28.50% | 70.01% | R+41.5 | 19.59% | 76.79% | R+57.2 | R |
5 | 34.38% | 63.66% | R+29.3 | 28.15% | 66.52% | R+38.4 | R |
6 | 32.05% | 66.22% | R+34.2 | 22.63% | 73.37% | R+50.7 | D |
7 | 34.35% | 64.05% | R+29.7 | 25.60% | 69.99% | R+44.4 | R |
8 | 45.14% | 53.78% | R+8.6 | 40.22% | 56.32% | R+16.1 | R |
9 | 29.19% | 69.46% | R+40.3 | 22.92% | 73.34% | R+50.4 | R |
10 | 40.43% | 57.99% | R+17.6 | 29.06% | 66.06% | R+37 | D |
11 | 43.65% | 55.17% | R+11.5 | 34.91% | 60.53% | R+25.6 | R |
12 | 31.04% | 67.42% | R+36.4 | 20.94% | 75.28% | R+54.3 | R |
13 | 46.17% | 51.87% | R+5.7 | 39.24% | 54.05% | R+14.8 | R |
14 | 31.99% | 66.02% | R+34 | 22.42% | 73.01% | R+50.6 | R |
15 | 35.13% | 63.22% | R+28.1 | 23.89% | 72.90% | R+49 | R |
16 | 31.83% | 66.81% | R+35 | 24.20% | 72.59% | R+48.4 | R |
17 | 29.65% | 69.19% | R+39.5 | 26.55% | 68.13% | R+41.6 | R |
18 | 30.68% | 67.92% | R+37.2 | 21.96% | 74.00% | R+52 | R |
19 | 36.66% | 61.97% | R+25.3 | 28.23% | 67.66% | R+39.4 | R |
20 | 47.55% | 50.21% | R+2.7 | 47.28% | 45.81% | D+1.5 | D |
21 | 29.72% | 68.87% | R+39.2 | 19.57% | 77.59% | R+58 | R |
22 | 30.68% | 68.01% | R+37.3 | 22.20% | 73.97% | R+51.8 | D |
23 | 32.54% | 65.99% | R+33.5 | 23.11% | 72.94% | R+49.8 | R |
24 | 35.21% | 63.25% | R+28 | 24.18% | 72.15% | R+48 | R |
25 | 36.11% | 62.25% | R+26.1 | 29.69% | 64.91% | R+35.2 | R |
26 | 32.43% | 66.01% | R+33.6 | 25.01% | 70.56% | R+45.6 | R |
27 | 42.17% | 56.05% | R+13.9 | 30.64% | 64.67% | R+34 | D |
28 | 44.94% | 53.71% | R+8.8 | 37.86% | 57.69% | R+19.8 | D |
29 | 39.17% | 59.62% | R+20.5 | 38.23% | 56.76% | R+18.5 | R |
30 | 71.73% | 26.98% | D+44.8 | 69.58% | 25.88% | D+43.7 | D |
31 | 50.04% | 48.33% | D+1.7 | 50.75% | 43.48% | D+7.3 | D |
32 | 43.38% | 55.29% | R+11.9 | 47.38% | 46.66% | D+0.7 | R |
33 | 41.13% | 57.48% | R+16.3 | 43.59% | 50.25% | R+6.7 | R |
34 | 59.79% | 37.94% | D+21.9 | 65.14% | 28.16% | D+37 | D |
35 | 56.21% | 41.52% | D+14.7 | 53.85% | 39.87% | D+14 | D |
36 | 32.23% | 66.72% | R+34.5 | 35.92% | 58.96% | R+23 | R |
37 | 49.68% | 48.67% | D+1 | 44.50% | 49.97% | R+5.5 | D |
38 | 54.21% | 44.14% | D+10.1 | 48.62% | 46.39% | D+2.2 | D |
39 | 33.35% | 64.62% | R+31.3 | 30.32% | 63.52% | R+33.2 | D |
40 | 67.80% | 30.82% | D+37 | 64.07% | 31.32% | D+32.8 | D |
41 | 76.55% | 21.94% | D+54.6 | 75.28% | 19.22% | D+56.1 | D |
42 | 85.66% | 12.50% | D+73.2 | 84.31% | 10.77% | D+73.5 | D |
43 | 76.26% | 23.02% | D+53.2 | 74.36% | 21.81% | D+52.6 | D |
44 | 60.58% | 38.30% | D+22.3 | 55.32% | 41.13% | D+14.2 | D |
45 | 37.40% | 60.69% | R+23.3 | 41.04% | 51.95% | R+10.9 | R |
46 | 54.38% | 44.35% | D+10 | 50.32% | 44.79% | D+5.5 | D |
47 | 40.04% | 58.29% | R+18.3 | 25.17% | 70.32% | R+45.2 | D |
48 | 41.16% | 57.55% | R+16.4 | 46.46% | 48.29% | R+1.8 | R |
49 | 32.77% | 65.53% | R+32.8 | 23.27% | 72.25% | R+49 | D |
50 | 41.07% | 57.59% | R+16.5 | 30.97% | 64.66% | R+33.7 | R |
51 | 26.66% | 72.21% | R+45.5 | 19.84% | 76.57% | R+56.7 | R |
52 | 22.27% | 76.72% | R+54.4 | 15.23% | 82.44% | R+67.2 | R |
53 | 30.93% | 67.34% | R+36.4 | 21.74% | 73.75% | R+52 | R |
54 | 30.10% | 68.30% | R+38.2 | 26.05% | 69.78% | R+43.7 | R |
55 | 28.09% | 70.49% | R+42.4 | 23.18% | 70.94% | R+47.8 | R |
56 | 42.41% | 55.60% | R+13.2 | 40.91% | 52.53% | R+11.6 | D |
57 | 50.60% | 47.40% | D+3.2 | 45.10% | 49.31% | R+4.2 | D |
58 | 35.55% | 63.19% | R+27.6 | 30.51% | 64.14% | R+33.6 | R |
59 | 30.49% | 67.97% | R+37.5 | 30.74% | 63.05% | R+32.3 | R |
60 | 27.40% | 70.85% | R+43.4 | 24.75% | 69.46% | R+44.7 | R |
61 | 30.41% | 68.03% | R+37.6 | 21.75% | 73.63% | R+51.9 | R |
62 | 37.00% | 61.15% | R+24.2 | 31.04% | 63.50% | R+32.5 | R |
