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Kentucky House of Representatives District 31

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Kentucky House of Representatives District 31
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 1, 2023

Kentucky House of Representatives District 31 is represented by Susan Tyler Witten (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Kentucky state representatives represented an average of 45,093 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 43,506 residents.

About the chamber

Members of the Kentucky House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Kentucky legislators assume office the first day of January after their election.[1]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Section 32 of the Kentucky Constitution states: "No person shall be a Representative who, at the time of his election, is not a citizen of Kentucky, has not attained the age of twenty-four years, and who has not resided in this State two years next preceding his election, and the last year thereof in the county, town or city for which he may be chosen."[2]


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[3]
SalaryPer diem
$188.22/calendar day during session for legislators whose terms began before 2023. $203.28/calendar day for legislators whose terms began after 2023.$182.60/day

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Kentucky General Assembly, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The governor must call for an election if the General Assembly is not in session. The presiding officer in the house where the vacancy happened must call for an election if lawmakers are in session.[4] All nominating petitions must be filed at least 56 days before the election.[5]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Kentucky Rev. Stat. § 118.730-§118.770


District map

Redistricting

2020 redistricting cycle

See also: Redistricting in Kentucky after the 2020 census

Kentucky adopted new state House district boundaries on January 20, 2022, after the general assembly overrode Gov. Andy Beshear’s (D) veto of the plan. The vote to override the governor’s veto was 24-10 in the state Senate with all votes in favor by Republicans and eight Democrats and two Republicans voting against. The override vote was 69-23 in the state House, with all votes in favor by Republicans and 22 Democrats and one Republican voting to sustain Beshear’s veto.[6] Gov. Beshear allowed the redistricting proposal for new state Senate districts to become law without his signature on January 21, 2022. That legislation had passed the state Senate on January 6, 2022, 28-4, and the state House on January 8, 2022, 67-23.[7]

Ryland Barton of National Public Radio affiliate WFPL wrote that, "The House map further divides several urban areas in the state and connects them with rural districts in surrounding areas."[8] Steve Rogers of WTVQ wrote that, "During debate on the legislative districts, especially the 100 House districts, Democrats objected that the GOP-drawn map unfairly split urban areas to the benefit of Republicans. The bill recasting the Senate’s 38 districts easily cleared the Senate, with a handful of lawmakers objecting."[9]

How does redistricting in Kentucky work? In Kentucky, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. District maps may be vetoed by the governor.[10]

Guidelines adopted in 1991 stipulate that congressional districts ought to be contiguous. In addition, county lines and communities of interest should be maintained if possible. These guidelines are not statutory; consequently, they may be amended by the legislature at its discretion.[10]

The Kentucky Constitution requires that state legislative districts "be contiguous ... and preserve whole counties where possible."[10]

Kentucky House of Representatives District 31
until December 31, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Kentucky House of Representatives District 31
starting January 1, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

See also: Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31

Incumbent Susan Tyler Witten defeated Colleen Davis in the general election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Susan Tyler Witten
Susan Tyler Witten (R)
 
50.7
 
12,067
Colleen Davis (D)
 
49.3
 
11,727

Total votes: 23,794
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31

Colleen Davis defeated Carma Marshall in the Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Colleen Davis
 
65.9
 
1,889
Carma Marshall
 
34.1
 
976

Total votes: 2,865
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Susan Tyler Witten advanced from the Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31.

2022

See also: Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31

Susan Tyler Witten defeated Sue Foster and Chris Adelmann in the general election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Susan Tyler Witten
Susan Tyler Witten (R)
 
52.0
 
10,095
Sue Foster (D)
 
48.0
 
9,313
Chris Adelmann (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
2

Total votes: 19,410
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31

Sue Foster defeated Derek Penwell in the Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31 on May 17, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Sue Foster
 
63.5
 
2,767
Derek Penwell
 
36.5
 
1,593

Total votes: 4,360
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31

Susan Tyler Witten defeated Flint Breckinridge in the Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31 on May 17, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Susan Tyler Witten
Susan Tyler Witten
 
76.3
 
2,769
Flint Breckinridge
 
23.7
 
862

Total votes: 3,631
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31

Incumbent Josie Raymond won election in the general election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Josie Raymond
Josie Raymond (D)
 
100.0
 
15,775

Total votes: 15,775
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Josie Raymond advanced from the Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31.

