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Kentucky House of Representatives District 98

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Kentucky House of Representatives District 98
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 1, 2025

Kentucky House of Representatives District 98 is represented by Aaron Thompson (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 98
until December 31, 2022

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Kentucky House of Representatives District 98
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 98

Aaron Thompson defeated Tammie Womack in the general election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Aaron Thompson
Aaron Thompson (R)
 
71.9
 
15,561
Tammie Womack (D)
 
28.1
 
6,087

Total votes: 21,648
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98

Tammie Womack defeated Joe Virgin, James Reneau, and Shawn Assar in the Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98 on May 21, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Tammie Womack
 
42.3
 
808
Joe Virgin
 
40.1
 
766
James Reneau
 
9.4
 
179
Shawn Assar
 
8.3
 
158

Total votes: 1,911
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Aaron Thompson advanced from the Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98.

2022

See also: Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98

Incumbent Danny Bentley won election in the general election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Danny Bentley
Danny Bentley (R)
 
100.0
 
12,216

Total votes: 12,216
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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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98

Incumbent Danny Bentley defeated James Campbell in the Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98 on May 17, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Danny Bentley
Danny Bentley
 
73.0
 
3,495
Image of James Campbell
James Campbell Candidate Connection
 
27.0
 
1,294

Total votes: 4,789
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 98

Incumbent Danny Bentley won election in the general election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Danny Bentley
Danny Bentley (R)
 
100.0
 
16,536

Total votes: 16,536
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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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Danny Bentley advanced from the Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98.

2018

See also: Kentucky House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98

Incumbent Danny Bentley defeated R. B. McKenzie in the general election for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Danny Bentley
Danny Bentley (R)
 
55.4
 
8,131
Image of R. B. McKenzie
R. B. McKenzie (D)
 
44.6
 
6,547

Total votes: 14,678
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98

R. B. McKenzie advanced from the Democratic primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
Image of R. B. McKenzie
R. B. McKenzie

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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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 98

Incumbent Danny Bentley advanced from the Republican primary for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
Image of Danny Bentley
Danny Bentley

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.

Danny Bentley defeated incumbent Lew Nicholls in the Kentucky House of Representatives District 98 general election.[11][12]

Kentucky House of Representatives District 98, General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Danny Bentley 54.11% 9,823
     Democratic Lew Nicholls Incumbent 45.89% 8,330
Total Votes 18,153
Source: Kentucky State Board of Elections


Incumbent Lew Nicholls ran unopposed in the Kentucky House of Representatives District 98 Democratic primary.[13]

Kentucky House of Representatives District 98, Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Lew Nicholls Incumbent (unopposed)


Danny Bentley ran unopposed in the Kentucky House of Representatives District 98 Republican primary.[14]

Kentucky House of Representatives District 98, Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Danny Bentley  (unopposed)

Special election

See also: Kentucky state legislative special elections, 2016

A special election for the position of Kentucky House of Representatives District 98 was called for March 8. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 19.[15]

The seat was vacant following Tanya Pullin's (D) resignation after she was appointed as an administrative law judge in the state Department of Workers Claims.[16]

Lew Nicholls (D) defeated Tony Quillen (R) in the special election.[17][18]

Kentucky House of Representatives, District 98, Special Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngLew Nicholls 57.4% 4,737
     Republican Tony Quillen 42.6% 3,515
Total Votes 8,252

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 Tanya Pullin ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[19][20][21]

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 Tanya Pullin (D) was unopposed in the general election and defeated Tyler Murphy in the Democratic primary.[22][23]

Kentucky House of Representatives, District 98 Democratic Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngTanya Pullin Incumbent 74% 2,444
Tyler Murphy 26% 858
Total Votes 3,302

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Kentucky House of Representatives District 98 raised a total of $1,138,651. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $43,794 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Kentucky House of Representatives District 98
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $121,246 5 $24,249
2022 $147,071 2 $73,535
2020 $15,369 1 $15,369
2018 $159,331 2 $79,666
2016 $265,335 2 $132,668
2014 $28,166 1 $28,166
2012 $97,409 2 $48,705
2010 $49,710 1 $49,710
2008 $81,515 1 $81,515
2006 $47,587 3 $15,862
2004 $17,409 2 $8,705
2002 $31,468 2 $15,734
2000 $77,034 2 $38,517
Total $1,138,651 26 $43,794


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. mycn2.com, "Special Elections called for March 8 to replace four House members," accessed January 6, 2016
  16. Lexington Herald Leader, "Bevin picks off another Democrat in state House," December 16, 2015
  17. Kentucky State Board of Elections, "March 8th, 2016 Special Election," accessed March 8, 2016
  18. Kentucky Secretary of State, "March 8, 2016, Special Election Results," accessed March 28, 2016
  19. Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Filings with the Office of the Secretary of State," accessed October 29, 2014
  20. Kentucky Secretary of State, "Official 2014 Primary Election Results," accessed October 29, 2014
  21. Kentucky Secretary of State, "Official 2014 General Election Results," accessed December 5, 2014
  22. "Kentucky Secretary of State - Official 2012 Primary Election Results," accessed October 17, 2013
  23. "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)