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Kentucky State Senate District 26
Kentucky State Senate District 26 is represented by Karen Berg (D).
As of the 2020 Census, Kentucky state senators represented an average of 118,667 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 114,490 residents.
About the chamber
Members of the Kentucky State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Kentucky legislators assume office the first day of January after their election.[1]
Qualifications
Section 32 of the Kentucky Constitution states: "No person shall be a Senator who, at the time of his election, is not a citizen of Kentucky, has not attained the age of thirty years, and has not resided in this State six years next preceding his election, and the last year thereof in the district for which he may be chosen."[2]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[3] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per 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
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]
See sources: Kentucky Rev. Stat. § 118.730-§118.770
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
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 State Senate District 26
until December 31, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Kentucky State Senate District 26
starting January 1, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2022
- See also: Kentucky State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Kentucky State Senate District 26
Incumbent Karen Berg defeated James Peden in the general election for Kentucky State Senate District 26 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Karen Berg (D) | 60.5 | 28,850 |
 | James Peden (R) | 39.5 | 18,859 | |
| Total votes: 47,709 | |||
 = 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
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Incumbent Karen Berg advanced from the Democratic primary for Kentucky State Senate District 26.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Kentucky State Senate District 26
James Peden defeated Mark Hignite Downer and Everett Corley in the Republican primary for Kentucky State Senate District 26 on May 17, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James Peden | 42.6 | 2,774 |
 | Mark Hignite Downer | 36.4 | 2,368 | |
 | Everett Corley | 21.0 | 1,370 | |
| Total votes: 6,512 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2020
A special election for District 26 of the Kentucky State Senate was called for June 23, 2020. Party county executive committees choose the nominee.[11]
The seat became vacant when Ernie Harris (R) retired from the legislature on April 15, 2020.[11]
General election
Special general election for Kentucky State Senate District 26
Karen Berg defeated Bill Ferko in the special general election for Kentucky State Senate District 26 on June 23, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Karen Berg (D) | 57.0 | 24,771 |
 | Bill Ferko (R) | 43.0 | 18,705 | |
| Total votes: 43,476 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2018
- See also: Kentucky State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Kentucky State Senate District 26
Incumbent Ernie Harris defeated Karen Berg and Jody Hurt in the general election for Kentucky State Senate District 26 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ernie Harris (R) | 51.8 | 29,625 |
| Karen Berg (D) | 46.3 | 26,524 | |
 | Jody Hurt (Independent) | 1.9 | 1,078 | |
| Total votes: 57,227 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Kentucky State Senate District 26
Karen Berg defeated Matt Kaufmann in the Democratic primary for Kentucky State Senate District 26 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Karen Berg | 67.3 | 7,112 |
 | Matt Kaufmann | 32.7 | 3,451 | |
| Total votes: 10,563 | |||
| = 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 State Senate District 26
Incumbent Ernie Harris defeated Alex White in the Republican primary for Kentucky State Senate District 26 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ernie Harris | 52.2 | 5,193 |
| Alex White | 47.8 | 4,750 | ||
| Total votes: 9,943 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2014
- See also: Kentucky State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Kentucky State Senate 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 Ernie Harris ran unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[12][13][14]
2010
- See also: Kentucky State Senate elections, 2010
Elections for the office of Kentucky State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 18, 2010, and a general election on November 2, 2010. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 26, 2010. Ernie Harris (R) defeated John Black (D) in the general election and defeated Don Godfrey in the Republican primary. Black was unopposed in the Democratic primary.[15][16]
| Kentucky State Senate, District 26, General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Ernie Harris |
58.3% | 30,305 | |
| Democratic | John Black | 41.7% | 21,656 | |
| Total Votes | 51,961 | |||
| Kentucky State Senate, District 26 Republican Primary, 2010 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Ernie Harris |
71.5% | 9,109 |
| Don Godfrey | 28.5% | 3,626 |
| Total Votes | 12,735 | |
Campaign contributions
From 2000 to 2022, candidates for Kentucky State Senate District 26 raised a total of $1,760,290. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $92,647 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Kentucky State Senate District 26 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2022 | $446,970 | 4 | $111,743 |
| 2018 | $673,714 | 5 | $134,743 |
| 2014 | $135,504 | 1 | $135,504 |
| 2012 | $5,000 | 1 | $5,000 |
| 2010 | $371,889 | 3 | $123,963 |
| 2008 | $8,842 | 1 | $8,842 |
| 2006 | $44,520 | 1 | $44,520 |
| 2004 | $3,165 | 1 | $3,165 |
| 2002 | $68,274 | 1 | $68,274 |
| 2000 | $2,412 | 1 | $2,412 |
| Total | $1,760,290 | 19 | $92,647 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Kentucky Constitution, "Section 30," accessed February 10, 2021
- ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Section 32 Qualifications of Senators and Representatives," accessed May 21, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Kentucky Legislative Research Commission, "Kentucky Revised Statutes," accessed February 10, 2021 (Statute 118.730)
- ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Kentucky Revised Statutes," accessed February 28, 2025 (Statute 118.770)
- ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "House Bill 2," accessed January 21, 2022
- ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Senate Bill 2," accessed January 21, 2022
- ↑ WFPL, "Lawmakers override Beshear vetoes, Dems sue to block redistricting maps," January 20, 2022
- ↑ WTVQ, "UPDATE: Legislature overrides congressional redistricting veto," January 20, 2022
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 All About Redistricting, "Kentucky," accessed April 29, 2015
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 The Oldham Era, "Ernie Harris retiring as state senator after 25 years," April 10, 2020
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Election: 2014 General Election," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Official 2014 Primary Election Results," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Official 2014 General Election Results," accessed December 5, 2014
- ↑ "Kentucky Secretary of State - Official 2010 Primary Election Results," accessed October 17, 2013
- ↑ "Kentucky Secretary of State - Official 2010 General Election Results," accessed October 17, 2013