63 | 31.20% | 66.99% | R+35.8 | 31.78% | 61.61% | R+29.8 | R |
64 | 31.06% | 67.21% | R+36.2 | 26.56% | 67.11% | R+40.5 | R |
65 | 56.23% | 41.12% | D+15.1 | 50.32% | 42.57% | D+7.8 | D |
66 | 28.55% | 69.70% | R+41.2 | 25.31% | 68.35% | R+43 | R |
67 | 48.32% | 49.06% | R+0.7 | 44.07% | 48.71% | R+4.6 | D |
68 | 31.30% | 66.80% | R+35.5 | 29.27% | 64.48% | R+35.2 | R |
69 | 38.90% | 58.93% | R+20 | 34.35% | 58.94% | R+24.6 | R |
70 | 35.60% | 62.91% | R+27.3 | 23.57% | 72.93% | R+49.4 | D |
71 | 22.53% | 75.99% | R+53.5 | 18.98% | 77.49% | R+58.5 | R |
72 | 40.10% | 58.03% | R+17.9 | 32.18% | 63.34% | R+31.2 | D |
73 | 32.99% | 65.40% | R+32.4 | 28.17% | 67.15% | R+39 | R |
74 | 36.76% | 61.45% | R+24.7 | 26.75% | 69.75% | R+43 | R |
75 | 56.44% | 40.17% | D+16.3 | 59.29% | 32.42% | D+26.9 | D |
76 | 54.20% | 43.37% | D+10.8 | 54.52% | 39.06% | D+15.5 | D |
77 | 70.90% | 26.97% | D+43.9 | 67.96% | 26.00% | D+42 | D |
78 | 35.41% | 62.52% | R+27.1 | 25.41% | 70.22% | R+44.8 | R |
79 | 52.52% | 44.89% | D+7.6 | 54.48% | 38.07% | D+16.4 | D |
80 | 25.27% | 73.15% | R+47.9 | 18.88% | 77.48% | R+58.6 | R |
81 | 41.73% | 55.80% | R+14.1 | 39.31% | 54.03% | R+14.7 | R |
82 | 20.17% | 78.63% | R+58.5 | 14.96% | 82.26% | R+67.3 | R |
83 | 18.35% | 80.19% | R+61.8 | 13.46% | 83.72% | R+70.3 | R |
84 | 18.79% | 79.76% | R+61 | 17.84% | 79.62% | R+61.8 | R |
85 | 16.98% | 81.77% | R+64.8 | 13.26% | 83.41% | R+70.1 | R |
86 | 21.03% | 77.60% | R+56.6 | 14.55% | 82.39% | R+67.8 | R |
87 | 21.56% | 76.86% | R+55.3 | 15.69% | 81.91% | R+66.2 | D |
88 | 37.91% | 60.16% | R+22.3 | 42.13% | 50.98% | R+8.8 | R |
89 | 21.00% | 77.27% | R+56.3 | 17.30% | 78.99% | R+61.7 | R |
90 | 14.04% | 84.43% | R+70.4 | 11.55% | 85.97% | R+74.4 | R |
91 | 26.26% | 71.89% | R+45.6 | 21.15% | 75.56% | R+54.4 | R |
92 | 26.17% | 71.86% | R+45.7 | 20.45% | 76.99% | R+56.5 | R |
93 | 22.68% | 75.61% | R+52.9 | 15.01% | 82.81% | R+67.8 | D |
94 | 20.88% | 76.88% | R+56 | 17.76% | 78.99% | R+61.2 | D |
95 | 30.76% | 66.72% | R+36 | 23.50% | 73.36% | R+49.9 | R |
96 | 33.82% | 63.97% | R+30.1 | 20.35% | 76.02% | R+55.7 | R |
97 | 25.32% | 72.56% | R+47.2 | 17.72% | 79.37% | R+61.6 | R |
98 | 39.52% | 58.63% | R+19.1 | 25.37% | 71.06% | R+45.7 | R |
99 | 40.29% | 57.31% | R+17 | 28.36% | 67.88% | R+39.5 | D |
100 | 41.11% | 56.89% | R+15.8 | 29.95% | 65.87% | R+35.9 | D |
Total | 37.81% | 60.51% | R+22.7 | 32.69% | 62.54% | R+29.8 | - |
Source: Daily Kos |
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+23, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 23 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Kentucky's 1st Congressional District the 25th most Republican nationally.[5]
FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.92. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.92 points toward that party.[6]
Race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:
- Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
- Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
- Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.[7]
- Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.
Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.[8][9][10]
Race ratings: Kentucky's 1st Congressional District election, 2020 | |||||||||
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Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
November 3, 2020 | October 27, 2020 | October 20, 2020 | October 13, 2020 | ||||||
The Cook Political Report | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | |||||
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every week throughout the election season. |