2018

See also: Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31

Josie Raymond defeated Leigh Boland Jones in the general election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Josie Raymond
Josie Raymond (D)
 
59.7
 
10,512
Image of Leigh Boland Jones
Leigh Boland Jones (R)
 
40.3
 
7,101

Total votes: 17,613
Candidate Connection = 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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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31

Josie Raymond advanced from the Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
Image of Josie Raymond
Josie Raymond

Candidate Connection = 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.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31

Leigh Boland Jones advanced from the Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
Image of Leigh Boland Jones
Leigh Boland Jones

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

See also: Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Kentucky House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 17, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was January 26, 2016.

Incumbent Steven Riggs defeated Sarah Provancher in the Kentucky House of Representatives District 31 general election.[11][12]

Kentucky House of Representatives District 31, General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Steven Riggs Incumbent 57.89% 12,085
     Republican Sarah Provancher 42.11% 8,792
Total Votes 20,877
Source: Kentucky State Board of Elections


Incumbent Steven Riggs ran unopposed in the Kentucky House of Representatives District 31 Democratic primary.[13]

Kentucky House of Representatives District 31, Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Steven Riggs Incumbent (unopposed)


Sarah Provancher ran unopposed in the Kentucky House of Representatives District 31 Republican primary.[14]

Kentucky House of Representatives District 31, Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Sarah Provancher  (unopposed)


2014

See also: Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Kentucky House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 28, 2014. Incumbent Steve Riggs ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Nicholas X. Simon ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Riggs defeated Simon in the general election.[15][16][17]

Kentucky House of Representatives, District 31 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Riggs Incumbent 60.7% 9,315
     Republican Nicholas Simon 39.3% 6,037
Total Votes 15,352

2012

See also: Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Kentucky House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on May 22, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 7, 2012. Incumbent Steven Riggs (D) defeated Nicholas X. Simon (R) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in their primary.[18][19]

Kentucky House of Representatives, District 31, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngSteven Riggs Incumbent 57.6% 11,886
     Republican Nicholas Simon 42.4% 8,759
Total Votes 20,645

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Kentucky House of Representatives District 31 raised a total of $1,890,922. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $70,034 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Kentucky House of Representatives District 31
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $723,244 4 $180,811
2022 $296,127 4 $74,032
2020 $153,972 1 $153,972
2018 $105,147 2 $52,573
2016 $95,943 2 $47,972
2014 $114,449 2 $57,225
2012 $207,438 2 $103,719
2010 $31,039 1 $31,039
2008 $32,952 1 $32,952
2006 $14,150 2 $7,075
2004 $26,315 2 $13,158
2002 $29,067 2 $14,534
2000 $61,079 2 $30,540
Total $1,890,922 27 $70,034


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Kentucky Constitution, "Section 30," accessed February 10, 2021
  2. Kentucky General Assembly, "Section 32 Qualifications of Senators and Representatives," accessed May 21, 2025
  3. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  4. Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, "Kentucky Revised Statutes," accessed February 10, 2021 (Statute 118.730)
  5. Kentucky General Assembly, "Kentucky Revised Statutes," accessed February 28, 2025 (Statute 118.770)
  6. Kentucky General Assembly, "House Bill 2," accessed January 21, 2022
  7. Kentucky General Assembly, "Senate Bill 2," accessed January 21, 2022
  8. WFPL, "Lawmakers override Beshear vetoes, Dems sue to block redistricting maps," January 20, 2022
  9. WTVQ, "UPDATE: Legislature overrides congressional redistricting veto," January 20, 2022
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 All About Redistricting, "Kentucky," accessed April 29, 2015
  11. Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed August 17, 2016
  12. Kentucky State Board of Elections, "2016 General Election Results," accessed November 25, 2016
  13. Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed January 26, 2016
  14. Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed January 26, 2016
  15. Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed October 29, 2014
  16. Kentucky Secretary of State, "Official 2014 Primary Election Results," accessed October 29, 2014
  17. Kentucky Secretary of State, "Official 2014 General Election Results," accessed December 5, 2014
  18. "Kentucky Secretary of State - Official 2012 Primary Election Results," accessed October 17, 2013
  19. "Kentucky Secretary of State - Official 2012 General Election Results," accessed October 17, 2013


Current members of the Kentucky House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:David Osborne
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
Mary Imes (R)
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
Jim Gooch (R)
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
Kim King (R)
District 56
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
District 61
District 62
District 63
District 64
District 65
District 66
District 67
District 68
District 69
District 70
District 71
Josh Bray (R)
District 72
District 73
District 74
District 75
District 76
District 77
District 78
Mark Hart (R)
District 79
Chad Aull (D)
District 80
District 81
District 82
District 83
District 84
District 85
District 86
Tom Smith (R)
District 87
District 88
District 89
District 90
District 91
District 92
District 93
District 94
District 95
District 96
District 97
District 98
District 99
District 100
Republican Party (80)
Democratic Party (20)