Kentucky State Senate elections, 2020
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| 2020 Kentucky Senate Elections | |
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| General | November 3, 2020 |
| Primary | June 23, 2020 |
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Elections for the office of Kentucky State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 23, 2020. The filing deadline was January 10, 2020.
Republicans expanded their existing supermajority in the 2020 state Senate elections. Nineteen of the 38 state Senate seats were up in 2020. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 28-10 majority in the chamber, including a 12-7 majority among the seats up for election. Republicans gained a net two seats, expanding their majority to 30-8. A 20-seat majority is required to override a gubernatorial veto.
The Kentucky State Senate was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. A total of 19 seats out of the chamber's 38 seats were up for election in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.
Kentucky's 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In Kentucky, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. District plans are subject to gubernatorial veto.
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.
Party control
| Kentucky State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2020 | After November 4, 2020 | |
| Democratic Party | 10 | 8 | |
| Republican Party | 28 | 30 | |
| Total | 38 | 38 | |
Candidates
General election
Kentucky State Senate general 2020 |
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| Office |  Democratic |
 Republican |
Other |
| District 1 |
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| District 3 |
Amanda Billings (Libertarian Party) |
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| District 5 |
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Mike Miller (Libertarian Party) |
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| District 7 |
Ken Carroll (Independent) |
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| District 9 |
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| District 11 |
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| District 13 |
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Matt Miniard (Unaffiliated) (Write-in) |
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| District 15 |
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| District 17 |
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| District 19 |
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| District 21 |
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| District 23 |
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| District 25 |
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| District 27 |
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Bryan Short (Libertarian Party) |
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| District 29 |
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| District 31 |
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| District 33 |
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| District 35 |
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| District 37 |
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= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection
Primary election
The candidate list below is based on candidate filing lists provided by the Kentucky Secretary of State on January 13, 2020.[1]
Kentucky State Senate primary 2020 |
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| Office | Democratic |
Republican |
Other |
| District 1 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 3 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 5 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 7 |
Cleaver Crawford |
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| District 9 |
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| District 11 |
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| District 13 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 15 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 17 |
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| District 19 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 21 |
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| District 23 |
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| District 25 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 27 |
The Democratic primary was canceled. |
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| District 29 |
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| District 31 |
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| District 33 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 35 |
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The Republican primary was canceled. |
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| District 37 |
The Republican primary was canceled. |
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Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
One incumbent lost in the Nov. 3 general election. That incumbents was:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Johnny Ray Turner |  Democratic |
Senate District 29 |
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
One incumbent—Albert Robinson (R)—lost in the June 23 primaries. This was the first election since 2014 where an incumbent Senator was defeated in a primary. That year, Sen. Sara Beth Gregory (R) was defeated by George Maxwell "Max" Wise (R).
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Albert Robinson | |
Senate District 21 |
Retiring incumbents
There were three open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[2] Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Stan Humphries |  Republican |
Senate District 1 |
| Julian Carroll | Democratic |
Senate District 7 |
| Perry Clark | Democratic |
Senate District 37 |
The three seats left open in 2020 represented an average number of open seats compared to the five preceding elections.The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.