Candidate ballot access
The table below details filing requirements for 1st Congressional District candidates in Kentucky in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kentucky, click here.
Filing requirements, 2020 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State | Office | Party | Signatures required | Signature formula | Filing fee | Filing fee formula | Filing deadline | Source |
Kentucky | 1st Congressional District | All parties | 2 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 1/28/2020 | Source |
Kentucky | 1st Congressional District | Unaffiliated | 400 | Fixed number | $500.00 | Fixed number | 6/2/2020 | Source |
District election history
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House Kentucky District 1
Incumbent James Comer Jr. defeated Paul Walker in the general election for U.S. House Kentucky District 1 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | James Comer Jr. (R) | 68.6 | 172,167 |
![]() | Paul Walker (D) | 31.4 | 78,849 |
Total votes: 251,016 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 1
Paul Walker defeated Alonzo Pennington in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 1 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Paul Walker | 81.2 | 75,148 |
![]() | Alonzo Pennington | 18.8 | 17,398 |
Total votes: 92,546 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 1
Incumbent James Comer Jr. advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Kentucky District 1 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | ||
✔ | ![]() | James Comer Jr. |
![]() | ||||
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2016
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Kentucky's 1st Congressional District seat was left open following incumbent Ed Whitfield's decision to retire. James Comer (R) defeated Sam Gaskins (D) and Terry McIntosh (Write-in) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Comer defeated Jason Batts, Miles Caughey Jr., and Michael Pape in the Republican primary. On the other side of the aisle, Sam Gaskins ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. The primary elections took place on May 17, 2016.[11][12][13]
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | ![]() |
72.6% | 216,959 | |
Democratic | Sam Gaskins | 27.3% | 81,710 | |
N/A | Write-in | 0.1% | 332 | |
Total Votes | 299,001 | |||
Source: Kentucky Secretary of State |
Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
60.6% | 24,342 | ||
Michael Pape | 23.3% | 9,357 | ||
Jason Batts | 13.9% | 5,578 | ||
Miles Caughey | 2.2% | 896 | ||
Total Votes | 40,173 | |||
Source: Kentucky State Board of Elections |
2014
The 1st Congressional District of Kentucky held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Ed Whitfield (R) defeated Charles Kendall Hatchett (D) in the general election.
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | ![]() |
73.1% | 173,022 | |
Democratic | Charles Kendall Hatchett | 26.9% | 63,596 | |
Total Votes | 236,618 | |||
Source: Kentucky Secretary of State |
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 2020
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2020
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Counties by Congressional Districts," accessed June 8, 2016
- ↑ 270towin.com, "Kentucky," accessed June 1, 2017
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
- ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed January 27, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "Kentucky Results," May 17, 2016
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed September 6, 2016