| Open Seats in Kentucky State Senate elections: 2010 - 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2020 | 19 | 3 (16 percent) | 16 (84 percent) |
| 2018 | 19 | 1 (5 percent) | 18 (95 percent) |
| 2016 | 19 | 2 (11 percent) | 17 (89 percent) |
| 2014 | 19 | 4 (21 percent) | 15 (79 percent) |
| 2012 | 19 | 3 (16 percent) | 16 (84 percent) |
| 2010 | 19 | 2 (11 percent) | 17 (89 percent) |
Process to become a candidate
See statutes: Section 118.105 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes
There are three methods by which a candidate can gain ballot access in Kentucky: by political party primary, by political organization convention, and by petition. A candidate must be registered with a political party if he or she wishes to run in the political party primary. If a candidate seeks nomination by a political organization, either by petition or convention, he or she must be registered with that organization. An independent candidate must be registered as an independent in order to use that designation on his or her nominating petition.[3][4]
Political party primary candidates
A political party candidate is granted general election ballot access by winning his or her party's primary election. The candidate must file a notification and declaration form with the Kentucky Secretary of State. This form must be signed by the candidate and by no less than two registered voters from the same party as the candidate and from the same district in which the candidate is running. This form cannot be signed earlier than the first Wednesday after the first Monday in November of the year preceding the election in which the candidate is running. The notification and declaration form must be filed by 4 p.m. on the first Friday following the first Monday in January preceding the primary election. A candidate defeated at the primary election is not permitted to run in the general election, with the exception of candidates running in a presidential preference primary.[5][6][7][8]
Political organization convention candidates
A political organization candidate is nominated at his or her political organization's convention. Only registered voters of the political organization can attend and vote at the convention. The Kentucky Statutes do not stipulate the time at which a convention must be held; however, it must be held prior to the filing deadline in order to complete all necessary paperwork. The candidate must file nomination papers by the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June preceding the day fixed by law for the election of the office being sought.[9][10][11][12]
Petition candidates
Political organization, political group, and independent candidates may all run for office as petition candidates. A candidate running for state executive office or state legislative office must first file a statement of candidacy form with the Kentucky Secretary of State. This form must be filed by 4 p.m. on April 1 (or the next business day if April 1 falls on a weekend or holiday). No charge is assessed for the filing of this form. A petition signed by the candidate and by registered voters in the district from which the candidate seeks nomination must be filed with the Kentucky Secretary of State. Candidates may begin gathering signatures after the first Wednesday after the first Monday in November of the year preceding the general election in which the candidate is running.[4][9][11]
Petitions must be filed by the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June preceding the day fixed by law for the holding of regular elections for the offices sought. Signature requirements vary according to the office being sought. Examples are provided in the table below.[3][4][12]
| Signature requirements for petition candidates in Kentucky[4] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office sought | Number of signatures required | |
| Kentucky state executive office | 5,000 | |
| Member of the United States Congress | 400 | |
| Member of the Kentucky General Assembly | 100 | |
Write-in candidates
Though write-in candidates' names are not printed on the ballot, they may be written in by a voter. In order for a write-in vote to be counted, the write-in candidate must file a declaration of intent with the Kentucky Secretary of State by the fourth Friday in October preceding the general election. A candidate can be a write-in for only one office and will be considered ineligible for write-in status if he or she has already been placed on the ballot by a different method.[13]
All candidates
Any registered voter may challenge the "good faith of a candidate” at any time before the election. No specific challenge period is designated in the Kentucky Statutes.[14]
A candidate may only run for one office at a time, as his or her name cannot appear on the ballot more than once.[15]
All candidates are subject to filing fees. These fees are outlined in the table below. The Kentucky Secretary of State accepts personal checks, campaign account checks, cash, or money orders for payment of filing fees.[3][16][17]
| Filing fees for candidates in Kentucky[18] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office sought | Filing fee | |
| Member of the United States Congress | $500.00 | |
| Governor of Kentucky | $500.00 | |
| Kentucky Attorney General | $500.00 | |
| Kentucky Secretary of State | $500.00 | |
| Kentucky Auditor | $500.00 | |
| Kentucky Treasurer | $500.00 | |
| Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture | $500.00 | |
| Kentucky Senator | $200.00 | |
| Kentucky Representative | $200.00 | |
| Write-in candidate | $50.00 | |
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for Kentucky State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| Kentucky State Senate | Qualified party | 2 | $200.00 | 1/10/2020 | Source |
| Kentucky State Senate | Unaffiliated | 100 | $200.00 | 6/2/2020 | Source |
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the Kentucky State Senate, a candidate must be:[19]
- At least 30 years of age at the time of the election
- A citizen of Kentucky
- Resided in the state 6 years preceding the election
- Resided in the district for the last year
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[20] | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
When sworn in
Kentucky legislators assume office the first day of January after their election.[21]
Kentucky political history
Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
Kentucky Party Control: 1992-2025
Eight years of Democratic trifectas • Three years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Presidential politics in Kentucky
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, Kentucky, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 32.7% | 628,854 | 0 | |
| Republican |  Donald Trump/Mike Pence |
62.5% | 1,202,971 | 8 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 2.8% | 53,752 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 0.7% | 13,913 | 0 | |
| American Delta | Roque De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg | 0.1% | 1,128 | 0 | |
| Independent | Evan McMullin/Nathan Johnson | 1.2% | 22,780 | 0 | |
| - | Write-in votes | 0% | 751 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 1,924,149 | 8 | |||
| Election results via: Kentucky Secretary of State | |||||
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Kentucky utilizes a closed primary process, in which only registered party members can participate.[22]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In Kentucky, all polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central and Eastern Time. All those in line by 6:00 p.m. will be permitted to vote.[23]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter registration status here.
According to the Kentucky State Board of Elections, in order to register to vote, a person must:[24]
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The deadline to submit a voter registration application is 29 days before an election, unless that day is a state or federal holiday.[26] If mailed, applications must be postmarked by that deadline.[27]
Voter registration applications may be completed online, mailed to the county clerk's office, or submitted in person at the county clerk's office.[24]
Automatic registration
- See also: Automatic voter registration
Kentucky does not practice automatic voter registration.
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Kentucky has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
- See also: Same-day voter registration
Kentucky does not allow same-day voter registration.
Residency requirements
Kentucky law requires 28 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.[24]
Verification of citizenship
Kentucky does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "per KRS 119.025, any person who causes himself to be registered when he is not legally entitled to register, shall be subject to penalties including fines and/or a term of imprisonment not less than one (1) year nor more than (5) years."[28]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[29] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The Voter Information Center site, run by the Kentucky State Board of Elections, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Voter ID requirements
Kentucky requires voters to present identification while voting.[30][31]
As of October 2025, the following are the criteria for an eligible ID for voting purposes:
| “ | ... a document that was issued by:
(a) The United States or the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the document contains: 1. The name of the individual to whom the document was issued; 2. A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued; (b) The United States Department of Defense, a branch of the uniformed services, the Merchant Marine, or the Kentucky National Guard, and the document contains: 1. The name of the individual to whom the document was issued; 2. A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued; (c) A public or private college, university, or postgraduate technical or professional school located within the United States, and the document contains: 1. The name of the individual to whom the document was issued; 2. A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued; or, (d) Any city government, county government, urban-county government, charter county government, consolidated local government, or unified local government, which is located within this state, and the document contains: 1. The name of the individual to whom the document was issued; 2. A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued.[25] |
” |
Voters who cannot obtain a photo ID can sign a voter affirmation form and present one of the following non-photo IDs:[32]
- Social Security card
- Any ID card with both the voter’s photograph and name
- Any food stamp ID card, electronic benefit transfer card, or supplemental nutrition assistance card issued by Kentucky that shows the voter’s name
Early voting
Kentucky permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
A Kentucky voter is eligible to vote absentee in an election if they cannot make it to the polls on Election Day and they meet one of the following criteria:[33]
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Additionally, a voter that cannot make it to the polls on Election Day because as a result of medical emergency within 14 days of an election, and that voter's spouse, may request to receive an absentee ballot by mail.[34]
Voters can only request absentee ballots through an online portal established by the State Board of Elections. Disabled, military and overseas, and voters subject to medical emergencies may also request an absentee ballot through their county clerk. Eligible voters who do not have internet access may give their information to a county clerk by phone to request an absentee ballot.[33]
State law allows for the portal to be open between 45 and 14 days immediately preceding a primary or general election.[33]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "View Candidate Filings," accessed January 13, 2020
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Kentucky Secretary of State Website, "Candidates" accessed April 27, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.315," accessed April 27, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.105," accessed April 25, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.125," accessed April 25, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.165," accessed April 25, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.345," accessed April 25, 2025
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.325," accessed April 27, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Registration" accessed April 27, 2025
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.367," accessed April 27, 2025
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.365," accessed April 27, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.125," accessed April 27, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Chapter 118, Section 176," accessed April 27, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Chapter 118, Section 405," accessed April 27, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State Website, "Qualifications & Filing Fees," accessed April 27, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky Statutes, "Section 118.255,"accessed April 27, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State Website, "Candidate Qualifications and Filing Fees," accessed April 27, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky Secretary of State, "Candidate Qualification Information," accessed December 16, 2013
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Kentucky Constitution, "Section 30," accessed February 10, 2021
- ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 116.055," accessed October 20, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Election Day Information," accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Registration," accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 116.045," accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "116.0452 Standards for timely receipt of voter registration application -- Removal of names from registration books -- Confidentiality of registration location," accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑ Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Commonwealth of Kentucky Voter Registration Application," accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Voter ID Requirements," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ FindLaw.com, "Kentucky Revised Statutes Title X. Elections § 117.227. Confirmation of voter's identity," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ Fayette County Clerk, "Voter Registration FAQ," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 117.085," accessed November 17, 2025 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "kyav" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 117.077," accessed November 17, 2025
